LiviosAccording to climatologists, heat waves are expected to be more and more frequent. Indoor temperature control is therefore becoming a recurring problem in Belgium. The thoughtless installation of an air conditioner is not the right reflex. Your heating system can sometimes come to your aid. the construction site Livios review the different options.
In collaboration with Livios
03-08-22, 11:00
Last update:
09:46
Source:
Writing Livios
1. Cooling floor/wall
Still little known, the cooling function of heated floors can lower the temperature of your home by a few degrees for a real gain in comfort. This principle also applies to heated walls. In most cases, a reversible heat pump makes it possible to lower the temperature of the water in the heating circuits, so that the screed is able to absorb (part of) the excess heat in the house. The water then captures the calories recovered from the ambient air and goes back to the heat pump to be cooled there and start a new cycle. It is thus possible to lower the ambient temperature by 3 to 5°C during the hottest hours, and thus to gain in comfort for a minimal additional energy cost.
Also read: What does an underfloor heating system cost?
Although less dynamic than air conditioners, cooling floors/walls have many advantages: no visible emitter, no air movement, no noise, low consumption… Their cooling capacity is however limited and could be insufficient for premises very exposed to the sun or occupied by more people. However, it is crucial not to drop below 18°C, otherwise condensation will form on the floor (or on the walls). The “dew point” is an essential concept in this respect. Vigilance is always required when adjusting the temperature of your cooling floor/wall.
Also read: Underfloor heating: where to put it… or not?
2. Cold ceiling
Unlike hot air which rises naturally, the air which comes into contact with the cold floor stagnates in the lower part of the rooms. A chilled ceiling counteracts this phenomenon. This is a closed circuit of pipes placed on the ceiling, in which cold water circulates. Structurally, the chilled ceiling is thinner than a heated floor and therefore much more reactive. The air in contact with this cold ceiling will become heavy and descend naturally; by mixing with the warm air, it will pleasantly cool the whole room. The cooling is uniform, regardless of the size and height of the room. Devoid of any furniture, the usable ceiling surface for cooling is much larger than the floor surface. The cooling performance of a cold ceiling is therefore superior to that of a floor.
Also read: A false ceiling brings some advantages
3. Fan coil units
Fan coil units also help to cool the environment. If cold water circulates in these devices, the forced ventilation through the fins will ensure the cooling of the ambient air. The flow of fresh air being forced, the air is stirred, with all the advantages and disadvantages that entails.
However, the temperature difference between the cooled air and the ambient air is lower than with active air conditioning. The risks of ENT infections are therefore lower. If your accommodation is equipped with fan coils in the bedrooms, for example, you will be able to lower the temperature in order to sleep better.
In conclusion
Cooling processes still live too much in the shadow of air conditioning, which remains the method most used when it comes to “summer comfort”. Allowing the interior temperature to be lowered by 3 to 5°C, they are nevertheless effective and can be set up as a simple option for the heating system, particularly in the case of heated floors.
You don’t have underfloor heating? Thanks to the air conditioning, you keep your house cool on sunny days. Here is an overview of different types of devices.
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This article is written by our partner Livios.be.
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