Imagine coming from the freezing cold outside on an icy winter’s day, walking into your heated home….. this is possible with an underfloor heating system from Imperial Heating.
Underfloor heating by using a hydronic system is accomplished by circulating water in a closed water pipe system laid inside the floor. This water is heated which ensures that your house and floors are always kept at a constant temperature during the winter months. Once the system has been filled and commissioned, there is no need to fill it up again as the same water is circulated. Since the water pipes are buried in the floor, there is no noise from air blowing from conventional heaters.
The hydronic system are not only beautiful in it’s simplicity, but it is the most effective and cost saving underfloor heating systems in the world. It can produce heat with any of the following 3 energy sources:
- Electricity or solar energy
- Natural gas
- Oil
We always use energy and solar efficient heat pumps to minimize environmental impact and ensure that your hydronic system can be efficiently used on-grid and off-grid. With a hydronic underfloor heating system you can save up to 65% or more in heating energy, thus it is the lowest form of carbon footprint.
Advantages of hydronic underfloor heating
- Easy to operate and maintain
- Water is very cost-effective to heat, thus can be attained by solar, gas or even a wood burner should the need arise
- A hydronic heating system is installed under the floor, thus there are no risk of accidental burns, thus perfect for pre-schools, nurseries, schools, offices, hospitals and high-traffic areas
- No noise from fans or heaters
- Very hypo-allergenic as no dust particles are blown around by fans
- A hydronic system does not dry out the air
- No unsightly fans thus no interference with design and aesthetics
- Programmable thermostats for each room or area
- Increases the value of your home
F.A.Q.
Which is better? An electrical or water system?
Deciding on which underfloor heating you need comes down to a few factors. Are you newly building or renovating? Has the floor been laid yet? Will you be using tile floors, cement floors, wooden floors and will you lay carpets? How big is the area you want to install the underfloor heating system? How often will it be occupied? Are you looking at a higher installation fee and a lower running cost or a lower installation fee with a higher running cost?
As you can see there are a lot of factors in play, but one of our experts will advice you and assist you in making the right decisions for your installation.
What happens when a pipe leaks or are damaged?
Imperial uses pipes that are pressure tested to 6 bar of pressure, thus it is well tested and durable. We use one circuit that is terminated at the manifold, thus there are no joints under the floor. This prevents using couplings that could leak.
During and after installation, a pressure test is done to ensure that your system is 100% leak-free. The pipes has a life expectancy of 50 years and are resistant against chemical attacks, thus your chance of a leak developing is one in a million. Of course there can be physical damage from third parties after installation, in which case the leak can be pinpointed using specialized equipment and repaired.
Where are the pipes placed?
A pipe of 16-20mm is placed in a 45mm screed application under your floor finish.
Where does the warm water come from?
A high energy efficient heat pump is mostly used to heat the water to the required temperature. It can also be heated by oil burners or a solar system.
Can the underfloor heating system run off a solar system?
Yes it can, but the capital layout needed due to large power storage requirements might not be the best option available.
Have a look at our gallery to see some of our installations.