Balancing the System
A properly setup underfloor heating system provides the most
effective and efficient way to provide warmth to your home or business. Much
like a central heating system, it is important to balance your water underfloor
heating system so that it operates at maximum efficiency when the cold weather
kicks in. A precisely balanced system will provide the intended temperature in
the most energy efficient way and potentially save money on heating bills too.
A poorly balanced system can lead to high energy bills and
can even lead to persistent water flow noises that can be heard around the building.
These are obvious signs that the system is not running at its best and should
be serviced.
To balance an underfloor heating system, it will need to be
thoroughly inspected to see whether each circuit receives the right amount of
water and heat. The goal here is to synchronise the flow of the hot water so
that each zone is performing as it should. To work out what the required water
volume flow should be, you can perform a heating load calculation in accordance
to BS EN 12831.
Actuator Valves
By opening and closing the water pipes, actuator valves can play a vital role in balancing your UFH system. For even more efficiency, you can use electrothermal actuators that can be installed in the return flow of the heating circuit to regulate the volume flow with a thermostat.
To make adjusting the water volume flow easier during the initial setup, you can use products such as balancing valves directly at the distribution bar.
Insulation
A key component for making sure your underfloor heating or any heating system for that matter runs as efficiently as possible is to make sure your property is insulated. You could have the most amazing heating system in the world installed, but if your property isn’t insulated not only will you waste a lot of energy, you’ll be spending a fortune just to have your heating on too.
The most common forms of insulation for underfloor heating is what are known as tile backer boards and XPS insulation boards. There are also other alternatives out there, but these options are designed specifically for use with underfloor heating.
Floor Finishes
Choosing a suitable floor finish with underfloor heating can make quite the difference both in regards to heat transfer and how the floor finish stores heat. Typically, the go to choice for use with underfloor heating is tiles due to their thermal conductivity. In reality, the vast majority of floor finishes such as carpet, vinyl and laminate wood are great with underfloor heating, but it is always best to check with the floor finish manufacturer to make sure it is suitable for use with underfloor heating.