Ceiling heating

How does it work?
How is it installed?
But doesn’t heat rise?
How much needs to be installed?
Can ceiling heating be installed in existing homes?
Can it be installed in multi-level homes or homes with no roof space?
Do I have control over the temperature?
What temperature should thermostats be set to?
How long does it take to warm up?
Is it expensive to run?
Pros & cons

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How does it work?

Ceiling heating is the topsy turvy version of underfloor heating. Instead of heating elements being placed underneath your floor, thin plastic laminated elements, or “foils”, are positioned on top of the ceiling lining which is typically plasterboard. When the elements are turned on they heat the plasterboard that then radiates heat into the room below, which warms up the surfaces of the room, such as floor coverings, furniture and, of course, the human body. 

Ceiling heating does not attempt to heat the air, but this occurs as a by-product of radiant heating. Naturally circulating air currents pass across, or come into contact with, warm surfaces, which in turn heat the air within the room.

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How is it installed?

A licensed electrician positions the foils directly on top of the plasterboard, between the ceiling joists or battens. Connections are made in the ceiling, and the circuit is wired back to the switchboard. The thermostats and any other control equipment (such as timers and relays) are connected and tested ready for use.

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But doesn’t heat rise?

Hot AIR rises – HEAT doesn’t! Radiant heat travels in the direction in which it is pointed. This is why the foils are covered with a suitably rated batt-type bulk insulation (R3.5 or better) to ensure that all of the heat is radiated into the room below.

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How much needs to be installed?

In most cases, 70-80% coverage of the total ceiling surface area will be adequate. However, the frequency of foils is based on the result of a detailed heat-loss analysis, factoring in the individual construction characteristics of each room, such as wall and floor construction, window sizes and coverings, insulation quality and specific building materials. An Aurora Preferred Supplier can perform a heat-loss analysis for you or for basic information go to our Heating Calculator.

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Can ceiling heating be installed in existing homes?

The foils can be laid on top of the ceiling at any time, providing adequate access to the ceiling cavity exists. The ceiling lining does need to provide a clean, smooth surface and hence, it is generally a requirement that standard gyprock-style plasterboard (or similar) should be in place and installed to Australian Standards.  As such, lathe ’n’ plaster, and some other “older-style” ceiling materials cannot be used. If you happen to have a pressed-tin ceiling you are in luck! The metal is an excellent heat conductor.

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Can it be installed in multi-level homes or homes with no roof space?

Yes, but the foils must be installed before the plasterboard is fitted. That is, the insulation is first fixed between the ceiling joists, and then the ceiling elements are stapled, taped, or glued into position just prior to the plasterboard installation.

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Do I have control over the temperature?

Every room utilising the system will have its own thermostat. The temperature can be set specifically to the use of each room. For example, living areas may be set at higher temperatures than bedrooms or background areas.  Once the thermostat setting has been reached, the system is automatically turned off, maintaining comfort levels and subsequently reducing running costs.

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What temperature should thermostats be set to?

Radiant ceiling heating is a “still-air” heating system, which does not produce any artificially heated air via the use of fans. Consequently, comfort can be achieved at lower temperatures than when utilising more conventional fan-forced heating systems. That is, without the need to offset a draught, thermostats can be set at lower temperatures. Typically 17-18°C for living areas, rather than the more commonly accepted 21- 22°C.

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How long does it take to warm up?

The typical warm-up time for a direct-acting radiant heating system is 30-60 minutes. However, an increased surface temperature of many objects in the room can be detected within the first 15-20 minutes. With the effective use of timers, this warm-up period can be avoided by pre-programming the system to heat desired rooms before they are in use.

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Is it expensive to run?

No. Because all of the objects in the room absorb, and in turn release, radiant heat the elements in the ceiling do not need to work very hard to maintain comfort levels. The thermostat will turn the foils off for a significant amount of time throughout the heating cycle. 

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Pros

• Totally safe, with no exposed or hot surfaces.
• Years of maintenance-free operation saves ongoing costs.
• Completely hidden system, frees up all wall and floor space.
• Totally silent.
• Draught free.
• No dust, therefore good for allergy and asthma sufferers.
• Provides an even distribution of heat to every corner of the room.
• Programmable thermostat/timer options.

Cons

• Can be tricky to install in older homes without plasterboard ceilings.
• If ceiling construction does not meet with Australian Standards (i.e. DIY) ceiling heating may cause cracks in the plasterboard.

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