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Mould, Pollen and Dust Mite Allergies Can be Prevented by Underfloor Heating

by Carolyn Fox

When you ask people about the benefits of in floor heating, you're probably going to hear about how it can lower your energy bills, increase your comfort by providing an even temperature across the home, and increase wall space by removing the need for radiators. This is all true, but fewer people understand just how advantageous in floor heating can be for anyone who suffers from allergies.

Mould, bacteria, pollen and dust are common triggers for allergies; here's how an in floor heating system can help work against them.

Reduces The Likelihood Of Mould

Mould can destroy walls and carpeting, create a nasty odour and trigger allergies. This is because mould gives off spores which then circulate through the air. Not all of these spores cause allergies, but many will be responsible for a flare-up of sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose.

Luckily, installing in floor heating can go a long way towards preventing mould from ever gaining a foothold in your home. Mould thrives in places that retain moisture. Unfortunately, traditional heating methods are less effective at heating the whole of a room evenly than in floor heating, so mould can often find a place to grow. With in floor heating, every part of each room should be evenly heated, eliminating moisture spots.

Stops Pollen From Being Circulated

When pollen enters the home, it can become a real problem for people with hay fever. This might not be a year-round issue, but it still demands attention.

What people don't realise is that the problem is less to do with pollen entering the home and more to do with it circulating around the home. Radiators heat by convection – they circulate air around the home. Unfortunately, this also means that there is a constant flow of pollen, as well as any other allergens. In floor heating won't create the same problem since it doesn't work via convection.

Helps Kill Off Dust Mites

An allergy to dust mites usually causes the same symptoms as hay fever, and they can be hard to eradicate from the home. In floor heating might seem like it would make the situation worse; after all, mites prefer to live in warm areas.

However, they also need something very important in order to survive and reproduce: moisture. Without moisture a dust mite cannot live. With in floor heating it is almost impossible for the floor and furniture to stay moist. In contrast, the floor zone is often much cooler and more humid in homes heated by radiators.

Allergies can be a real nuisance, and it can be especially dispiriting to find out that the triggers are caused by allergens circulating or growing within your own home. Luckily enough, in floor heating holds the solution.

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