Underfloor heating in dry screed - Energy-saving heating

Are you wondering how you can heat in an energy-saving yet effective way? An underfloor heating system, which evenly distributes pleasant radiant heat over the entire floor area, is the optimal answer to this.

The History of Underfloor Heating

The history of underfloor heating dates back to antiquity. The ancient Romans already made use of the technique of heat from floors. Known as hypocaust, rooms were heated in this way more than 2000 years ago. The predecessors of today's underfloor heating worked by means of heating chambers located under the floors, in which warm air circulated. This heat was mostly generated with wood and transferred via ceiling and support plates supported by columns. Over this construction, screed and often an additional decorative layer, subsequently decorated with mosaics, were applied.

However, the Roman underfloor heating had some significant disadvantages compared to today's modern underfloor heating. First, the energy consumption was enormous. Due to the thick floor slabs, the heating time often took several days. Moreover, it was practically not possible to regulate the temperature as we are used to with today's heating systems.

While the technique of underfloor heating fell into oblivion in the following centuries, today underfloor heating is an important and central component of many apartments and houses. The rediscovery of underfloor heating in its present form took place in Europe mainly from the 1970s onwards. To this day, the technology has continuously evolved. Thanks to a series of innovations, underfloor heating today provides more energy efficient and comfortable heating solutions than ever before.

How does an underfloor heating work?

Underfloor heating systems are surface heating systems. As the name already suggests, surface heating systems are based on the principle that heat is emitted over surfaces. Unlike radiators, surface heating systems have a much larger transfer area. Surface heating systems can be installed in floors, walls, and ceilings. Underfloor heating is the most well-known type of surface heating.

Surface heating systems do not emit heat through the air like conventional heating systems, but rather over surfaces. This makes the system not only more energy efficient but also perceived by people as much more pleasant and comfortable.

More about surface heating

There are two different types of underfloor heating: water-based or electric underfloor heating. Electric underfloor heating works with the help of heating mats or heating foils. These are laid in the floor and supplied with electrical energy as the name suggests. This heats the installed components.

Water-based underfloor heating systems work with pipes laid in the floor through which heated water flows, providing warmth in rooms. The pipes can be laid in different ways and used for both drywall construction and screed. With the help of a special filling compound, the heat can be transferred to floors such as parquet, laminate, stoneware, or tiles. Thanks to much lower flow temperatures of the water compared to conventional heating systems, underfloor heating saves a lot of costs without having to compromise on comfort.

The big difference between electric and water-based heating systems is that electrically operated heaters are much more expensive to operate than water-based underfloor heating systems. Furthermore, it is possible to cool with water-based surface heating systems because cold water can also circulate through the pipes.

This is what the VarioComp Modular Floor Heating looks like.

The compact underfloor heating from Variotherm quickly transforms cold floors into pleasantly warm surfaces. The ultra-slim underfloor heating in drywall construction is ideal for both new builds and gentle renovations. The VarioComp underfloor heating is 20 mm thin and can be installed quickly and easily afterwards. The installation of the gypsum fiber boards is done in drywall construction.

Install underfloor heating in drywall construction

Underfloor heating is very well suited for installation in drywall construction. It is important that all components are coordinated. What exactly this means, how the underfloor heating is structured in drywall construction, what is important during installation, and which floor coverings are particularly suitable for underfloor heating can be read here:

More about floor heating for dry construction

Underfloor Heating renovation in old buildings

Would you like to renovate your old building with an underfloor heating system to ensure cozy warmth even in the cold season? Why low installation heights are particularly suitable for renovation in old buildings, the reasons for renovating with an underfloor heating system, what to consider during installation, and how to easily carry out the installation in drywall construction can be read here:

Renovate with underfloor heating

Where can underfloor heating be used?

- Renovation

- New construction

- Medical facilities

- Buildings under monument protection

- Single room renovation, such as bathrooms

Equip individual rooms with underfloor heating

Do you want to renovate your bathroom? Consider in advance whether you might want to replace the heating system as part of the bathroom renovation. An underfloor heating system offers you cozy warmth, which is especially desirable in the bathroom. Warm feet when you step out of the shower or bathtub are guaranteed with underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating can also be installed in all other rooms of the house, such as bedrooms, living rooms, work or hobby rooms. This has the great advantage that you no longer need to use radiators that disrupt the room for heating. You can therefore install underfloor heating only in individual rooms that are being renovated. Technically, this is made possible by selecting the Variotherm underfloor heating system with the Pumped VarioManifold or the Pump Microstation, which connects the new low-temperature underfloor heating with an existing high-temperature heating system.

Ideal floor coverings for underfloor heating

Underfloor heating can be combined with a range of different floor coverings. You can have the underfloor heating installed under the floor covering that you like best. It is important that the floor covering is suitable for combination with underfloor heating according to the manufacturer's specifications. In general, in addition to multi-layer parquet and laminate, ceramic coverings and stone as well as linoleum and carpet are among the floor coverings suitable for underfloor heating. The basic rule is: the thicker the covering, the slower the heat transfer, as the floor needs to be heated for longer. For example, tiles and natural stone have high thermal conductivity and quickly transfer heat to the room.

Costs of Underfloor Heating

The costs of an underfloor heating system depend not only on the choice of product but also on other steps and factors associated with underfloor heating. These include, in addition to the costs for the installation and installation of an underfloor heating system, those for operation and maintenance.

It is therefore advisable to thoroughly inform yourself about all incurred costs during the planning phase. This means both those incurred during installation and those that arise during the ongoing operation of the underfloor heating. This way, you can specifically choose the product that not only best fits your renovation or new construction project but also proves to be the most cost-effective for the coming years.

Get informed by the installer or heating professional you trust about the best option for you. A small tip: Pay particular attention to the energy efficiency of the underfloor heating – because in times of high energy prices, any higher initial costs for higher-quality heating systems quickly pay off thanks to lower operating costs!

One system – many advantages

The underfloor heating in drywall construction is very responsive. With its low construction height of 20 mm, the heating pipes are close to the floor covering. This means that the floor heats up quickly. This makes the VarioComp Modular Floor Heating perfect for rapidly changing room air temperatures, such as those that can occur with large glass surfaces, fireplaces, in kitchens, or in rooms with many people. Thanks to the underfloor heating, rooms remain cozily warm – and this at lower flow temperatures than with conventional heating systems. Due to the short response times of the VarioComp underfloor heating, the room air temperature can be better regulated with a room thermostat than with a screed floor heating.

With underfloor heating, you continuously save energy. The reason for this: the low temperature system. This means that the heating pipes are laid over the entire floor area. This allows the system to operate with lower flow temperatures. Depending on the outside temperature, it is sufficient to heat the water to 26 to 38 °C. In comparison, conventional radiators require a flow temperature of up to 60 °C. The reason: due to their small surface area, they only release heat to the room at specific points. Additionally, the radiant heat generated by surface heating systems further reduces heating costs. Compared to convection heating, the room air temperature can be lowered by up to 2 °C without compromising comfort or well-being. Low temperature systems save 6% in heating costs for each degree the room temperature is lowered.

Are there also disadvantages to underfloor heating?

Compared to conventional radiator heating, the acquisition costs for surface heating systems, such as underfloor heating, are higher. However, in this context, one should also consider the ongoing heating costs. With underfloor heating, these are up to 25% lower than with conventional heating. Despite the 25% savings, you can still expect 100% comfort. A surface heating system pays for itself within a few years – an important aspect to consider before purchasing a heating system.

In principle, you can use all types of flooring in combination with underfloor heating. However, you should always check the manufacturer's instructions in advance. Not every type of flooring is optimally suited to provide warmth with underfloor heating. Due to their storage and thermal conductivity, ceramic tiles and natural stones are very suitable, for example. Parquet, laminate, carpet, and linoleum can also be installed.

For optimal use of underfloor heating, you should note that furniture, carpets, or other coverings can reduce the heating performance.

Underfloor Heating is limited in its ability to cool rooms. Combine Underfloor Heating with wall or Ceiling Cooling. Incidentally, these can also be used as Heating. This way, the room climate remains pleasantly cool even in summer.

Floor, wall, and ceiling – the perfect trio.

For an all-around comfortable room climate, we recommend a combination of underfloor, wall, and ceiling heating. By activating all available surfaces, you achieve the best possible comfort result. To all systems The underfloor heating creates cozy warmth through the floor surfaces. The wall heating offers the largest exchange surface for heating – and also cooling. Instead of warm water, cold water, tempered to 16-20°C, flows through the pipes in water-based surface heating systems. This way, the rooms are pleasantly cooled and remain free from drafts and noise. Especially with wall heating and wall cooling, which can also be installed on sloped surfaces, radiant heat and radiation exchange can optimally unfold their effect. Additionally, you can pleasantly cool rooms on hot summer days with ceiling cooling. Thanks to water-based surface heating, ceiling surfaces can also be used for heating, while room cooling via the floor is less suitable. So combine these three systems: an underfloor heating with a wall and ceiling heating or cooling. This way, you achieve perfect temperatures in your living and working spaces throughout the year - with absolute energy efficiency thanks to the optimal activation of all available surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions about Underfloor Heating

In a drywall construction underfloor heating system, gypsum fiber boards with a low installation height are laid directly on the screed. The heating pipes are laid in the pre-milled knobs at an even distance and covered with a thin leveling compound. Since the heating pipes are close to the surface, the floor is quickly heated. Here you can find more information about underfloor heating in drywall construction.  

An underfloor heating system can also be installed retrospectively. Consideration should be given to the installation height and the additional load from the heating system. The slim VarioComp with only 20 mm installation height is ideally suited for a heating renovation. Learn more about how to install an underfloor heating system retrospectively.

Varicose veins are not caused by heat, but by weak connective tissue and constant sitting. Modern and well-adjusted underfloor heating systems have a surface temperature of 22 to 29 °C. Therefore, they are harmless from a medical perspective. Here you can learn more about why underfloor heating is comfortable and healthy.  

If air enters the heating pipes of the water-filled underfloor heating, the floor becomes unevenly warm and does not deliver the full heating performance. The reason: Air is a poor conductor of heat. Therefore, the small air bubbles must be removed from the heating circuits. How to bleed an underfloor heating system can be found here.