Who doesn’t love walking around on a lovely warm floor at home? Underfloor heating in properties is an increasing trend, especially in new buildings, but also in existing homes. Underfloor heating appears to feel warmer and cosier than radiators.
There are two types of underfloor heating systems; Electrical underfloor heating, and Warm water underfloor heating.
- Electrical underfloor heating system, also known as a dry system, is a system where wires are installed beneath the floor to heat up the floor. These systems are cheaper and easier to install than water-based systems but are more expensive to run.
- Warm water system, also known as a wet system, heats the floor with hot water streaming through water pipes. These systems are more efficient than radiators as the water doesn’t need to get as hot. However, the installation is very expensive, and you will need an expert to install these systems.
Both of these systems provide comfortable radiant heat, but the difference between them is that it takes more time for the water-based systems to reach the desired temperature. Although they are cheaper to run than the electric underfloor heating systems.
Benefits of Underfloor Heating
Minimal Maintenance
One of the main reasons why people choose to install underfloor heating is because it usually never requires any form of maintenance once it has been installed.
More Cost-effective
Having underfloor heating is often more cost-effective and more efficient than having old-fashioned radiators. The radiators have to work harder than the underfloor heating systems and at a higher temperature, usually between 65 and 75 °C. Underfloor heating is usually heated up to between 27 and 29 °C, which brings your heating bills down, and because the floor itself is heated, it retains heat better than radiators which cool down quickly when turned off.
You can’t conceal the fact that it is expensive to install these kinds of systems, but if you think in the long run, the investment will pay itself back due to lower running costs. Underfloor heating can spare you up to 15% on your heating bills.
More Space
Another benefit of underfloor heating is that you don’t have to take up unnecessary wall space. When having radiators on the wall, you can’t have anything in front of it since it will block the heat. Underfloor heating is hidden, which makes it possible to utilize the entire room as efficiently as possible.
Evenly distributed temperature
With radiators, the heat moves along the walls and upwards. They heat up the air around them, but they struggle to reach the other side of the room. Underfloor heating, on the other hand, heats the entire room quicker than radiators and leaves no cold spots. There is a wide range of different underfloor heating systems suited for every type of floor, whether it’s wood, carpet, vinyl or laminate. They distribute heat evenly into a building to provide comfortable space heating. Lower temperatures can be distributed over a larger area than the higher temperatures needed for radiators. However, it takes a while for underfloor heating to get going, so you will need to set the timer to get it started in good time before you want it to be warm.
Before investing in any underfloor heating system, you should have a specialist to help you decide which system is right for your home. Our team at Northern Lights Lightning & Electrical has over 20 years of experience and has the expertise and knowledge to provide high-quality service and solutions for your property. If you’re considering getting an underfloor heating system, get your free no-obligation quote here. If you have any questions or want further information, we would love to hear from you! Contact our friendly team for help.
