Floor Heating Systems

Floor heating systems are certain systems which are used to keep the temperature of the room by heating the floor. The heating elements or pipes are placed under the floor, which is called as dry system. Meanwhile, the sub-floor system uses heating elements attached directly to the wood sub-floor. Wet system occurs when the heating elements are cast in floor slab. The heating system is not turned on all day since it costs much energy. Some commercial buildings which use the floor heating system turn on the system during off peak hour. The system is turned off during the day.

Floor heating systems consist of hydronic system and electric systems. The hydronic floor heating systems use only water or mixture of water and anti-freeze material such as propylene glycol. The chemical is used as the heat transfer fluid to circulate between the floor and boiler. Skilled designers are needed to install this hydronic system. The designers should be capable in the system of floor heating and familiar with circulators, boilers, temperature and fluid pressures. This heating system uses natural gas, coal, electricity or oil as its energy sources of heater. The heat pumps use electricity and gas as energy sources.

Electric system employs flexible heating elements such as cables, cable mats or carbon films. The electric system is commonly used as carpet heaters, under tile heating, under wood floor heating and floor warming system. This heating system is quite simpler than the hydronic heating system. It is easier to install and use fewer components than the hydronic system. Yet, it still requires skilled people to install the electric heating. The advantage of electric heating system is that it needs low energy. In conclusion, hydronic system and electric system are floor heating systems which are applied in different place and purpose.