The article Use underfloor heating as air conditioning: This is how it was first appeared at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
Cooling instead of heating: Modern underfloor heaters not only take over the heat supply in winter, but also ensure pleasant freshness in summer. We explain to you how underfloor heating is easy to get to air conditioning.
In the hot summer months, the Germans long for cooling. A current study showed that 16 percent of the respondents therefore have mobile air conditioning in their apartment. Almost 12 percent use a permanently installed air conditioning system.
However, very few know that you can also use your underfloor heating for cooling. Because when cold water flows through the pipes, it deprives the room warmth.
Underfloor heating as air conditioning: This is how it works
As simple as the principle sounds, it is also: what is pleasantly heated in winter can also cool it in summer. This requires a so -called reversible heat pump. It supplies the heating system with energy and is converted to cooling mode in the warm season.
The construction of the air conditioning remains the same. The pipe system lying under the ground is flowered through with water, which is driven by the pump. The control continues to regulate the temperature as well as the flow rate and cooling times.
Passive versus active cooling
There are two cooling variants: the active and passive cooling. At the passive cooling the heat pump does not work actively. Instead, it is naturally a cool water from the ground or the groundwater through the heating system.
This variant is considered to be particularly energy -saving. However, it only reaches a low cooling, especially if the room has large window areas and can radiate the sun directly. Nevertheless, this small temperature difference also improves the indoor climate clearly noticeable.
The Active cooling is still more powerful in comparison. Instead of relying on natural temperature differences, the heat pump actively creates cold using a special four-way valve by working like a refrigerator. In this way, users can lower the room temperature even on hot days.
The energy requirement then increases. However, the cooling remains more sustainable than it would be the case with a conventional air conditioning system.
Underfloor heating as air conditioning: What temperatures are possible?
If you decide to cool rooms by underfloor heating, you should have realistic expectations of the system. With passive cooling, the room temperature can usually be reduced by up to three degrees Celsius compared to the outside temperature. That sounds little, but in many cases it is enough to dampen heat pushing.
Active systems can also achieve lower flow temperatures up to 16 degrees Celsius. Depending on the heating system and building properties, a indoor climate between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius can be reached – even on hot days.
In both variants, the flow temperature of the cooling water should be between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius in order to avoid condensation, mold and material damage under the floor. To prevent this, dew point monitoring is important.
It recognizes when the surface temperature is closer to the critical point and lets the system intervene accordingly. Many modern heat pumps already have this function by default.
Advantages and disadvantages of cooling over the floor
Underfloor heating as air conditioning offers some advantages. It works without fans, drafts or dry air. It works silently and ensures a pleasant indoor climate. The system works energy-efficient, especially when the cooling is passive, keeps the operating costs low and reduces the CO2 footprint.
The cooling takes place evenly over the entire floor area and does not need any additional devices. In this way, the technology remains invisible, space -saving and visually appealing. In addition, the system can be used for heating in winter and cooling in summer – good double use.
The disadvantages include the limited cooling capacity in the case of passive cooling, a slow response time during temperature changes and that the room air is not dehumidified. There is also a risk that condensed water forms.
If you want to cool in the future using underfloor heating and already have a corresponding heating system, you can often convert to passive cooling with reasonable effort. The largest intervention usually affects the heat pump. In any case, professional planning and advice from specialists are important.
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The article use underfloor heating as air conditioning: This is how it was first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard Or subscribe to our update newsletter.
As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that using underfloor heating as air conditioning is a innovative and sustainable solution. Essentially, underfloor heating systems work by circulating warm water through pipes installed beneath the floor, which then radiates heat upwards to warm the room. By reversing this process and circulating cool water instead, the underfloor heating system can effectively cool the room.
This method of using underfloor heating for air conditioning is not only energy-efficient, but it also provides more even and consistent cooling throughout the space compared to traditional air conditioning systems. Additionally, because the system operates using water instead of refrigerants, it is also more environmentally friendly.
Overall, I see this as a promising technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach heating and cooling in buildings. It combines the benefits of underfloor heating with the functionality of air conditioning, creating a more sustainable and comfortable indoor environment.
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