u/floor pipe concentration

P

Pollock

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Maybe this was covered before but didn't find it on a search. Just about to lay pipes downstairs. Have been told by a friend not to put piping under kitchen units and fridge as food will go off quickly. Builder doesn't agree and feels it should go in all areas. Any thoughts or experience from anyone? Also as I have a void to roof glazing I was wondering is it possible to reduce the spacing between piping to increase the heat output in this area or would this make any difference at all?
 
If you omit piping under units/ fridge etc you may be limiting any flexibility in your layout (which may not be fully decided upon at this stage). That said your heating capacity in a kitchen space can be reduced as when the kitchen is in use the cooker etc will contribute to the heat of the room.


If your glazing is fitted with low E glass (e for emissivity) this shouldn't be a concern. This glass will allow more passive solar heat gain in winter (when sun is lower in the sky )and less in summer months (when sun is higher in the sky). Your glazing should be Part L (Building Regs) compliant.
 
Thanks for the reply. why would the glazing reduce solar gain in summer? The glazing is of K glass approx 4.2 m wide and 3 metres sloping at 35 degrees.
 
Well Pollock, it's very technical and little out of my depth but it's all related to the wavelength of the suns rays, which vary depending on the elevation of the sun in winter vs summer. The low E coating allows more of the winter suns warmth (which has a different wavelength) to penetrate the glass and into the room. Conversely the coating doesn't allow as much of the summer sun's rays to penetrate. Also the coating limits the heat loss from the interior space to the exterior space, as this heat has a different wavelength. That's my understanding of it anyway, maybe someone out there with a phsics/ mechanical engineering background might differ?
 
Just to add I laid UFH in my house. We did not put it under kitchen cabinets for the exact reason you stated, it would be a waste of heat and extra pipe anyway. As regards changing kithen layout I think it is quite rare a kitchen layout changes in most houses. If it changes slightly I am sure there would still be enough heat in this area with cooking heat etc
 
I agree with Lakeview, We are in our second house with underfloor heating and in neither case did I lay pipes under kitchen units, regarding spacing of the pipes, it seems that in the "living" rooms the pipes are closer together than in the Bedrooms, presumably to give a greater output. If you are in any doubt I would consult with a specialist company because once its down you can't change it!
 
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