Hello,
we are planning to build a house but have some questions about building services that we have not yet been able to find solid answers for.
1. Many modern houses tend to feel uncomfortably warm all the time. Why is that?
In our case, the comfortable temperature is around 20-22°C (68-72°F), but some friends of my wife who built houses with underfloor heating in recent years, as well as the experience visiting the Viebrockhaus model home park, report temperatures that feel closer to 24-25°C (75-77°F). What causes this? The answers so far have been: it is normal with underfloor heating; underfloor heating is very difficult to adjust; that is a thing of the past when only one heating circuit was installed for the entire house; it is due to the insulation in modern houses… I don’t think the underfloor heating can be entirely blamed, since it also gets hot in summer (when the heating is presumably off), definitely more than in our rental flat (built in 1997, gas heating with radiators). What are your thoughts?
Personally, I suspect it is more due to the lack of a basement and the large glazing areas combined with the absence of roof overhangs.
2. Is it still common to build houses with radiators today? Radiators seem to have disappeared from catalogs and websites. I understand that heating with radiators nowadays will likely struggle to meet energy-saving regulations. And is it unavoidable to have a mechanical ventilation system? We air out often, so we don’t really see the reason for such a system…
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having no basement?
Okay, less storage space, more noise (because heating and other systems are closer to living areas), probably less cooling effect in summer, and of course it is also a cost issue. But are there any other effects one should keep in mind?
Thank you very much for reading and for your answers.
I am happy to answer any follow-up questions.
we are planning to build a house but have some questions about building services that we have not yet been able to find solid answers for.
1. Many modern houses tend to feel uncomfortably warm all the time. Why is that?
In our case, the comfortable temperature is around 20-22°C (68-72°F), but some friends of my wife who built houses with underfloor heating in recent years, as well as the experience visiting the Viebrockhaus model home park, report temperatures that feel closer to 24-25°C (75-77°F). What causes this? The answers so far have been: it is normal with underfloor heating; underfloor heating is very difficult to adjust; that is a thing of the past when only one heating circuit was installed for the entire house; it is due to the insulation in modern houses… I don’t think the underfloor heating can be entirely blamed, since it also gets hot in summer (when the heating is presumably off), definitely more than in our rental flat (built in 1997, gas heating with radiators). What are your thoughts?
Personally, I suspect it is more due to the lack of a basement and the large glazing areas combined with the absence of roof overhangs.
2. Is it still common to build houses with radiators today? Radiators seem to have disappeared from catalogs and websites. I understand that heating with radiators nowadays will likely struggle to meet energy-saving regulations. And is it unavoidable to have a mechanical ventilation system? We air out often, so we don’t really see the reason for such a system…
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having no basement?
Okay, less storage space, more noise (because heating and other systems are closer to living areas), probably less cooling effect in summer, and of course it is also a cost issue. But are there any other effects one should keep in mind?
Thank you very much for reading and for your answers.
I am happy to answer any follow-up questions.
Also
It’s best to use the forum search for this, as it has been discussed extensively here over the past year.
The conclusion was that it very much depends on specific needs, requirements, and the plot of land (slope, size, etc.), as well as your personal opinion about basements. If you only need extra storage space without special requirements, above-ground storage is usually more cost-effective.
Of the 12 houses in my new development, 3 have basements and 3 are dry without moisture issues. If there is moisture, it usually indicates a defect in the new construction.
It is cooler in the basement during summer, but it does not act as cooling for the whole house. However, it can be advantageous as storage space or for use as a gym, etc.
That houses get warmer when heated must be due to incorrect settings or a faulty heating system. Here (in my relatively new house), it is not too warm when heating is on.
In summer, it is important to consider heat protection during construction. But during extreme heat waves, only active cooling helps, just like in the past. This summer, my house was at least not warmer than my parents’ 1982 house, which has very thick, well-insulating brick walls for its time.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of not having a basement?
It’s best to use the forum search for this, as it has been discussed extensively here over the past year.
The conclusion was that it very much depends on specific needs, requirements, and the plot of land (slope, size, etc.), as well as your personal opinion about basements. If you only need extra storage space without special requirements, above-ground storage is usually more cost-effective.
I don’t understand the cooling aspect – we deliberately decided against a basement; many bad experiences with damp basements in our neighborhood.
Of the 12 houses in my new development, 3 have basements and 3 are dry without moisture issues. If there is moisture, it usually indicates a defect in the new construction.
It is cooler in the basement during summer, but it does not act as cooling for the whole house. However, it can be advantageous as storage space or for use as a gym, etc.
That houses get warmer when heated must be due to incorrect settings or a faulty heating system. Here (in my relatively new house), it is not too warm when heating is on.
In summer, it is important to consider heat protection during construction. But during extreme heat waves, only active cooling helps, just like in the past. This summer, my house was at least not warmer than my parents’ 1982 house, which has very thick, well-insulating brick walls for its time.
N
nordanney24 Jan 2016 22:06Galaxie schrieb:
Thank you for your quick and clear response.
Incorrect settings of the underfloor heating would only be a possibility if the heating is actually on. But even in summer, when the heating is off, modern houses are often very warm (warmer than, for example, our 20-year-old rental house). Something else must be at play here... Once the heat is inside the house, it takes a while for it to go away.
A drafty older building heats up noticeably faster inside but also cools down more quickly. If you use summer thermal protection in a new build, it stays cool inside for a long time—whereas in an older building, you’re already struggling with the heat.
In winter, it’s simply a matter of heating settings. You can also have floor heating set to a comfortable 18°C (64°F). No problem at all.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to miss controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery anymore. It’s not just about saving yourself the regular task of opening windows. Cooking or bathroom odors disappear quickly as well—this evening we’re frying fish. Besides using the extractor hood, we’re also running the controlled ventilation system at full power, and the air throughout the house is fresh again very quickly.
EveundGerd25 Jan 2016 00:05It’s all about the overall package when building a new house.
During the summer, our house stayed pleasantly and consistently cool. Currently, the warmest room is the main bathroom at 21°C (70°F). We don’t like it too warm. However, we wouldn’t want to be without underfloor heating anymore. You just need to learn how to manage it properly first.
During the summer, our house stayed pleasantly and consistently cool. Currently, the warmest room is the main bathroom at 21°C (70°F). We don’t like it too warm. However, we wouldn’t want to be without underfloor heating anymore. You just need to learn how to manage it properly first.
Galaxie schrieb:
1. Many modern houses are constantly uncomfortably warm. What causes this? Among other things:
a) Heating system not properly adjusted or operated. Of course, underfloor heating can be properly set up to reach the desired temperature. However, with the factory settings that many heating installers typically leave, this usually does not work. You have to learn and take care of it yourself.
b) Lack of heat protection (blinds, pleated blinds, etc.) on windows during summer
c) Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery running so that the heat exchanger is on and even more warm air enters the house
d) Open windows and patio doors at 33°C (91°F) outdoor temperature
e) For fun: The homeowner saved on air conditioning. Well, the few hot days we have per year are easily manageable, even with 25°C (77°F) inside the house
Galaxie schrieb:
2. Is it still possible to build with radiators today? And can you manage without a ventilation system? We often air out, so we don’t really see the need for such a system... a) Of course, you can still build with radiators. They have become very compact nowadays.
There are people—my wife and I among them—who know underfloor heating and do not like it. We were glad to get rid of it when we moved into our house.
Contrary to Mycraft’s statement above (whom I greatly respect): nowadays, you don’t have to operate radiators with a supply temperature of 60°C (140°F). My system is set so that at the design temperature (-20°C, -4°F) the supply is 50°C (122°F). In practice, this means at temperatures around 0 to -5°C (32 to 23°F), the supply doesn’t reach 40°C (104°F). This is sufficient to heat rooms to 22°C (72°F). A good friend of mine from Bavaria even has 45°C (113°F) set for -20°C (-4°F) and manages well with it.
The floor/floor slab is well insulated and is usually only 0.5 to max. 1°C (1 to 2°F) colder than the ambient temperature. On a 21.5°C (71°F) "cold" floor, I can comfortably walk in socks!
b) Personally, I no longer want to do without mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Ventilating by opening windows becomes unnecessary. Especially in winter, it saves energy. You always have fresh air in the house. Thanks to the filters in the system, my wife has significantly fewer allergy problems in spring than before. Therefore, for us, mechanical ventilation is very valuable and enhances comfort. Our neighbors have a similar house but without mechanical ventilation. The air there is always stuffy and stale, even though they ventilate by opening windows.
Depending on the system technology used (Q_p) and house insulation (H_t), you may not need mechanical ventilation.
Galaxie schrieb:
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of not having a basement? Personally, I see only advantages and one disadvantage in not having a basement. In most cases, building with a basement is possible.
The disadvantage: The cost (I could not afford it). A basement is expensive and often costs 40,000 to 60,000 euros. This is unfortunate but cannot be changed.
Best regards
Thorsten
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