To get the most out of partnering carpet with underfloor heating, there are some considerations to account for. However, by making suitable choices and following advice from heating and flooring manufacturers, you can easily benefit from both.
There are a wide range of advantages to using carpeting over your underfloor heating. While it can add an extra layer ofwarmth and softness to rooms, it can also improve air quality and home hygiene.
Carpets are notorious for accumulating dust. When radiators are fitted, convection heat causes dust particles to circulate around rooms. Radiators heat the air in a room, which circulates impurities and dust particles embedded in carpets. Unwanted particles can cause symptoms like sneezing, coughing and itchy throats and eyes. They can also aggravate allergies and asthma.
Underfloor heating warms up the flooring rather than the air. This results in reduced circulation and doesn’t disturb dust collected in carpets, creating a cleaner atmosphere to breathe in your home.
Many carpet options can work well with underfloor heating, but some types are not ideal. For example, when carpet is overly thick, it can prevent effective heat transfer, and you won’t enjoy the full benefit of the underfloor heating.
Additionally, specific carpet backings like rubber can also inhibit heat getting to your room.
Hessian backed carpets are advised for use with underfloor heating. Although they cost more than rubber backed carpets, they allow heat to pass through the carpet more easily, which means your underfloor heating won’t have to work so hard.
Tog rating measures thermal resistance and can help you find a carpet that is not too thick to work with your underfloor heating system.
However, you must also add the tog rating of the carpet underlay to your calculations. As a rule, the overall tog rating (carpet plus underlay) should not be more than 2.5 tog.
Aim for even lower (1.5 tog) if you are opting to run your underfloor heating system on an air or ground source heat pump.
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