Underfloor heating: why JG LowFit is the all-round solution

There are plenty of reasons why households across the UK are adopting underfloor heating (UFH). As a system known for promoting energy efficiency and elevating levels of comfort throughout a home, UFH has become an attractive proposition.

For installers, system selection will allow for customers’ needs to be met. Aside from performance, factors such as ease of installation will reduce disruption when UFH is being retrofitted into properties. Similarly, system material will support the longevity of the system, as well as compatibility with a variety of heat sources.

In this blog, we’ll look at underfloor heating through the lens of homeowners and consider how system selection will help to balance customers’ needs with those of installers.

Heating systems are typically the primary contributor to energy consumption in a home, often accounting for as much as 70% of a property’s energy usage. Modern home heating solutions, including underfloor heating, are helping to reduce that figure and make homes more energy efficient. This is particularly true when compared to traditional home heating systems like radiators.

Unlike traditional systems, UFH distributes heat evenly across a space – whether that’s a single room or an entire property. As well as allowing rooms to reach optimum temperatures more quickly, a well-planned UFH system delivers a comfortable and uniform temperature, removing cold spots which may be present with traditional systems.

Systems such as JG LowFit – with interlocking castellated panel, foil, and mesh options – provide installers with the flexibility to tackle every job and floor type. Whether it’s a screeded system using castellated panels or a timber floor installation making use of the JG LowFit Foiled and Fibre Mesh Panel system, the LowFit design simplifies every aspect of installation.

Dispersing heat more evenly across spaces means that UFH systems don’t need to operate at the same high temperatures as radiator systems. Rather than the 65-70oC that is typical of radiators, UFH systems will typically operate most efficiently at flow temperatures of 55oC. In reality, that means less demand is put on the property’s heat source, reducing overall energy consumption and even resulting in lower energy bills for homeowners.

To deliver these complete results for homeowners, it’s important for installers to consider everything – from the UFH system that will be installed and its layout within the property, through to its compatibility with heat sources and future maintenance.

Of course, every home is different and when upgrading to underfloor heating, installers can be faced with a complex task. Increased floor height and disruption during installation will be some of the key concerns from a customer perspective, but installers will also need to carefully plan the complete system to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Smart system specification can remove many of these complexities. Advanced systems such as JG LowFit are particularly well suited to navigating these complexities, delivering all the benefits of a strong UFH system in a low-profile format that is straightforward to install.

As a low-profile system, JG LowFit is designed to be laid on existing floors – a feature which is particularly helpful when installing UFH in a home with concrete floors. The castellated panels are designed to accommodate with 12mm or 15mm pipe, alongside spacing at either 50, 100, 150 or 200mm. This flexibility allows installers to respond to the individual characteristics and requirements of a property to deliver the most effective setup.

As well as planning a system for efficient operation, installers will also need to consider how disruption will be minimised for customers. To this end, choosing a system that is designed for straightforward installation is key. While the versatility of the innovative system delivers compatibility with all common floor types, it also aids integration with a variety of heat sources.

This is a particularly important consideration when responding to the challenges of individual installations where some customers may wish to keep their existing heat source, while others may be looking to upgrade to a modern alternative such as a heat pump. Whatever the heat source, UFH can bring about considerable efficiencies, with low-carbon heat sources such as heat pumps driving the greatest benefits for homeowners.

So far, we’ve explored how underfloor heating can benefit customers by offering improved performance and efficiency – all in a straightforward and easy-to-install package that makes jobs easier for installers. But that’s not all of the benefits on offer for homes opting for UFH solutions.

Alongside the performance and efficiency that can bring about cost savings and improve comfort right across the home, UFH also has its aesthetic benefits. This is particularly important in modern homes where appearance matters, and where functional systems can deliver as required without having a negative impact on internal spaces.

As underfloor heating runs beneath the floors, it remains almost completely out of sight for homeowners – all apart from manifolds and heating controls. Unlike radiator systems that remain firmly placed on walls, underfloor heating remains almost invisible while delivering superior performance. This gives homeowners a practical solution to home heating, allowing them to use rooms and spaces without having to consider how layouts could affect performance.

With these all-encompassing benefits in mind, underfloor heating delivers a practical solution that allows installers to meet customers’ needs and futureproof their homes. By increasing efficiency, homeowners can enjoy lower energy bills and a more comfortable living environment. And to deliver that, installers can lean on systems like JG LowFit to unlock easy installation and reliable long-term performance – alongside reliable technical support.

Before, during and after installation, our technical support team is on hand to provide all the backup you need to get installations done right. That includes practical support for first-time installers, a handy technical guide and a range of helpful videos and guides to help you maximise every installation. But that’s not all. Our free CAD design service will help you to plan every detail of your next project, removing any guesswork and ensuring you have everything you need to create energy efficient systems time after time.