How Was Underfloor Heating Invented?
Underfloor heating was just one of the many ground-breaking inventions that came out of the Roman Empire. Along with roads, wine, glass and sanitation, this method of central heating proved to be a lasting legacy of one of the greatest civilisations in history.
It was very useful to the Romans that setted in the much milder parts of the empire such as Great Britain, where the foundations of ancient villas still show how these systems, known as hypocausts, were built.
Mosaic floors rested on stacks to create a space underneath for hot air to circulate. The air was heated by a furnace below and the air moved around the building with the help of ducts and flues. Chimneys at each corner of a room sucked warm air upwards, to create a draught, so there was a constant flow of heat through the floors and into the room. Relying as it did on a constantly stoked fire, this original underfloor heating system needed servants to keep it going. They kept the fires burning hot, particularly to heat the famous bath houses, by using fast burning firewood and regulating the airflow.
The invention of underfloor heating was particularly significant in an era when most people used open fires to keep warm, living in smoky homes, prone to being set alight by embers. When the Romans left Britain, many of their innovations were ignored and forgotten. However, underfloor heating was used in Islamic countries through the medieval period, and is also an ancient Korean tradition.
Nowadays, electric underfloor heating is widely used in Northern Europe and in recent years it has begun to spread in popularity in the United Kingdom. It is not only common to see underfloor heating kits installed in new construction projects but also during renovations where existing properties are updated to reflect modern technology.
As with almost every other aspect of home improvement there are a wide variety of choices available to the average consumer when it comes to choosing what exactly they want to customise in their home.
Learn more about underfloor heating insulation?. Stop by our Floor Heating Online site where you can find out all about underfloor heating and what it can do for you.
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