According to the Bundesverband Flächenheizungen und Flächenkühlungen e.V. (German Association for Surface Heating and Cooling), almost every second detached and semi-detached house is now equipped with a surface heating system. And also in many other objects panel heating has earned a good reputation.
In this article you will learn how panel heaters work, what types there are and when you can use them and how. As a little extra, you will find an overview at the end of the article, which summarizes the advantages of panel heating!
Surface heating systems work via radiant heat!
Unlike radiators, panel heaters work largely with radiant heat. They are installed both in the floor, and in the wall and / or ceiling. As soon as the panel heating is put into operation, the heated surfaces evenly give off heat to the surrounding cooler matter (components, furniture, people,…) in the room.
Whereas with radiators it is mostly the air that is heated, with panel heating it is the surrounding cool matter. And that quickly becomes noticeable.
It has been proven that a room with panel heating requires lower air temperatures than a room with radiators in order for the people in the room to feel the same warmth.
Much less air circulation is also a key feature of panel heating. Due to the predominant radiant heat and low convection, there is hardly any air movement in the room. For you, this means that the dust on the floor is stirred up much less and is therefore also distributed less in the air. In general, the more surfaces that are heated, the greater your advantages (see overview at the end of the article).
Low system temperatures ensure low energy consumption
Compared to radiators, surface heating systems use larger surfaces for heat transfer. The desired room temperature can be achieved with lower surface temperatures. Accordingly, the flow temperature is also set relatively low.
This will save you energy costs and at the same time enable you to use renewable energy. This is because they can work more efficiently at low temperatures.
Two types of panel heating: the choice is yours!
The type of surface heating system is distinguished by the form of heat transport.
Water-guided panel heating systems
In this system, heat is delivered through water-carrying pipes made of plastic, copper or composite materials.
Water-guided surface systems require a higher level of construction than, for example, electric surface heating systems. Depending on the conditions and where it is installed, you can expect an additional height of 2-7 cm.
The advantage of this type is the lower operating costs compared to electric panel heating.
Electric panel heating
Electric panel heating is further divided into storage heaters, direct heaters or auxiliary heaters. In this case, the heat is released either via embedded, current-carrying heating cables or via a heating foil.
Often electric panel heating requires only a few millimeters in the structure. Also, the effort is less and cheaper for you, provided that the heating is installed only in one room. However, you must expect higher operating costs than with alternative heating systems.
Experts advise to use electric panel heating only as “supplementary heating” and not as “full load heating”, otherwise the energy costs will be too high.
Surface heating systems are not only interesting in residential buildings!
For apartment and house builders, panel heating systems are increasingly more attractive than radiators. But also in industrial halls, workshops, stores, public buildings and greenhouses, the heating system is becoming increasingly popular because of its advantages.
Many buildings that were previously “difficult to heat” can thus be heated more cost-effectively, with less effort and with greater well-being. Burdensome heating problems can sometimes even be eliminated altogether.
Installation is possible in new construction and renovation!
You can integrate panel heating into your own home that is being built or retrofit it in an old building.
You always have the option to switch to panel heating. You can even have some systems installed in listed buildings.
The type of installation depends on whether you are building new or retrofitting the panel heating. It also matters whether you choose gentle or rough remediation.
For water-bearing and electrical systems, the pipes can be installed either in dry construction or wet construction. In the case of electric panel heaters, there is also the fact that some of them can be installed directly on the wall as a creatively designed heating mat.
These are the advantages of panel heating!
- Many surface heating systems are also surface cooling systems. So you save on air conditioning!
- Surface heating systems require only very low system temperatures. That’s why your energy costs go down!
- You have 100% design freedom in your home design because of the lack of radiators!
- The low energy consumption is environmentally friendly. You are making a valuable contribution to environmental protection!
- The radiant heat increases your sense of well-being within your four walls!
- Due to the radiant heat, there is hardly any air circulation in the room. You can breathe easy, because your health is not exposed to dust turbulence!
- Due to the large-area heating, there are hardly any cold surfaces on the wall, which is why there is no mold. You don’t have to deal with mold because of it!
Conclusion:
Surface heating systems represent a serious alternative to other heating systems. Mainly because of their energy efficiency, the resulting comfort and home comfort, it makes sense that you think about installing a panel heating system. On the plus side, you don’t have to wait until you build your next home to do it. You can upgrade it conveniently and at any time. Drywall systems allow you to do this in a simple way.
Our panel heating is even more efficient than many others due to the special pipe routing. If you also want to take advantage of greater efficiency, click here.
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Photo: drubig-photo – fotolia.com
Wir sind Annette & Christian Egger. Hier im Blog erklären wir Ihnen, worauf es beim Wohlfühl-Klima ankommt. Wir behandeln hier Themen wie Energie-Sparen beim Heizen & Kühlen und zeigen Ihnen unsere interessantesten Projekte. 