Passing the water from the heating circuit into the screed of the floor of the house, this is the concept du heating floor. This heat emitter, a kind of long tube divided into loops, takes place on thethermal insulator from the floor. This sends all the calories back inside the house to avoid heat loss. The screed diffuses the heat evenly.
The 12 advantages of underfloor heating in new homes
Underfloor heating is a proven technology
Gone is the feeling of heavy legs that tarnished the reputation of the first heated floors of the 60s. Floor temperatures were then too high. Today, heated floors are said low temperature and comfort is there, with no unpleasant surprises. This technology is now democratized and is used worldwide. It thus equips more than 9 out of 10 homes in Scandinavian countries.
The comfort of a heated floor in a new home
The heated floor offers a better distributed heat
With underfloor heating the temperature is much higher homogeneous in the room. Indeed, the screed in which the tubes are embedded accumulates heat and distributes it over the entire surface of the floor. Heat is no longer concentrated on the ceiling or near radiators. It thus remains at the height of a man, where we need it for better comfort.
A heated floor in a new house to walk barefoot in all seasons
No more unpleasant cold floor sensations. The water, which circulates at a maximum of 40°C, will provide a gentle surface heat of between 21 and 28°C. THE heating floor avoids discomfort right down to the bathroom and a floor heating installed in all the rooms on the ground floor thus offers optimum comfort for those who like to walk barefoot without getting cold when getting out of the shower.
Underfloor heating adapted to a healthy home
Underfloor heating is a hygienic solution suitable for people allergic. The heat coming from the ground, the carpets are no longer essential to guarantee the cocoon effect. A good way to eliminate this mite vector from the house and to be able to clean more efficiently. In addition, people with respiratory allergies will appreciate this type of solution which does not cause the allergens (dust, pollen, etc.) as may be the case with other heat emitters.
The decorative advantage of underfloor heating in new homes
As the size of new homes shrinks, underfloor heating is the ultimate space-saving solution. Finished the headache of the location of the radiators which freezes the future layout of the house. The freedom of layout is total and the walls are cleared of often unsightly appliances.
The heated floor allows all floor coverings
Overall all flooring are compatible with underfloor heating in new homes. The ideal are mineral coatings that retain and diffuse heat better. Tiles, natural stone, porcelain stoneware, terracotta or reconstituted stone are the allies of your comfort. But one wood flooring or laminate is also possible. However, it will be necessary to opt for compatible models both in terms of installation and thickness. In the same way, carpet like PVC or vinyl floors can generally be laid on a heated floor. Your Sic home builder will help you choose compatible coatings.
Underfloor heating is economical
Underfloor heating is a solution that offers a very good energy efficiency. This means that with this system the heat is better used and conserved. Thus, with equal comfort, a house equipped with underfloor heating consumes on average 15% energy less than a house equipped with other heat emitters. Thanks to the even distribution of heat, residents will also have less need to push the thermostat to obtain the same felt temperature, which further favors energy savings and therefore financial savings.
The heated floor works with central heating
Used to heat the water circuit which supplies the various rooms of the house but also the domestic hot water of the house, the central heating is a very comfortable solution when building his home. The heated floor is the ideal complement to a pompe à chaleur or an boiler (low temperature or at condensation). The heated floor behaves like a classic heat emitter and it can be supplemented by radiators in certain rooms, upstairs for example.
Compatible with renewable energies
The heated floor also adapts to all forms of energy that you may have on your land. Traditional boilers generally operate using fossil fuels (oil, gas). It is also possible to heat water from the network thanks to the'solar energy (panels solar thermal), or wood energy (wood boiler or boiler stove). It is also possible to set up a pompe à chaleur. The latter runs on electricity but recovers calories from the air ( air/water heat pump) or in the ground (geothermal heat pump) to limit its energy consumption.
A measured cost in new construction
The installation of underfloor heating costs between 70 and 100 € per m2. The cost is higher than installing more conventional radiator-type heat emitters. However, the investment quickly pays for itself in view of the energy savings considered. In addition, this technology remains affordable if it is implemented from the construction of the house.
Cooling option in summer
If it is primarily used to diffuse heat in winter, underfloor heating can also be used to cool the house in summer. According to the same principle, it will then be “cold” water that will circulate in the network during the summer period. This option is made possible by the installation of certain heat pumps.
The heated floor can be programmed room by room
The heated floor is a heat emitter like any other. This means that it is possible to make a room-by-room regulation. The bedrooms can thus be kept at 19°C when the living room can provide a temperature of 21°C. Today, it is also possible to program life scenarios. Thanks to a time programming, the rooms will be heated differently depending on your habits. The key is energy savings and improved comfort.
See our article Building a new house with home automation: the 5 trends of the moment
The heated floor is a secure solution
The direct heat source is out of reach of the inhabitants of the house. There is therefore no risk of burns, especially for young children who sometimes lean on the radiators to get up.
The 2 disadvantages of underfloor heating in new homes
Longer reaction time
A heated floor works like a radiator inertia. It relies on the ability of the screed to store the heat emitted by the tubes and release it slowly. If comfort and energy savings are at the rendezvous, it is however necessary to count on a small delay before obtaining the desired temperature. A feature that makes it less suitable for a second home where you want to warm up the house very quickly when you arrive for the weekend. A solution for control your heating remotely remedy this drawback.
A more demanding interview
Over the long term, sludge can form in the underfloor heating ducts. Sludge removal should be carried out every 5 to 7 years.
