An infloor heating system is an unobtrusive form of heating your home. With the distribution manifold operation being housed in a plant room or cupboard the infloor part of the system is invisible.
In infloor heating systems, approved Plastic Pipe (PEX) is embedded in the concrete of a new home slab covering all or some areas of the home. Pipes are laid throughout the floor in a series of loops. Water at a temperature of approx 45C-50C is pumped from the heat source and through a mixing valve, which regulates the temperature, around the pipe and therefore heating the floor. The heat source can be a wood-fired boiler, gas-fired boiler or even a heat-pump system.
Water temperatures can be kept low as the entire floor is heated evenly and as the room is heated from the bottom up leaving no areas of cold and producing no noise or draughts. Compared to Wall Hung Radiators, underfloor heating takes longer to heat up, as the entire slab has to be heated. An infloor heating system also takes a longer time to cool down which means that there is less of a temperature drop in the case of the wood boiler, or gas boiler being turned off or going out. If the wood fire goes out overnight the floor temperature will not drop as fast as a wall hung radiator.
Installation of infloor heating systems is carried out by a qualified and experienced tradesman. The pipe is laid in the floor prior to the concrete being poured with the manifold and other equipment being installed during the plumbing stage of the build.
What is a Manifold System?
At WISELIVING, we use the manifold system for both our radiators and infloor hydronic central heating options. Manifold distribution systems have been used for infloor heating for decades and at WISELIVING we have adapted the technology to include radiator heating panels as well.
The WISELIVING manifold systems are simple and quick to install, bleed and balance heat distribution, and the multi-layer pipe work is easy to work with and comes fully insulated. Multi-fitting fittings require only a deburring tool and connection tool, or suitably sized allen key and a spanner. These fittings can be removed or replaced without damaging the pipe or the fitting itself.
The manifold can be installed in a cupboard or plant room, taking up very little room and in most cases the cupboard can still be used for other purposes as shown in the photograph below. Manifold systems can be designed to suit all radiator and underfloor situations, whatever the size.
