The smarter way to keep warm
With the last few winters in Britain being colder than the average, and energy prices continuing to soar to record levels, UK homeowners can be forgiven for feeling a little blue at the prospect of turning up the radiators to keep warm and cosy.
As the spring season kicks in, it’s not uncommon for thoughts to turn to renovating the home and many homeowners may well be considering making improvements that will help reduce energy costs whilst making the home that bit more inviting.
One of the most efficient ways to ensure your home is warm and comfortable, without worrying about using too much energy and depending on unsightly radiators, is to fit underfloor heating.
Underfloor heating systems are not only more efficient than radiators, but can also free up wall space in your home - so you’ll no longer be restricted in the design of and layout of your rooms.
Unlike radiator-based systems, underfloor heating ensures an even dispersion of heat across an entire room, with no cold spots or draughts. Family-friendly and with no unsightly radiators it’s aesthetically pleasing and a system can be tailor-made for any home.
There are two different types of underfloor heating available on today’s market – electric and water-based systems. Electric systems use cables attached to mesh mats to effectively create a giant electric blanket, however, because they are electric they are considerably more expensive to run than water-based systems.
Water-based systems, such as those available from Polypipe’s Home Solutions range, use flexible plastic pipes which are filled with warm water directly from the central heating. The systems can also be integrated with renewable sources too, making them a smart choice for eco-savvy homeowners who don’t want a system with expensive on-going costs.
There are many different types of water-based underfloor heating systems suitable for any type of floor construction. For example, concrete or cement floors can use a Solid Floor system which comprises lightweight plastic floor panels. These are quick and easy to install via a registered installer and provide optimum comfort within the room.
For retrofit projects, Overlay and Overlay Lite underfloor heating systems work best. Both can be fitted over existing flooring. Overlay is more suited to hard flooring such as ceramic tiles and stone whereas Overlay Lite is designed for use underneath softer floorings such as carpet and laminate.
Underfloor heating is also incredibly easy to control for homeowners. Digital thermostats can allow time control per room, which means if your bathroom needs warming up first thing in the morning but your bedroom doesn’t, you can easily control this via a handy thermostat control.
As we get into spring and the winter frost starts to become a distant memory, homeowners must try to prepare for the next winter in a bid to fight off the cold. Underfloor heating offers a simple and effective solution to ease the growing concern of rising energy costs, whilst keeping homes comfortable, efficient and sustainable.
For more information about Polypipe Home Solutions, visit homesolutions.polypipe.com.
