The Pros And Cons Of Installing Under Floor Heating

Under floor heating can be expensive, messy and difficult to install, so you may be wondering why people want to have it?

This article will try to cover the pros and cons of installing under floor heating and the different systems that are available and how you can decide if it is right for you.

What is under floor heating?
Under floor heating can be either a wet system that pumps warm water through pipes under the floor, or a dry system of electric coils also placed under the floor.  Both heat up once the system is turned on.

Pros and cons of under floor heating?

Pros

• Comfort - the ability to walk around inside, on winter days, in bare feet
• Heat efficiency - heat will be distributed more evenly around your room when compared to a radiator or blow system
• Home value - it is a desirable feature so will increase the value of your home
• Ease of installation - you can install an electrical under floor heating system yourself

Cons

• Cost - it is expensive to retro fit under floor heating along with a new boiler system
• Disruption - retro fitting under floor heating to concrete, stone or tiled flooring is going to be messy and disrupt day to day living
• Longer warm up - under floor heating systems take longer to heat a room
• Flooring & furnishing restrictions - some flooring types, fittings and furniture can not be placed on top of under floor heating
• Installation - when fitting a water-based system, you will need to use a professional fitter.

Electric under floor heating systems
You have a choice of heating mats which will cover large areas, or individual wires that can get into those hard to reach places that mats can't. 

Heating mats are cheaper as they come in a uniform size. 

Insulation also needs to be laid before wires are put into place, they can go under a number of different floor types, but should not be fitted under carpets with a tog rating over 1.5. 

As the wires are thin, they are cheaper and easier to install than a water-based system.  Although they are pricier to run so would suit a smaller area.

Water under floor heating systems
Water under floor heating systems are a network of pipes linked to a boiler that pumps hot water around the room.

Under floor water system boilers are more efficient as the water they use can be cooler than standard radiators because of the way the system distributes the heat more evenly.

Costs are typically higher for water system installation, as you can't fit these systems yourself, you'll need a professional.

Pipes are also thicker than wires, requiring room in the space between the ground and your flooring choice, this is another reason they can be difficult to install in an existing building but not a problem for a new build where they can be installed before flooring is laid.

Which floors work best with under floor heating
Under floor heating comes in close contact to the floor, because of this not all flooring types can be laid over it.

It is fine to use Engineered, laminate and luxury vinyl tiles, as these floors are all designed to cope with dramatic changes in temperature.  However, we would always advise you to double check with the manufacturer if there is no mention of under floor heating on the packaging.  Warning: no floor should be exposed to temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius.

Solid wood flooring is not suitable because the high heats can dry the wood out causing it to shrink which leads to gaps in the floor.  When the heating is off, the wood reabsorbs moisture and expands which will cause the wood to swell and lead to buckling.

Natural carpets do not usually have a guarantee against under floor heating.  Carpets with togs over 1.5 are too thick to be laid over under floor heating systems.

How much does it cost to install under floor heating systems?
The cost comes down to circumstances and type of system.  If you are already renovating or building an extension or new house then the installation cost will be similar to other systems.  However if you are retro fitting the system you want, it's going to be expensive, especially if it is replacing a system that works.

Electrical systems cost around £75 per square meter for pre-fitted under floor heating mats, or £100 per square metre for the loose cables.  Then there is the cost of insulation, heating controls and an electricians fees to take into account.

Water-based systems run into the thousands.  Although water-based systems will save you money over time, it won't save you much.  So consider this system a luxury item, not a money saving item.

Is under floor heating right for you?
Water based systems may save you around £20.00 a year in heating costs.  But the installation cost out weight this saving.  However, if you are building a new house or extension it would make sense to fit a water-based under floor heating system, as it is going to cost you the same money to install a boiler and radiator system anyway.

The main attraction of under floor heating is comfort.  Your feet will be kept warm and your room will be more evenly heated and less affected when a door is opened and colder air is blown into the room because stone as well as other floors will retain the heat, whereas heat from radiators will be dissipated by a draft.

It also creates a minimal clean looking room, and is space saving compared to bulky radiators.

As it is still seen as a luxury item, it will increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it.

If you need advice about which flooring to use over under floor heating, then please do not hesitate popping into our showroom where our staff will be more than happy to help you.  We also repair floors to get them nice and even before new flooring is installed.