Underfloor Heating for Carpet Floors
Carpet flooring is a staple in most family homes and is arguably the most comfortable to walk on. With many colours, patterns and styles, carpet floor covering is ideal for any home or business. What is better than a carpet floor? Warm carpets!
Floor Heating Under Carpet
Under carpet heating is one of the most luxurious feelings underfoot. Walking around the home barefoot under radiant heat whilst helping to keep humidity levels low and dust mites at bay is hard to beat. Oh, and the added benefit of helping with allergies is a bonus. The list of benefits that underfloor heating brings along with the luxury of carpet makes them a great combination. Find out more about the benefits of underfloor heating by clicking here.
There are some limitations to using carpet with a floor heating system and it is always best to check its suitability for underfloor heating. For instance, the tog rating for the carpet can greatly impact the efficiency of the system.
It is important to ensure that the overall tog rating of the carpet for underfloor heating is no more than 2.5 togs. Preferably, we recommend less than 1.5 togs, especially with systems that use a heat pump. Remember that carpets tend to absorb the warmth from an underfloor heating system, which can make it that much better in the family home.
Before installing the system it is important to make sure that you have adequate insulation. Your home may already be insulated, but it is always best to check if additional insulation is needed.
Both water and electric floor heating systems work well with carpets. There are under-carpet heating mat options available for instance that give you an all-in-one solution. For instance, our Elektra Under Carpet and Vinyl Heating Mats are a great option.
What Carpet Can Be Used with Underfloor Heating?
While carpet is a great with underfloor heating, not all carpets are. Various types of carpet should be avoided as they can create problems with your floor heating system.
Carpets that use hessian backing rather than rubber are recommended. Although more expensive, the hessian allows the heat to transfer through the carpet. A rubber-backed carpet will act as an insulator, trapping the heat beneath the floor and costing a fortune to run. Check with the manufacturer that both the resistance and the carpet are both suitable for underfloor heating.
Understanding Carpet TOG Ratings
A tog rating is the measure of thermal resistance that the carpet offers. The higher the tog rating the more difficult it is for underfloor heating to pass through it. When considering TOG ratings with underfloor heating, it is also important to take into account the underlay too.
Combined, the carpet and underlay need to be below 2.5 and ideally below 1.5 when used with a heat pump. All carpets on the market should offer the technical specifications of the carpet to allow you to check.