Underfloor heating can be one of the most luxurious in your cozy homes. It helps in Distributing the even heat throughout the home whether on the floor wall & ceiling. It’s obviously become popular in New Zealand because of its heat efficiency and comfort level. If you are looking for Underfloor Heating in Auckland – New Zealand. This Blog can help you to understand which type of Underfloor Heating is good for your Home.
How does Underfloor Heating Works
Underfloor heating basically works by making the floor area into a soothing heat emitter. The floor area has Heating tubes or cables installed beneath it. So underfloor heating essentially warms the room from the ground up. Let’s consider the factor which is important before installing Underfloor heating. One of the important factors for Underfloor heating up is floor construction.
Benefits of Underfloor Heating
Flexible to install
Suitable for all kinds of property
Keep your floor warm & a Luxury Feeling of warmth
More Energy Efficient
Space-saving (Maximise the space)
Safe & Healthy
Environment Friendly.
Types of Underfloor heating methods in New Zealand
- In-slab
- European Screed
- Variotherm
- Metal Plate – Timber floor system
1. In-slab, underfloor heating aka ‘Kiwi’ underfloor heating
In New Zealand Heating the construction slab is a very popular & widely used form of underfloor heating system. Under this method, the Pipes are set down on polystyrene insulation or fitted onto reinforcing mesh.
Advantages: Relatively inexpensive and simple to install. Large thermal mass retains heat.
Disadvantages: High thermal mass means slow response to controls. Because the outside edges of the slab are not insulated there can be heat loss to the footings and re-bar, and to the environment.
2. European screed underfloor heating
With European Screen Underfloor Heating you have lower heat loss, higher efficiency, and faster response to controls. It is normally 50mm thick, it has reduced thermal mass compared to in-slab. It remains insulated from the rest of the building. It can be used for retrofit if the existing floor is strong enough and the raised floor level is acceptable. Screed basically is floor coverings, do not think as part of the floor composition.
Advantages: More efficiency and faster response to controls. Loses less heat through the edge of the slab.
Disadvantages: More expensive than basic in-slab underfloor. The response is still slow compared to thinner screeds and radiators.
3. Variotherm
Variotherm is a quick-reaction, lightweight system from Europe that is suitable for both new and existing homes. It is considered the best & efficient of all the warm water underfloor heating methods, because of its close and thin pipe layout structure.
Advantages: Because it has a thinner pipe so it heats up and cools down quicker than the other systems. It is ideal for renovations and low-weight structure requirements.
Disadvantages: More expensive to lay than the basic in-slab system.
4. Metal plate timber floor system
Alloy plates to spread heat are laid under floorboards or timber panel floors. The pipes are mounted on the plates which act as heat conductors from the pipe. Insulation is positioned under the plates and pipes. Used extensively in Europe where there are many timber floors supported by joists or battens.
Advantages: Helpful for timber floors, because you need not raise the floor level in existing buildings or build a floor to support a heavy screed in a new building.
Disadvantages: This system is probably the most labor-intensive and therefore more expensive to lay than the basic in-slab floor. Here you are left with 2 choices access to under the floor or the floor deck removal.
Conclusion
Now you know about Types of Underfloor Heating & its benefits. It’s time to decide. If you still need any guidance and the costing estimate for underfloor heating please feel free to call Prime Electricals – we are one of the best Underfloor Heating Experts in the Auckland Region. Apart from Underfloor Heating, Prime Electrical offers Electrical Services, Heat Pumps, Ventilation Systems, Underfloor Heating, Security Systems, and Solar Panel Energy Systems. Our Contact number is 09-390-3620, We will be happy to guide you. If you want to visit us, feel free to reach us at the below address.
Unit 13
17 Highbrook Drive
East Tamaki Auckland 2013
New Zealand