Underfloor heating has many advantages, but you should also be aware of the disadvantages. Before installation, get detailed information from a specialist.
Benefits of underfloor heating in schools
A preschool with underfloor heating offers unlimited furnishing options. Nowhere are there radiators that are in the way or draw attention to themselves. You are therefore very flexible when designing your own room. There is also no need to paint or clad the heating.
The even distribution of heat makes it much harder for mold and mites. This protects your health and your students. Since you always have warm feet, a room temperature reduced by around two degrees Celsius is sufficient.
You do not need high temperatures to operate the underfloor heating. It gives off heat evenly and ensures a comfortable feeling. As a result, there is no dust turbulence, as you are probably familiar with from conventional radiators.
Disadvantages of the heating system
Underfloor heating does not only bring advantages. The system also has some disadvantages. Some systems only change the room temperature very slowly. The reason for this is the low temperatures during heating operation.
If this type of heating is retrofitted, the room height changes. Keep this in mind when setting up large rooms. In addition, the installation and repair costs are higher here than with conventional radiators. Accordingly, rehabilitation is relatively expensive.
You cannot use any floor covering with underfloor heating. Before you decide on a specific floor, ask a heat pump underfloor heating (warmtepomp vloerverwarming) specialist whether the desired covering is suitable.
Electrical system compared to the hot water variant
You have the choice between electric underfloor heating and hot water underfloor heating. Installing electric underfloor heating results in high power consumption for you. As a rule, the power is 100 to 160 watts per square meter.
Electric underfloor heating heats up much faster than the hot water system. In contrast to the electric model, the latter can be connected to existing heating systems. You also have the choice of whether the system is fed with oil, gas, pellets, a heat pump or solar power.
You can lay the hot water underfloor heating in your preschool classrooms in different ways. Choose between a dry and a wet system. The dry system is usually more expensive, but is more suitable for installation during renovations or refurbishments. You can lay prefabricated floor elements similar to heating pipes.
With the wet system, flexible plastic pipes are installed in the floor according to your wishes and therefore adapt much better to your requirements. A disadvantage, however, is the use of screed after laying. A later conversion is only possible with considerable effort.