Loft Heating ?

[lloydwatkins]

I am about to convert a loft into a third floor in our house. Currently I have nu-heat UFH on the ground floor and standard radiators on the first floor. The new loft will be 2 indentical bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms. I was thinking of installing UFH in the new floor (1 single zone with its own thermostat) but an architect I know has questioned why I would need so much heating/ expense in the new floor and has suggested 2 small electric storage heaters. The new loft will have at least latest standards of insulation, perhaps more, each room withh have west facing velux and east facing dorrmers. Any comments on whether this lower level of heating will be enough ? what about electric towel rails for en- suites ?

Thanks

Lloyd

[Owain]

Electric storage heaters aren't usually recommended for bedrooms even in all-electric households, and may be financially disastrous if you have a lot of daytime electricity usage.

I would suggest converting the system to pressurised operation (assuming you can't raise the header tank above the loft) and using standard radiators and towel rails.

See Ed Sirett's FAQs.

Owain

[John Rumm]

I can't see the logic of using electric heating if you already have a working central heating system. If it is a vented design then convert to a sealed system if you can, else find a place high up for the header tank.

Built to modern standards you may find the heat loss from the loft is very much lower than from the rest of the house - so can use smaller ordinary rad than those used on the first floor.

When I did the heat loss calcs for my loft conversion I found the loss from the whole second storey was about the same as that from my front room! (which has only one external wall).

[David Hansen]

On 5 Feb 2007 11:21:18 -0800 someone who may be [e-mail] wrote this:-

You pay much attention to what architects have to say on heating and ventilation? In my view some architects are excellent at architecture, but they should stick to their field.

Underfloor heating is slow to respond to changes in the space and may not be the best option, especially when there are large solar gains (no idea about this particular proposal). However, it would be better then electric storage heaters.

If there is space for storage heaters then there is space for radiators. Given the current price of thermostats and motorised valves I would be tempted to fit an optimum start thermostat and motorised valve for each radiator.

Run them off the heating system.

Running a long uninsulated heating main in summer just to keep some towel rails warm would not be a good idea, though if the towel rails are just above a hot water cylinder then this changes the position. Electric heaters for summer use are frowned on by some, but they do have advantages.

[Grow Your Own Energy]

Have you considered an Air Heat Pump?

More efficient than wet central heating and definitely more efficient than storage heaters, you'd save money and cut emissions!

These things are very popular in Denmark and Sweden but only just catching on over here.

Even better - a solar system connected to your under floor heating - free hot water. Yes - it works even when it isn't sunny - there's still solar radiation in the UK even though there's not much sunshine!

Alternatively, what about a wood burning boiler - not as messy as it sounds, the wood chips go into a hopper.

Check out

technology questionnaire, answer all the questions and it will tell you what's viable for your property.

[Peter Parry]

You will install it for nothing and service it for free?

Another bit of greenwash sales masquerading as "independent". Obviously the word means something other than its usual dictionary definition when used by the green propaganda industry.

Each of the "calculators" ends up with "A report based on your choices will be dispatched instantly! Please enter your name and email address below" and "If you are interested in a free no obligation quotation call our support [sales?] team..."

Has the whole of the double glazing and second hand car industry migrated en masse to the ecofake sector?

[manatbandq]

I don't fancy carrying the wood up to the loft every day.

MBQ