Insulation between gound and 1st floor?

murphaph · 17 Apr 2005

Hi all,
I have a problem with my heating. The house is always cold downstairs and warm upstairs. It's a 3 bed dormer bungalow. The rads are all perfectly fine (as far as I can tell) and belt out heat, but it seems to dissipate so easily. I have double glazing all round and the house is dry lined.

My question is, could I install insulation above the ground floor ceiling to try to keep the heat downstairs a bit more, or is this complelely stupid?

sandwell · 17 Apr 2005

Does not seem a very good idea, because you will then probably not be warm enough in the bedrooms. I would have a heating engineer check that the system has been designed correctly, and has been balanced correctly.

Space_Cowby · 17 Apr 2005

You could try TRV's this will give you some control over heat ouput to each rad.

However i do think it is the simple thing of hot air rising and displacing cold. Try closing some of the doors to limit heat loss.

murphaph · 18 Apr 2005

Thanks for the replies lads. I decided to fit TRVs to both upstairs rads (and discovered plenty fo corrosion at the rad inlet threads on the larger rad). Going to replace the rad and fit the valves and see how I get on. I still feel like I may have to work with my insulation but we'll see. Thanks again.

sandwell · 19 Apr 2005

Most Heating Engineers design the system so that upstairs rooms will be at a lower temperture than downstairs. TRV's may help, and probably cheaper than resizing the radiators.

murphaph · 19 Apr 2005

I'm just changing the rad because of the corrosion. I'll be replacing it with the same size and single panel. Interesting you said that heating engineers would design the system to be cooler upstairs....the current system was fitted by a cowboy IMHO. It was a conversion from solid fuel (back boiler) central heating so no rads were replaced, just one added in the lounge. I remember when he did it, he told me that TRVs were a waste of time and I was none the wiser back then, stupid me! He was installing on behalf of the gas board who were offering free installations back then so in hindsight I reckon he just wanted to be in and out. It has never been an entirely satisfactory system to be honest.

sandwell · 20 Apr 2005

murphaph

It is some time since I was involved in Central Heating Sales, but systems were usually designed to give 72 in living and dining rooms, and about 64 in upstairs rooms.
TRVs are a comparatively recent innovation, and were probably not available when the original Solid Fuel system was installed. In my experience they can give a few problems with the valve sticking, so it is best to get them from a reliable manufacturer, but they are well worth while in my opinion.

murphaph · 21 Apr 2005

Cheers Sandwell. I've bought myson TRVs. I reckon they're decent quality, it's a name I at least recognise from the plumbing world!

pixmax · 11 May 2005

murphaph said:
Hi all,
I have a problem with my heating. The house is always cold downstairs and warm upstairs. It's a 3 bed dormer bungalow.

Out of interest can I ask what flooring you have downstairs?

Trevor

Leejames · 24 May 2005

where is your thermostat located?

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Insulation between gound and 1st floor?

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