Which underfloor heating is best

If the room or the usage pattern requires for the floor to be heated very quickly, then an electric system is probably more suitable as heat from the underfloor heating wire transfers quicker to the floor finish than heat from an underfloor heating pipe installed in slab.

If the floor is required to give out a slow steady heat, then a water system might be more practical as the slab acts as a storage heater heating up slower than an electric system, but also releasing the heat more slowly.

Electric systems heat up and cool down faster than water based systems. The size of the floor area will impact the installation type and time. For smaller areas less than 25 square meters , it is generally more practical to install an electric system. In larger areas, including commercial areas, it is may be more economic to install a wet system. The installation cost of wet systems is usually higher than the installation of electric systems, but the running costs of electric systems are more often higher than those of wet systems.

This is due to electricity being more expensive than gas or other sources of energy utilised when powering a water based system. Careful consideration should be taken to determine the overall costs, which depending on size and area, may mean one system works out cheaper overall. It should be noted that there are maintenance costs for wet system whereas there are none for electric systems. It is important to ensure that there is an adequate energy supply for either a wet or electric system.

For wet systems, is there a boiler capable of supplying the wet under floor heating, not only in terms of capacity but also the correct temperatures? Also, check if the pipework can be moved or re-routed to accommodate the heating.

With electric systems which cover a large area, it needs to be considered whether the electrical supply to the property is sufficient to accommodate the extra demand in amperage. It may also be worth considering whether there are renewable energy sources such as solar panels available to supplement the running costs of the system, especially if installing a wet system.

A significant amount of hardware in the form of pipework and manifolds may be required for a wet system; it should be considered if there is a suitable location for the system components. The maximum underfloor heating heat output must be higher than the heat loss to ensure that the heat output is capable of heating the desired area. With a wet system, this might mean increased temperature out and higher flow rates and with an electric system it may require a higher wattage output per square meter.

Insulation reduces heat loss so sufficient insulation should be installed when getting underfloor heating to ensure an energy efficient heating system. Well insulated rooms require less heat to be created reducing the running costs and promoting faster floor heat-up time. The main drawback of electric underfloor heating is the running cost. The cost of heating up an entire floor area with electric underfloor heating will be significantly more expensive than the running costs of wet underfloor heating.

The advantage of electric underfloor heating are the ease of installation, hence it is often used in smaller areas or DIY projects. Electric underfloor heating may seem like an economical option when you see the initial cost compared to wet underfloor heating but in the long run it will most likely end up costing you more.

Investing in a quality wet underfloor heating system ensures longevity, efficiency, reliable performance and low running costs. See our guide to underfloor heating pricing to learn more. While electric underfloor has an excellent heat output and a quick heating response time, it is critical to make sure that the heating output is controlled properly to avoid over-heating and potentially causing damage to floor coverings. Hydronic underfloor heating can be coupled with renewable heating sources such as solar thermal and air source heat pumps, which works on lower flow temperatures than traditional heating methods — this is due to the large surface area created by the UFH pipework in the floor, compared to the relatively small surface area of a radiator.

For every unit of energy they use, they produce three units of heat making them three times more efficient than traditional electric and gas heating systems. Just like electric underfloor heating, it can also be installed during a renovation. The AmbiLowboard SRB system was selected for the underfloor heating throughout the entirety of ten apartments on St Annes Road, Harrow , an excellent example of how commercial space can be converted into quality residential dwellings.

AmbiLowboard SRB was the perfect solution for this refurbishment as the system boasts minimal floor height build-up, and with tiles able to be laid directly over the system the total build up was just 18mm. With no radiators, the interior designer had complete flexibility of design and the heating is zoned individually in each room, allowing the future owners the ability to programme the heating for each room and maximise efficiency. Screeded wet underfloor heating systems are the most popular and effective type of underfloor heating.

Potentially yes, but this will be dictated property by property, room by room, depending on heat loss and whether the output from an underfloor heating system is larger than this loss figure. Radiators are cheaper to buy, they are well understood and there is a huge choice when it comes to size, style and installers, but they are less efficient and take up floor space. While underfloor heating has a higher initial expenditure than radiators, don't let this put you off.

The running costs are generally far lower for UFH than radiators. It's worth noting too that underfloor heating systems have a lifespan of 50 years plus, while the average radiator will only last between years before becoming inefficient.

The thickness of the floor screed during your installation process will make all the difference. The screed thickness in which the warm wet pipes sit will have a dramatic impact on how the system is used. A thick screed will give a longer reaction time the time taken to warm up and cool down , while a thin screed will have a quicker reaction time.

Which is right and best will depend on the construction of the house, your occupation habits and how the underfloor heating system is to be used. Underfloor heating will usually raise the profile of the floor. The amount it is raised by will depend on a number of factors such as how much insulation you need to add, pipe size, and whether you need a screed and floor finish.

If you want to retrofit a wet water system or have concerns about excavating or raising the floor, then low profile systems are a good option. Yes you can, but it will affect output. In this case, it's best to design the pipes to be a lot closer together, around mm, so that there is enough length exposed to a free surface. Underfloor heating isn't only compatible with tile or stone flooring.

Though it does work well with these hard floors, that also doesn't mean other types of flooring are suitable. Most retailers will specify whether a flooring will work with underfloor heating, so look for that as your first guide. Ceramic and porcelain tiles, luxury vinyl tiles and natural stone floors are among the most efficient choices for UFH, however, there are some floor styles that aren't suitable. It's a good idea to tell the underfloor heating system designer the type of flooring you're using so that the pipe layout can be properly specified.

Concrete is a superb heat conductor, so polished concrete floors work really well with underfloor heating. The thermal mass of your concrete will retain heat and ensure your room stays warm for longer after your heating is switched off than would be the case with a radiator system. They are easy to pour over the pipework and they absorb and hold the heat produced well. Seek the advice of your installer before switching your underfloor heating on though — too soon and it could crack.