About underfloor heating

Underfloor heating is widely used in northern Europe and has in recent years become quite popular in the UK, both for new builds and updating existing property.  Underfloor heating is very efficient as the floor itself becomes the heat emitter and the heating of the room is from the floor up, unlike radiators in a normal central heating system where the emitters are mounted on the wall and through convection the room is effectively heated from the ceiling downwards.

There are two forms of underfloor heating commonly in use; they are almost identical apart from obviously, that one uses electric heating cable while the other circulated heated water through a pipe. Water based systems use water heated at a lower temperature than in conventional radiators, which makes it ideal for use with a high efficiency condensing boilers; the lower operating temperature also makes it more suitable for use with heat pumps or solar water heaters.

Electric underfloor heating uses cables embedded into a screed or for existing properties this can now be achieved by use of a heating mats, cable kits, or carbon heating films. Running costs for electric underfloor heating is not expensive and in the case of a conservatory for example will be more efficient than radiators due to the fact that you are using the whole floor as a low temperature radiant room heater.