How do you keep your residential log cabin warm and cosy? A heated floor is one of the top choices for log homes to have regulated indoor temperature despite the cold weather outside. Log structures are typically insulated, especially if you choose the right wood species with the required thickness and density. Nevertheless, there are remarkable heating systems and technologies that are designed for contemporary log homes.
What Warms a Residential Log Cabin Floor?
Underfloor heating is quite popular in numerous log homes in Northern Europe. This type of heating system is becoming a more preferable alternative to conventional radiators. It is quite different than centralized radiator-operated heating. Underfloor heating uses a combination of convection and radiated heat in order to power up the system. The result is constant temperature and comfort between the ceiling and the residential log cabin floor.
Is Underfloor Heating Better?
Among the heating systems used for today’s log homes, underfloor heating is often preferred for its remarkable features including the following:
Cheaper
Cost efficiency is one of the main benefits of using this type of heating system. Underfloor heating that is operated through a condensing boiler is 90% cheaper compared to heating systems that are powered through radiators.
Flexible
Underfloor heating systems have virtually flexible operations. You can run this system using most available heating fuels. Wet system underfloor heaters utilize conventional gas, solid fuel or oil boilers. Renewable technologies also power underfloor heaters particularly heat pumps. This type of pump offers more efficient heating at lower temperatures. It is also possible to heat your log home floors through using a biomass boiler. The supplementation of this type of heating system is carried out through a solar thermal panel. There are also electrically powered underfloor heating systems.
What is a Wet Underfloor Heating System?
The means of operation are the most significant feature that describes this type of floor heating technology. A reinforced polythene piping serves as the carrier of heated water that is circulated and spread to the different areas and rooms of the residential log cabin. The piping has separate circuits that are distributed to numerous locations in the log home. Each of these circuits is likewise linked to a manifold that has a thermostat and regulating valves. Thus, different rooms in the cabin could be heated in varying temperatures at different times. This system allows cost cutting your energy usage.
3 Main Underfloor Heating Types
1. Solid Floors
New build properties prefer this type of heating system. The underfloor heating system is built and integrated into the screed or concrete floors, making it a permanent part of the structure. The insulation goes on first before the pipes are poured with screed or concrete. Floor finishes such as stone, wood, vinyl, carpet or tiles are then overlaid on the surface.
2. Floating Floors
A residential log cabin with floating floors can still benefit from a wet underfloor heater. This floor type offers the quickest installation since you don’t need to set any concrete or screed. The heating system is installed above an existing wooden or solid floor. Thus, a floating floor underfloor heater is ideal for retrofitting.
3. Suspended Floors
The space between the battens and joints is where this heating system is inserted. Suspended floors have casings that include a groove floor board and tongue. This allows preference for different types of floor coverings to suit your log house.
What is an Electric Underfloor Heating System?
Unlike wet underfloor heaters, this electric underfloor heating system utilizes electric wires in order to heat up the floors. These electric wires underneath the floors are powered up with the application of electricity. It is applicable on both new and existing log structures. It works in new log homes with a screed finish or existing structures that have tiles or electric matting.
Although it can be used for new constructions, electric underfloor heaters are also recommended for existing residential log cabins. This is due to the ease of installing the electric wires compared to water pipes. Experts agree that electric underfloor heating is more responsive, thus can warm up the room much quicker than its wet floor heating counterpart. The downside of using this system is the increase in your electricity consumption and consequent bills.
What is Radiant Floor Heating?
Another option for enjoying heated floors in your residential log cabin is through a radiant floor heating system. It relies on infrared radiation or radiant heat transfer for its operation. One of the benefits of using this floor heating system is that heat is evenly transferred through the space. Forced air is not used to blow heat around one or two areas in the cabin.
How it Works
Radiant floor heating follows a simple system. Water is heated and circulated through a grid of tubing which is laid in the floor. The heated water then transfers its radiant heat and spreads it to the entire room. The residential log cabin experiences the heat everywhere in the structure. Heat is not blown out of just a single or two ducts. Temperature control is done through the regulation of the flow of hot water that runs through the tubing. Valves and thermostats are utilized for this process.
Advantages of Radiant Floor Heating
Radiant heating is beneficial to your residential log cabin floor because it is energy efficient. It doesn’t use air to spread the heat around, thus there are less instances of allergens and dusts in the air. Radiant floor heating does not affect air moisture content. You need not worry about humidification or growth of moulds and mildew inside the log home. The system guarantees low energy use and electricity cost. The process also uses versatile heat sources in order to heat up the hydronic systems.
Enjoy your residential log cabin all year round. Heated floors are always comfortable and cosy. You can achieve temperature regulated floors with the latest floor heating systems available today. Know more about your floor heating options and choose the best system that caters for your log home needs.
