"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Dermot O'Loughlin wrote:

The reason I am not inclined to go for underfloor heating is that
after talking to some friends who have recently installed it I made
the following observations:

1) It is very unresponsive. In our climate it can be quite mild during
the day but chilly at night. If I went for UFH I wouldn't have the
option of responsive heating.


What you find in effect is that the floor being concrete has a huge
mass, and it actually - even without being heated - preserves heat in
the place as the outide temp falls. It doesn't NEED to be responsive.

Quite wrong. In a changable climate UFH requires a decent control system,
otherwise it can be caught out, being either too hot or too cold. One which
anticipates the fall or rise in temperature, as outside weather
compensation, is the best.

I have not come across anyine here who has fitted proper UFH who regrets
it.

I have come across people who hate the system with a vengeance.


3) Expense - it is cheaper to install a heating system using rads.

It isn't.

It is.

I did the sums,

They are wrong.

and teh lengths of plastic pipe were very
similar in proce to radiators. IThe only extra expense was auxilioary
pump, manifold and heat reducing valve -= about 200 squids. But think of
the savings in decopration and hiding ugly rads, and fettling all that
pipework in.

For UFH to operate anywhere near effectively, expensive control systems have
to be used. This ramps up the price considerably. Also skills to maintain
these controls is thin on the ground, and expensive.

I do know that UFH would be the ideal way to heat my large open areas
but the points I make above lead me to look for the best alternative.

I am going to look into the idea of using fan convection rads instead
of normal rads. Does anyone have any experience using these?

Yes. Have these as well. They are 2nd best IMHO. Radioators are teh
worst way to heat a house. Apart from a single open fire.

I also like the idea of the duct in the ceiling taking the heat to the
floor level - can this be used in a room with an open fire?

I hav UFH with teh open fores. Its not a good idea to introduce strong
draughts in rooms with open fires.


Thanks for your help so far,
Dermot.