Underfloor Heating
Systems
Today, with the widespread use of condensing devices and heat pumps, the importance of heating systems at low temperatures has increased. Floor heating systems have come to the forefront because they are efficient and more suitable for human physiology than other systems. Our company provides services in the fields of project design and application with its expert team in floor heating and automation.
How does Underfloor Heating heat the environment?
The low temperature water circulated through the pipes placed under the floor first heats the ground. The environment is heated by the heat emitted from the heated ground by natural radiation. Heating by radiation can be thought of as the Sun heating our planet from kilometers away.
What is the heat source in underfloor heating ?
Underfloor heating, just like other space heating systems such as radiators, heats the space by using hot water from a heat source. In other words, underfloor heating systems require a heat source such as a boiler, combi boiler, or heat pump. Apart from these, there are also electric underfloor heating systems. In this system, heating can also be done with a chrome nickel heat-producing heating cable system.
What are the advantages of underfloor heating systems compared to alternative heating systems?
The biggest advantages of underfloor heating systems are;
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comfort
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energy efficiency
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design freedom
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providing a healthy environment
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security
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are low maintenance costs.
What material should be used to cover the floor after laying the underfloor heating pipes ?
After the pipes are laid, the floor is covered with screed. Afterwards, the flooring can be done with materials such as tiles, ceramics, parquet. All floor coverings can be used in underfloor heating. The heat conduction of materials such as marble and ceramics is higher than parquets.
Does underfloor heating raise dust from the floor into the air? Is it an unhealthy system?
Dust formed on the ground can rise into the air at high temperatures. The maximum healthy floor temperature for underfloor heating systems determined by international standards is 26°C. At these temperatures, the air circulation rate is low and dust does not rise from the ground. Therefore, with correct projecting, this problem can be prevented. In other words, underfloor heating systems are not unhealthier than other systems.
Can underfloor heating be applied in very cold cities?
Design criteria, pipe modulation intervals and system operating temperatures can be determined with correct projecting and underfloor heating system can be applied in all kinds of climates and locations. Our company projects and implements underfloor heating systems using software programs developed for building heat loss. After the underfloor heating application is done, since the return after the wrong application will cause high costs, it is of great importance to have the work done by expert companies.
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What are the system elements used in underfloor heating and what are their functions?
The basis of the system is the heating pipes. The pipes are laid on the panels laid on the ground during the construction phase. The panels to be selected should have high resistance to crushing and should allow for easy installation of the pipes. The water is heated by the heat source. The heated water is circulated through the pipes via the collectors using the circulation method. Thermostats allow the desired ambient temperature to be adjusted. Thermostats can be manual or automatic. Finally, the automation system can be added to the system as an optional feature that increases user comfort.
How should the pipe lengths to be connected to the collector mouths be determined?
The pipe lengths to be connected to the collector mouths must be calculated by the software and installed in accordance with the lengths given by the software. In systems that are not designed correctly, the desired heating performance cannot be achieved. When the system is put into operation, the flow rates determined by the software must be adjusted on the collectors.
How does an underfloor heating collector work?
Flow-adjustable collectors allow the water flow circulating in the heating line to be controlled via the flow or return lines with special valves on them. Since there is a separate valve for each circuit on the collector, it allows work to be done only on the relevant line without stopping the entire system in case of a possible repair, maintenance, etc. It is recommended to use a collector with a flow meter for easy adjustment of the underfloor heating collector. Rooms in a house may have different heating needs. To solve this problem, the flow rate adjustment of each circuit in the underfloor heating collector should be done separately. In collectors with flow meters, there is a flow meter on each valve. The needle in the flow meter rises or falls according to the water flow rate. Underfloor heating collector adjustment can be done easily in this way. If this adjustment is not done correctly, the water will try to return via a shortcut and there will be heating problems in places far from the collector or overheating problems in places close to it.
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What is an underfloor heating panel? What should be considered when choosing?
Underfloor heating panels are special materials that are laid under the screed in underfloor heating systems and serve as insulation between the lower floor and the room. The purpose of the panels is to ensure that the heating pipes are fixed to the floor. When choosing panels, the features that allow the pipes to be laid easily, being resistant to crushing and the panels easily interlocking with each other should be the reasons for preference.
Is it better to use PEX or PE-RT pipes for underfloor heating ?
PE-x are pipes that enable PE pipes to be used at high temperatures by cross-linking. There are three main types of PEx pipe systems: PEX-a Peroxide, PEX-b Silane and PEX-c Irradiation. The difference between the types is the cross-linking process and the cross-linking degrees specified by the TS 10762-2 EN ISO 15875-2 standard. PE-RT (Polyethylene raised temperature resistant) pipes are heating pipes that are frequently used in heating systems and have increased temperature resistance without cross-linking. Since the underfloor heating system operates at 35-55°C degrees, the pressure resistance of PE-RT pipes is 1-2% better than PE-x pipes in these temperature ranges, meaning that their service life is longer. When choosing both pipe types, attention should be paid to whether they have an oxygen barrier. Pipes with EVOH (Ethylene vinyl alcohol) barriers can be safely preferred because they limit oxygen transmission.
What should be the ideal floor and ambient temperature for underfloor heating?
The maximum healthy floor temperature determined by international standards for underfloor heating systems is 26°C. Keeping the floor temperature at 24°C is ideal for health and comfort. The air temperature around a healthy person is 20-22°C under ideal conditions. The underarm temperature of a healthy person is 36.5°C. Underfloor heating systems operate at 35-55°C under ideal conditions. While radiator systems operate with hot water of at least 70-80°C, underfloor heating systems operate at 35-55°C. Since they provide heating at lower temperatures, underfloor heating systems are more energy efficient. At the same time, the entire space volume is tried to be heated with the radiator system, while the living area is heated with the underfloor heating system.
What is the general working principle of an automated system ?
When the thermostat that controls the ambient temperature is activated, the thermostat sends a command to the central automation device to operate until the desired temperature is reached. The central automation device sends a command to the actuators (valve motors on the collector) in line with the data received from the thermostat. With the incoming command, the actuator switches the valve to the open position. Water circulation in the circuit starts with the opening of the valve. The automation system can be controlled remotely via a mobile phone or tablet with a mobile application and can be programmed according to the user's needs. The main control panel is the hardware that interprets the signal it receives from the thermostat and sends on-off signals to the places it deems necessary. Since the automation system can be programmed in line with the user's demands, it increases the comfort level of the users. In a floor heating system controlled by an automation system, the same desired temperature is always provided in the house no matter how much the outside temperature changes. Again, commands can be sent to many system equipment such as combi boilers, heat pumps, and circulation pumps via the central control panel.