What are the pro's and con's?

Thanks Bryon, 
 
Here is a bit more information I was able to find, all from UK
manufacturers and installers:
"Unlike conventional systems, under floor heating does not create air
circulation which can carry dust particles around the living and
working areas. The lower temperature also raises the relative humidity
to approximately 12% (higher than a radiator system) giving a much
healthier environment. Indeed, many asthma and allergy sufferers have
given testimonials to its positive effects."
http://www.paragon-systems.co.uk/benefits.htm 
 
"· It will last the lifetime of the building, save you up to 25% on
fuel bills, only costs about the same as a good carpet, and a fraction
of the cost of a fitted kitchen.
· For larger properties the savings can be as high as 40%. 
· The system runs on lower water temperatures and is ideal for use
with modern high efficiency condensing boilers.
· The overall energy savings make underfloor heating kind to the
environment as well as your budget.
· It is perfect for areas with high ceilings because the heat is where
the people are and not at ceiling height."
http://www.bordersunderfloor.co.uk/benefits.htm 
 
"The degree of thermal comfort experienced in a radiantly heated room
surpasses that of convective heating because the temperature profile
generated matches that of the human body.    The surface temperature
of a radiant floor, 26oC, matches that of the soles of the feet. The
Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) experienced at eye level, about 22oC,
is sufficient to allow a natural rate of heat transfer from the head,
which has a normal skin temperature of about 28oC.     In contrast,
the temperature profile in a convectively heated room runs opposite to
that of the body, leading to chronic discomfort of overheated air
around the upper body, while the feet remain cold."
http://www.eco-hometec.co.uk/dufh.htm 
 
As far as diadvantages go: 
 
"4.1.2.2 Are there any disadvantages to UFH? (Underfloor heating) 
Your plumber may not be familiar with it and may even try to talk you
out of it.
It is slow to react to change, works best with well-insulated modern
houses.
It can involve more complicated (and expensive) controls.  
It could make lifting upstairs floors difficult in the future.  
It can be damaged by uninformed trades - kitchen fitters, carpet
fitters etc.
It is more expensive than a conventional radiator system. " 
http://www.borpin.freeserve.co.uk/sbfaq/faq4068.htm 
 
The last point about underfloor heating being more expensive, is
almost the only reference I could find saying this. Almost all other
sources say itīs cheaper to maintain and run (it could be they are
refering to installation, but they donīt say that!)
So it would seem that the proīs outweigh the conīs when considering
UFH in most ways, except in installation costs (also our Roman
ancestors got it right!)
 
By the way it might be just coincidence but I noticed that in the
previous comments I made (which are all true and valid!) if you take
the first letter of each line and put them all together (from top to
bottom)....well...have a look!
 
" 
Just a bit more expensive to install than conventional systems.  
Achieves economy over conventional systems, given time.  
Hidden, so you donīt have to look at ugly radiators.  
No problems with leaky radiators.  
Kilowatts are saved with underfloor heating.  
Environmentally more friendly  
  
Low levels of maintenance  
Itīs invisible  
Very easy to control temperature  
Evenly distributes heat  
Slipperless in the mornings is OK :) " 
  
Coincidence ;) ?  I was wondering if you too had noticed this? 
 
Search Strategy: 
 "underfloor heating" benefits site:.uk 
://www.google.com/search?q=+%22underfloor+heating%22+benefits+site:.uk&hl=pt&lr=&ie=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&start=10&sa=N
 
"underfloor heating" disadvantages site:.uk 
://www.google.com/search?hl=pt&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=+%22underfloor+heating%22+disadvantages+site%3A.uk&btnG=Pesquisa+Google&lr=
 
 
Thanks and good luck if you choose the UFH, I hope the installer
doesnīt make too much of a mess!
 
THX1138 

PS. I apologize for having posted this as a comment as well.  A slip
of the button on my part.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by probonopublico-ga on 09 Jul 2002 04:20 PDT

Hi, thx1138-ga

So Kurt Jahnke is alive after all!

Well spotted!

Regards

Bryan

---

Clarification of Answer by thx1138-ga on 09 Jul 2002 06:19 PDT

Hi probonopublico/Bryan

Thanks for your nice comments and the rating!
I have investigated at great length the Kurt Jhanke question and "The
Doctor" question but to no avail.  However, this only means that the
information is not available 'online' yet.  It might be that given
time 'agencies' make more information public, but only time will tell.
 Recently I thought that the unmarked black helicopters might be
paying me a visit, have a look at this question I answered:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=34099

Good luck with your research and the underfloor heating!

Best Regards

THX1138

---

Request for Answer Clarification by probonopublico-ga on 10 Jul 2002 04:03 PDT

Hi, thx1138-ga

Thanks again for everything.

Kindest regards

Bryan

---

Clarification of Answer by thx1138-ga on 10 Jul 2002 06:16 PDT

Hi Bryon,

No problem :)

THX1138

Brilliant!

I reckon that thx1138-ga is THE TOPS!

Regards

Bryan

“2. Floor heating The Pros and Cons 

With modern well insulated buildings, underfloor heating gives
significant energy savings over a conventional radiator system. Couple
this with a condensing boiler and a very economical heating system can
be achieved.
The ideal living space has a warm floor for warm feet and a slightly
cooler ceiling for a cool head. Underfloor heating in a well insulated
house can provide this ideal in a very economical manner.
Floor heating must be designed carefully as it is not suitable for all
buildings. For example if the floors are uninsulated then floor
heating would waste a significant proportion of the energy. Walls and
ceilings should also be well insulated, as is the modern trend, to cut
down on wasteful convection currents (cooling draughts) within the
building.
Radiators and particularly forced air heaters set up convection
currents which make the room feel slightly draughty. Floor heating is
a radiant heat minimising convection currents and is therefore much
more comfortable, and one can reduce the thermostat setting.
A poorly insulated building would require so much heat output from the
underfloor heaters that the floor would feel uncomfortably hot. In
cases such as this underfloor heating alone is not adequate and extra
heating would be recommended for colder weather.
Floor heating installation costs are comparable with but slightly more
expensive than conventional radiators.”
http://www.conservation-engineering.co.uk/uhnotes.html

Just some more thoughts:-

Just a bit more expensive to install than conventional systems.
Achieves economy over conventional systems, given time.
Hidden, so you donīt have to look at ugly radiators.
No problems with leaky radiators.
Kilowatts are saved with underfloor heating.
Environmentally more friendly

Low levels of maintenance
Itīs invisible
Very easy to control temperature
Evenly distributes heat
Slipperless in the mornings is OK :)

Good Luck

Many thanks thx1138-ga.

But that looks like a good answer to me.

Why not post a brief answer & collect your reward?

Regards

Bryan

Thanks Bryon,

Here is a bit more information I was able to find, all from UK
manufacturers and installers:
"Unlike conventional systems, under floor heating does not create air
circulation which can carry dust particles around the living and
working areas. The lower temperature also raises the relative humidity
to approximately 12% (higher than a radiator system) giving a much
healthier environment. Indeed, many asthma and allergy sufferers have
given testimonials to its positive effects."
http://www.paragon-systems.co.uk/benefits.htm

"· It will last the lifetime of the building, save you up to 25% on
fuel bills, only costs about the same as a good carpet, and a fraction
of the cost of a fitted kitchen.
· For larger properties the savings can be as high as 40%.
· The system runs on lower water temperatures and is ideal for use
with modern high efficiency condensing boilers.
· The overall energy savings make underfloor heating kind to the
environment as well as your budget.
· It is perfect for areas with high ceilings because the heat is where
the people are and not at ceiling height."
http://www.bordersunderfloor.co.uk/benefits.htm

"The degree of thermal comfort experienced in a radiantly heated room
surpasses that of convective heating because the temperature profile
generated matches that of the human body.    The surface temperature
of a radiant floor, 26oC, matches that of the soles of the feet. The
Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) experienced at eye level, about 22oC,
is sufficient to allow a natural rate of heat transfer from the head,
which has a normal skin temperature of about 28oC.     In contrast,
the temperature profile in a convectively heated room runs opposite to
that of the body, leading to chronic discomfort of overheated air
around the upper body, while the feet remain cold."
http://www.eco-hometec.co.uk/dufh.htm

As far as diadvantages go:

"4.1.2.2 Are there any disadvantages to UFH? (Underfloor heating)
Your plumber may not be familiar with it and may even try to talk you
out of it.
It is slow to react to change, works best with well-insulated modern
houses.
It can involve more complicated (and expensive) controls. 
It could make lifting upstairs floors difficult in the future. 
It can be damaged by uninformed trades - kitchen fitters, carpet
fitters etc.
It is more expensive than a conventional radiator system. "
http://www.borpin.freeserve.co.uk/sbfaq/faq4068.htm

The last point about underfloor heating being more expensive, is
almost the only reference I could find saying this. Almost all other
sources say itīs cheaper to maintain and run (it could be they are
refering to installation, but they donīt say that!)
So it would seem that the proīs outweigh the conīs when considering
UFH in most ways, except in installation costs (also our Roman
ancestors got it right!)

By the way it might be just coincidence but I noticed that in the
previous comments I made (which are all true and valid!) if you take
the first letter of each line and put them all together (from top to
bottom)....well...have a look!

"
Just a bit more expensive to install than conventional systems. 
Achieves economy over conventional systems, given time. 
Hidden, so you donīt have to look at ugly radiators. 
No problems with leaky radiators. 
Kilowatts are saved with underfloor heating. 
Environmentally more friendly 
 
Low levels of maintenance 
Itīs invisible 
Very easy to control temperature 
Evenly distributes heat 
Slipperless in the mornings is OK :) "
 
Coincidence ;) ?  I was wondering if you too had noticed this?

Search Strategy:
 "underfloor heating" benefits site:.uk
://www.google.com/search?q=+%22underfloor+heating%22+benefits+site:.uk&hl=pt&lr=&ie=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&start=10&sa=N

"underfloor heating" disadvantages site:.uk
://www.google.com/search?hl=pt&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=+%22underfloor+heating%22+disadvantages+site%3A.uk&btnG=Pesquisa+Google&lr=


Thanks and good luck if you choose the UFH, I hope the installer
doesnīt make too much of a mess!

THX1138

I think the previous comments and answer refer to hot water-based
floor heating solutions, which are, as the comments suggest, efficient
and work well. Another option is to use the new and burgeoning
electric floor heating technology which is ideal for warming floors,
especially hard floors such as wood floors, laminates and tiles. I
recently installed electric floor heating in my conservatory in
Wiltshire and the key thing about it is controllability.

It was fitted while the conservatory was being built, laid on top of
floor insulation (which, I was told, has to be capable of withstanding
pressure unlike those on wall or roof insulation), and the floor
heating system, which is electric cable arranged on a plastic mesh to
keep it neatly spaced, was rolled out like carpet. A thermostat on the
wall controls when it comes on and off and what temperature to warm
to, and you can turn it up or down with no trouble!

There are quite a few suppliers now in the UK; my supplier was Floor
Heating Ltd based in Hampshire (http://www.floorheating.ltd.uk), and
the insulation came from Fastwarm (http://www.fastwarm.co.uk). Hope
all this helps. Good luck!