DIY & Building Basics Electric Underfloor Heating

Date Published:

29/09/2009

There are two types of underfloor heating systems: electric and water-fed. Which one you decide to install in your home will depend on a number of factors. What are the pros and cons of an electric underfloor heating system?

By Gordon Miller

Why Have Underfloor Heating?

Underfloor heating is an efficient way of heating a room, as opposed to radiators, for example, because it gently warms a large floor surface at a low temperature, rather than heating one area of the room intensely, relying on the hot air to rise to the top of the room, before cooling and falling back to a height where it can be felt. ‘Radiators result in a stuffy, uncomfortable atmosphere and promote heat loss through windows, walls, ceilings and roofs,’ says Winnie Chua of Warmup. ‘The result is wasted energy and wasted money.’

Do I Need Radiators Too?

‘In a modern, well insulated room, where heat loss factors have been taken into consideration, underfloor heating can act as the primary heat source,’ says Paul Short, md of Floor Heating. ‘In the majority of cases, it will eliminate the need for radiators.’

Water Fed Or Electric?

‘”Wet systems”, as water fed systems are also referred to, are especially suited to new floor constructions where the make-up of the sub floor can accommodate the pipework and cement screed,’ continues Paul Short. ‘For existing floors, where overall floor height can be an issue, an electric underfloor heating system would be the preferred option due to the low profile (3mm) of the heating cable: these systems are the ideal choice for refurbishment projects or wooden sub floors.’

Which Is More Expensive?

‘For hot water systems, gas-heated boilers are more economical to run per KW of heat output than using electricity per KW hour to run electric underfloor heating,’ concludes Paul Short. ‘The difference between the overall lower cost of installation for an electric underfloor heating system with a higher running costs, compared to the alternative higher cost of installing water underfloor heating but with lower running costs, becomes one of length of time to realize the initial investment of the installation.’