Heating your home should be about making the rooms as comfortable as possible. However, using a traditional central heating system can result in an uncomfortable and uneven temperature.
How Central Heating Works
In a traditional central heating system, water is heating inside the radiator. This then heats the air around the radiator.
Hot air naturally rises, which will force the cold air down. This cooler air will then be heated by the radiator and the cycle will continue.
The radiator heats the room by warming the air, which will heat the ceiling and then – gradually – the rest of the room.
How Underfloor Heating Works
Underfloor heating works by heating the floor. Using radiant heat, this then heats the coldest surfaces in the room.
These surfaces could be furniture, people or any things else in the room. The heat in the surfaces then gently heats the air in the room, creating an even, natural feeling of warmth at all points in the room.
Effects of Temperature Variation
The temperature variation which is a natural consequence of using a traditional central heating system can have several effects.
The highest temperatures will be focused around the radiator. If you are too close to the radiator, this may be uncomfortably warm. There is also a danger of burning if you, a pet or a child touches the radiator when it is on.
Because the hot air generated by the radiator rises, the ceiling will be the next warmest point in the room. If you have high ceilings it will take a long time to heat the room using radiators.
Even if you have fairly low ceilings, the temperature variation can lead to a feeling of having a hot head, but cold feet.
Effect of Air Circulation
Radiators can be difficult to keep clean, due to the uneven surfaces. This means they can be dust traps, holding dust on the various ridges on the radiator.
When the radiator heats up, causing the air to circulate around the room, this will carry the dust with it.
The circulation of dust can make the room uncomfortable for people, especially those with allergies.
It can also make it more difficult to keep the room clean.
By using underfloor heating, air circulation is reduced, which means there are fewer drafts and dust is not circulated around the room.
Underfloor heating can result in a more comfortable environment, by reducing temperature variation and cutting down on air circulation.