Concrete Floor Heating

Concrete floor heating Why floor heating?

With traditional central heating, air heated by the radiators rises.The result is that the hottest part of the room is the ceiling and the coldest is the floor, where the heat is actually needed.This is both very inefficient and wasted but also uncomfortable to the body.Warm head and cold feet syndrome resulting from the heat in the upper layer.

Concrete floor heating involves exploiting the high thermal mass of a concrete slab or floor by storing heat in the floor and having it act like a large heating panel, to warm the internal space above it and provide a comfortable living environment for the occupants. Unlike conventional heating systems, which tend to be localised and cause hot spots, draughts and cold areas, the warm floor heats the entire space above it and is ideal for finishes such as polished concrete floors. The heated concrete floor, because of its radiant output, is able to achieve comfortable living conditions at a lower air temperature than normal air heating systems. It is one of the simplest forms of space heating, providing uniform, unobtrusive heat.  

The concrete slab is heated by embedding either electric elements or pipes that circulate hot water (known as hydronic systems) within the concrete slab or topping screed. Off-peak domestic heating tariffs may also provide significant economy to the homeowner if the energy source is electricity for either type of system. Ideally, using concrete floors for heating is best suited to buildings of solid construction where external and internal walls also have a high thermal mass (ie concrete panel, brick or block walls). These materials, together with the concrete floor act as a heat bank or reservoir, storing the heat. The approach can also be satisfactory in buildings of lighter construction including brick veneer, provided that some consideration is given to adequate insulation.