Our heated floors
What is an underfloor heating system?
In fact, the term underfloor heating covers several different products. It can be a simple floor that warms your feet or a complete home heating system.
Le produit que nous vendons au Groupe H2O est un système de chauffage complet qui fonctionne avec un plancher radiant. This is also called hydronic heating. This type of heating offers an alternative to conventional heating.
The system consists of a series of pipes placed directly on the ground, under the floor. The same system can work with hot water or a kind of glycol-based antifreeze that circulates inside the pipes. The heat passes through the floor by radiation and is distributed to objects and people. Since the floor is always warmer than the air, the room is very comfortable.
The components of a heated floor
The radiant floor heating system consists of the following components:
Usually, it is an electric boiler that heats the water. The boiler is like a small water heater. It consists of a housing and a stainless steel or cast iron heating body which is fully insulated. The mini ULTRA and bth ULTRA, manufactured by Thermo2000, are frequently used. These boilers are equipped with an UltraSmart® smart controller for easy control of the heating system.
The circulating pump distributes the water heated by the boiler throughout the pipework. It can be equipped with a variable speed drive, which increases the energy saving very slightly. This mainly eliminates mechanical parts and increases the efficiency of the system.
An expansion tank is a low-pressure pressurized tank designed specifically for floor heating systems. When water heats up, it expands. The tank allows the water to take up more space without increasing the pressure in the system.
At Groupe H2O, we install Retro-Line® heating cables from Heat-Line®.
It is a high performance product designed to be effective in extreme cold and harsh environments. It performs best where the pipe is coldest.
Retro-Line® heating cable is installed inside drinking water pipes and provides good freeze protection. It can also be used in pipes, even if there is no water. It will not melt the pipes.
In the event of a power outage, it is possible for the water line to freeze. The heating cable will come back on as soon as the power returns and will gradually thaw the water line.
It is recommended that the installation be done by a professional, in order to ensure optimal performance. Before installing a Retro-Line® heating cable, you must:
- Measure the length of the pipe to be protected.
- Choose the right power to keep your car from freezing in the winter.
- Properly insulate the pipe to reduce energy costs.
Floor heating can be used as a heating system in many types of residential construction. Generally, it is the heater of choice for new construction. It can then be installed directly into the concrete slab.
In renovations, it can be installed under floor joists and combined with a radiator. It is even possible to install it by going through the pipes of an old oil heating system.
The energy savings will depend on the heat loss of the building and its insulation. However, it is still more economical than conventional systems.
The floor heating system can also be used outdoors to melt snow on sidewalks.
Here are some of the benefits of floor heating:
- It is quiet and energetically very efficient.
- It is not cumbersome like baseboards, convectors or air outlets.
- It is more comfortable than conventional heating systems.
- It can be installed under virtually any floor covering.
And some disadvantages:
- The installation is more expensive than a conventional electric heating system.
- It is more difficult to install in an existing home.
Installation : $
Maintenance : $