Underfloor Heating (UFH)

Underfloor heating is an energy-efficient renewable technology that heats your home without the need for radiators. It's also easy to operate (just let it run in the background) and gives you a lot of control over the temperature of each room.

Types of underfloor heating

Underfloor heating can be used in virtually any type of project – new-builds, refurbishments, retrofits and renovations.

It can be fitted in a single room or your entire property. Underfloor heating can also be used with various floor surfaces – including concrete, screed, timber, laminate, vinyl, stone and carpet.

Advantages of underfloor heating

• Efficient – spreads heat evenly using low-temperature radiant heat.
• Always warm – no cold spots as you move further away from the radiators.
• Flexible – can be connected to any heat source now and in the future.
• Control – create zones which mean you can control individual rooms and areas.
• Cheaper – low-temperature radiant heat and efficient distribution mean it’s cheap to run.
• Space-saving – no bulky radiators to take up valuable wall and floor space.
• Healthy – low humidity and dust circulation, good for allergy and asthma sufferers.
• Safer – no low-level hot surfaces or hard metal edges like a radiator system.

Underfloor heating and heat pumps

Underfloor heating is a perfect fit for heat pumps as both are low-temperature systems.

A heat pump works most efficiently when it produces water at a lower temperature i.e. it’s not working as hard  running at 40°C as it is at 55°C and therefore using less electricity. An underfloor heating system also uses lower temperature water, typically 40°C.

The UFH can run at lower temps because it gives out heat over the entire floor area of the room,  whereas a radiator has to run hotter as it is a much smaller emitter trying to heat the the other side of the room as well as where it’s situated.

Because they are both low-temperature systems they complement each other perfectly being up to pp to 40% more efficient than a boiler and radiators system.

This ensures lower running costs for your system as well as reducing your carbon footprint

Why Biosun Energy?

We’ve partnered with Polypipe – the market-leading underfloor heating provider – to offer homeowners the very best underfloor heating systems.

For example, Polypipe systems can come with the 4iE wifi control which learns how you use your heating system and automatically suggests ways for you to save energy.

Frequently asked questions

Is underfloor heating easy to install?

For a qualified installer, Polypipe underfloor heating systems are simple to fit. Additionally, underfloor heating can be planned into a new renovation, new build or a single project.

Is underfloor heating easy to control?

Yes, and our range incorporates a wide variety of control products: including single zone control, allowing upstairs and downstairs to be controlled separately and individual room control, allowing you complete freedom over the temperature in each room.

Is underfloor heating expensive to install?

No, generally underfloor heating solutions are quicker and cheaper to install than most other systems. As the installation of our underfloor heating is completed in one stage, it can reduce the cost, as well as the length of time the installers are on site for.

Is underfloor heating expensive to run?

No, and it can be more economical to run than a radiator based system, as the water is kept at a lower temperature to produce the equivalent heat output. Underfloor heating puts a smaller demand for heat output on the boiler, it is ideally suited to achieving maximum economy from a condensing boiler or heat pump.

Are Polypipe heating systems better than electric systems?

Yes, as they are connected to your existing heating they can be more economical to run than electric systems. All our underfloor heating systems use warm water and emit heat across the entire floor surface, providing an even and comfortable heat throughout the room.

Can I use underfloor heating in a home with other heating systems?

Yes. It is possible to install a Polypipe underfloor heating system in to an existing radiator (or other heat source) installation as all of the necessary components are supplied within our underfloor heating design package.

Underfloor heating can be used as either the main or secondary source of home heating. This will depend on whether it is a new build property or a renovation project. Our systems are all compatible with standard central heating boilers and are especially suited to condensing boilers. All Polypipe underfloor heating solutions can also be used as stand-alone systems.

Can I install underfloor heating in just one room?

Our unique overlay system is laid over existing solid or timber floors and is ideal for single room retrofit projects or extensions.

By using our Zonal Regulation Unit (ZRU) it is possible to add an underfloor heating system (to a maximum floor area of 30m2) to your project without needing to fit a manifold. The ZRU is designed to be connected directly in to your existing heating system and be temperature controlled using a simple volt free room thermostat.

What type of floor coverings can be used?

In theory, there are no restrictions on the type of floor coverings used with underfloor heating systems providing that a) the product is suitable and b) our design team has calculated that the floor covering in question will not have an adverse effect on the overall performance of the system. In a modern highly insulated building, where the heating demand is lower, the use of high resistance floor coverings, such as carpet, will not be an issue. However, in older buildings, where higher heat losses are common, the use of more conductive floor coverings such as ceramics or stone tiles would allow more heat to transfer into the room.

Will underfloor heating delay my building or project?

No. If your project is planned correctly there is absolutely no reason why installing underfloor heating should delay progress. Our underfloor heating systems can be quicker to install than many other underfloor systems and the unique overlay system can be installed easily in existing homes and with Polypipe systems available from a wide range of nationwide stockists,securing what you need is quick and easy.

What happens if a leak develops in the system?

As there are no joints used below ground in a correctly installed underfloor heating system there is little, to no, risk of a leak developing once the system has been installed and pressure tested. If a leak were to appear due to manufacturing defect, the pipe is under warranty for 50 years.

How long will my underfloor heating last?

The pipes in your underfloor heating system are warrantied against manufacturing defects for 50 years. As the pipes are made of polybutylene they will not be affected by corrosion or scaling and so the system’s performance will be maintained throughout its working life expectancy.

Will the system need maintenance?

No, all our underfloor heating systems are virtually maintenance free, and all our underfloor heating products are covered by our industry leading guarantee.

Can I use a heat pump with my underfloor heating system?

Yes. There is no reason why either air source or ground source heat pumps cannot be used with underfloor heating installations. However, due to the lower flow temperatures that are produced by these types of appliances it is essential that your system is correctly designed to ensure that it is capable of operating efficiently and meeting performance requirements.

Should I install the underfloor heating pipes under kitchen units?

This is really a matter of personal choice. Given that the underfloor heating pipe work will be in the floor for many years but during this time the kitchen layout may be changed several times, some people choose to run the pipe under the units so as to allow for ‘future proofing’ the system. When systems are installed in this way it is common for some insulation material to be pushed under the units before the bottom kick strip is fitted. This insulation will allay any concerns that the unit interiors will overheat.

Will my floor feel hot to touch?

The typical floor surface temperature of a correctly designed and installed underfloor heating system should be between 26°C and 29.9°C depending upon the type of floor covering used. As the temperature of the palm of your hand is usually around 30°C the floor surface should feel comfortably warm but not hot when touched.

Why do underfloor heating systems take longer to warm up?

Typical radiator systems operate at much higher temperatures than underfloor heating systems and rely mainly on heat convection produced from a very small heated surface area. underfloor heating systems work at a much lower temperature and use mainly heat radiation across the entire floor surface area. Although this type of ‘radiant’ heat distribution provides a more even room temperature and better comfort levels, it does not lend itself to rapid heat up times. In order to compensate for this, we recommend that you use a thermostat feature called ‘set back’ which holds the system at a lower room temperature during periods of non-use. This set back temperature is usually 4°C lower than your preferred occupied room temperature and enables the system to have a much faster heat up and recovery time.

Can underfloor heating be used to speed up the drying process of screed floor?

No. Under no circumstances should the system be used to accelerate the drying out times of screed flooring products as this could lead to curling or cracking of the floor.

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