Smart Controls and Underfloor Heating

Our dedicated application specialist for underfloor heating (David Playfoot) provides some answers to commonly asked questions in the area of smart controls below. If the content below does not answer your particular question, you can contact David Playfoot on twitter via @UponorDave 1. What are the advantages of having smart control over your home’s underfloor heating? All smart control have a degree of intelligence to them, and unlike conventional on/off controls they can react better to your house needs. For instance, on an underfloor heating system a normal thermostat would allow for a massive under and over shoot because it cannot react intelligently early on. This will consequently cause a 3-4 degree variance in room temperature past the set point. Smart controls on the other hand, allow the system to switch on and off early on from their set point meaning the overshoot and undershoot drops considerably. This in turn, make it a more efficient and more comfortable system. 2. How does it differ in terms of installation and control to a conventional central heating system? Depending on the level of control you wish to achieve and which system you adopt, smart home controls can be as easy as just replacing your existing thermostat on the wall. However for the most optimum control and comfort, multi zone controls are paving the way by providing individual thermostats throughout your house. This can result in massive energy savings, as controls can be switched off in vacant rooms. However, this is more invasive in your home. Find out more about our multi-zone controls 3. How much money in terms of bills could a homeowner save thanks to smart tech? Different manufacturers mention different figures, however in independent testing of the Uponor smart balancing system for underfloor heating it showed a 20% energy saving compared to a normal unbalanced system. The biggest fundamental floor we found with balancing a system is when extra radiators are added. TRV’s are shut down and this throws the whole system out of balance. However, with Uponor’s auto balancing technology the system will react to this and compensate. 4. How do setup prices compare in relation to conventional thermostats? In comparison to normal thermostats, you are looking at a least £80-£100 premium for a single smart control system. This fee rises for a multizone system. However, the benefits do outweigh the initial outlay. 5. Are there different levels of functionality available for different budgets? Yes. On our Uponor underfloor heating system we supply a basic range, which offers a degree of intelligent control. At the other end of the spectrum, we offer a smart phone control system- the Smatrix app