Is underfloor heating healthy?
Underfloor heating is a heating solution chosen more and more often in new buildings, although many people decide to install a floor system also in older apartments during renovation. We will explain whether underfloor heating is healthy, how it affects air humidity, and whether it can be used in an allergy sufferer’s home.
Energy efficient strategy
Energy efficient strategyfloor heating installations are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional radiators. An efficient underfloor heating system can provide a more even distribution of heat throughout your home, reducing the need for bulky and inefficient radiators. Underfloor heating syst. also typically require less energy than traditional radiator systems and come with a lower running cost. Additionally, underfloor heating is extremely low maintenance and provides a comfortable and safe environment for your family. This type of system is ideal for large areas or rooms where you want to evenly distribute heat without the need for additional radiators or other bulky equipment. With an energy efficient underfloor heating system, you can enjoy warmth in your home while saving money on your energy bills.
How underfloor heating system is set up?
Underfloor heating system is a great way to heat up a room and make it more comfortable. The setup of this system involves installing pipes underneath the floor, which circulate hot water throughout the room. The temperature of the water can be adjusted and set to provide an even and comfortable temperature to each room. Installation of this system requires some technical knowledge and skill, but in most cases it is quite straightforward. Generally speaking, the pipes are laid out in a grid pattern that covers the entire area of the room being heated. Once installed, a thermostat can be used to regulate and maintain the desired temperature for each room. Underfloor heating systems are also energy efficient, helping save money on energy bills over time. With proper installation and maintenance, underfloor heating can provide lasting comfort and warmth for many years to come.
Underfloor heating systems versus traditional radiators heat
Radiant heat technology which is used for underfloor heating systems, allows for more even distribution of heat throughout the floor. This type of floors heating installation is often energy efficient and can be installed in both new builds and existing buildings. Underfloor heating provides a gentle and constant warmth, as opposed to the high temperatures achieved with radiators. This type of central heating system is also ideal for rooms that need a lot of heat, such as bathrooms or kitchens, and can provide comfort at lower thermostat settings than a radiator system. Underfloor heating systems are easy to install and are becoming increasingly popular due to their cost-effectiveness and comfort levels.
Desired temperature for your feet
Humans’ natural thermal needs mean that you’ll feel more comfortable when your feet are warmer than your head. This is exactly what underfloor heating does. The heat spreads evenly throughout the room from the ground to the ceiling, with the higher parts of the room being cooler. Such temperature distribution has a positive effect on well-being, but also reduces the risk of developing throat diseases or irritation of the mucous membrane.
Even temperature distribution has a positive effect on maintaining the proper level of air humid. The floor heating is also an ideal heating system for people who love to walk around the house barefoot. Walking without shoes is especially recommended for children to develop the correct posture.
Underfloor heating system may help you to reduce dust mites
Dust and mites surround us at every step. Therefore, people who are allergic to them must take special care to reduce the presence of allergens in their home. After all, the constant feeling of nasal congestion, bouts of asthmatic coughing, secretion flowing down the back of the throat or skin changes are nothing pleasant, and in extreme situations they can even be life threatening.
Meanwhile, it turns out that underfloor heating is conducive to allergies. Why? We already explain! Radiators placed on the walls must be heated to a high temperature so that they can adequately heat the room. Therefore, they generate strong air circulation. You will feel it when you stand close to a very warm radiator. Thus, classic heating causes constant raising of dust particles in the room.
In turn, the floor heating system heats the room evenly thanks to the system distributed under the entire floor surface. Thanks to this, air circulation is smaller, dust and mites do not stick up.
Will underfloor system differentiate temperature? – solution for allergies
Allergy sufferers have the biggest dilemma when choosing a heating system. It is therefore worth knowing whether the floor is healthy and suitable for a house where people with allergies live.
In the opinions of the opponents of underfloor heating, the most common opinion is that underfloor heating causes air particles to rise and thus has a negative impact on the health of allergy sufferers. It turns out, however, that it is quite the opposite – underfloor heating causes less air circulation than classic radiators. This is due, among other things, to the fact that in order to heat the room to the same temperature, you do not have to turn up the underfloor heating as much as in the case of classic heating. In addition, the heat from the pipes placed under the floor does not come out as violently as from radiators, thanks to which dust particles do not rise up, and thus they do not irritate the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.
What else in the context of allergy sufferers is characterized by underfloor heating? Will it be healthy for people who cough and sneeze when dust and mites circulate in the house? The floor has the so-called vertical air temperature profile. This means that the temperature is higher in the lower parts of the room and lower in its upper part. It is recognized that such a profile is more in line with the natural thermal comfort of humans. It also prevents dust from the floor from rising into the air. This makes it easier to remove it from the room during daily cleaning. The vertical temperature profile also reduces the risk of mold and fungus growth, which are also common allergic factors.
Better humidity when underfloor heating systems?
Among the questions related to the installation of floor tiles, there is one related to air humidity. Many people wonder if underfloor heating in the bedroom is healthy in this respect.
You have to say it straight – heat, regardless of its source, dries the air. However, not all to the same extent.
What is the optimal level of air humidity in the house? It should be between 40 and 60 percent and depends on the temp. If you prefer your home to be cooler – between 19 and 20 degrees – the humidity level should be around 55-60%. In a room with a temperature of about 21-22 degrees, the humidity should be slightly lower – about 40-45%.
Underfloor heating, due to the heat transfer over the entire surface, allows you to lower the heating temperature without losing the comfort of heat. And this means that it is easier to maintain optimal air humidity in the house. This is especially important in rooms such as a bedroom or a child’s room. A number of studies on the quality of underfloor heating have shown that underfloor heating causes less irritation of mucous membranes or throat diseases than traditional heating.
However, if you decide that the level of air humidity with underfloor heating is too low for you, you can use one of the types of air humidifiers – steam, evaporative, ultrasonic or with an ionizer. The design and construction of a building with the use of a recuperation system, i.e. energy-saving ventilation, will also help to maintain the proper humid and air quality in the house. Recuperation additionally increases the efficiency of underfloor heating.