Underfloor heating: basics

In short: Underfloor heating distributes heat over a large area across the entire floor, creating a pleasant, even indoor climate at comparatively low supply temperatures. It’s particularly well suited in combination with efficient heat pumps.

In more detail: Thanks to the floor’s large heating surface, lower water temperatures suffice to create the same thermal comfort as conventional radiators.

In detail

• Operating principle: Hot water pipes or electric heating wires are laid in the screed or directly under the floor covering and release their heat upward.
• Radiant heat: Underfloor heating produces predominantly radiant heat instead of convective heat, which is perceived as more pleasant and less dust-stirring.
• System inertia: Due to the large stored heat mass in the screed, underfloor heating reacts much more slowly to temperature changes than conventional radiators.
• Low system temperatures: The lower required supply temperature makes underfloor heating especially efficient in combination with heat pumps.
• Floor covering choice: Tiles and natural stone conduct heat well, while thick carpets can significantly impede heat output.
• Retrofitting: Thin-layer systems allow underfloor heating to be retrofitted even in existing buildings without an extensive floor build-up.
• Individual room control: Modern systems allow separate temperature control of individual rooms via thermostats and actuators on each heating circuit (waermepumpe, thermostat-und-heizungsregelung).