As the months get colder, the last thing we’re looking forward to is trying to warm up inside our own homes. Traditional radiators never seem to heat up the room as they should, so we’re left wearing layers of clothes and hiding under our duvets. Luckily, with an underfloor heating system, you never have to worry about these problems ever again.
Underfloor heating systems are known for heating up an entire room in minutes and providing us with endless comfort. To top things off, they are also incredibly energy efficient, making our homes more eco-friendly and giving us peace of mind that we’re doing our part for the planet.
Looking to introduce underfloor heating into your home? Find out all you need to know in our guide below.
What is underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating gives itself away in the name. It’s a central heating system that you have installed in your home to provide warmth and comfort. However, unlike a traditional radiator, it’s hidden underneath your floors, and the heat radiates upward.
You can choose between two types of underfloor heating systems:
1. Electric underfloor heating
Electric underfloor heating involves either a connection of cables or a collection of heating mats installed below your floor’s surface. When you flip a switch or turn on the thermostat, an electric current runs through the cables or mats and heats them up.
2. Water underfloor heating
Water (also known as hydronic) underfloor heating uses a series of pipes or tubes underneath your floors instead of cables or heating mats. When turned on, warm water is pumped and circulated through the tubing system to heat up your room.
Choosing the Right System for Your Home
Both types of underfloor heating systems can provide a more eco-friendly approach to warming up your home, but which one is the best for you? Here are some key factors you must consider:
1. Electric underfloor heating
- Best for smaller rooms or if you’re only installing heating into one room in your home
- You don’t need to install new flooring to install this system
- Can work separately from another central heating system
- Causes very little disruption to your home or any of the rooms
- Cheaper to install than a water system, but it costs more to run
2. Water underfloor heating
- Best for new builds or if you want to install it throughout your entire home
- You can increase the efficiency with a layer of screed installed on top
- Keeps your monthly heating costs down
- More expensive to install than electric systems, but a better investment
- Retrofit water systems are available when you have existing flooring
Underfloor Heating Installation Process
The installation for underfloor heating can vary a bit depending on the type of system you’ve chosen, but they are both done as sustainably as possible. These are the general steps for how it is done:
- The first step to both water and electric underfloor heating system installation is laying down insulation. This ensures your system will be as efficient as possible and save you money in the future.
- For a wet underfloor heating system, the next step is to install the manifold. This is what your pipe loop will be connected to. For an electric underfloor heating system, the next step is to locate a power source.
- The third step for both systems is the most important, as this is when the bulk of the system is installed. For water underfloor heating systems, the engineer will lay down the pipes, snaking them from the manifold to the furthest part of the room and back again. For electric underfloor heating systems, your engineer will lay the matting or connect the cables.
- An underfloor heating system has an additional step where a layer of screed is installed on top to ensure maximum efficiency.
- It’s now time for both systems to have the final connections put in place and for final tests to be run before you can enjoy year-round heat!
Energy efficiency and cost savings
One of the main reasons that people are switching from traditional radiators to underfloor heating systems is that they are highly efficient and can save you a lot of money in the future.
Since underfloor heating systems cover the entire surface of a room, there is less risk of heat loss. Unlike radiators that only heat up a specific area, underfloor heating can make you feel comfortable no matter where you are. This means the energy is being used to its best ability, and there’s less chance of losing warmth through windows and doors.
Not only are these systems efficient, but they’re also incredibly economical. Electric underfloor heating systems are incredibly cost-effective to install, and water underfloor heating systems provide you with bills around 25% lower than radiators each month.
Environmental impact
So, you now know how underfloor heating systems work, how they’re installed and how energy efficient they are. But what about the environmental impact? These systems are incredibly eco-friendly, and that’s because of a range of reasons:
- Underfloor heating systems run at a lower temperature than radiators.
- Underfloor heating systems regulate heat in a much larger space.
- Underfloor heating systems use less energy to heat up a room quickly.
- Underfloor heating systems ensure cleaner and less polluted indoor air.
- Underfloor heating systems reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Conclusion
No matter how hard you try to keep your heating off, the winter months can be tough. With radiators, you never want to turn them on in fear you’ll receive extortionate monthly heating bills. That’s where underfloor heating has become a saviour because it allows people to live comfortably in their homes while enjoying lower bills and peace of mind they’re making their property more eco-friendly. When you decide to take the plunge and install an underfloor heating system in your home, we recommend using a trained professional. It ensures the best results and that you’ll receive quality heat for years to come.
