What is underfloor heating? How much does it cost? And can you book it through us? (Hint: you sure can, you just need to book a home assessment first). Read on for our full guide.
Definition: What is underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating can either be a heating system that makes your floor warm, or it can be your primary heat source, replacing your radiators. Underfloor heating either comes as electric cables that generate heat, or as a water system that uses piping and a pump to push the hot water around each floor.
What are the benefits of underfloor heating?
- More energy efficient than radiators
- Reduce your bills
- Retain heat in the room better than radiators
- More home comfort
How does underfloor heating work?
Underfloor heating works by distributing water through the piping below the floor, smart thermostats control the heat of the water so that a constant temperature is maintained. Any heat source can be used from traditional boilers to modern day heat pumps. What makes underfloor heating so effective is that the heating starts at the bottom of the room meaning that the bulk of the heat is kept around the middle, and this gives an even spread of warmth too. Radiators on the other hand heat by convection sending the heat straight up to the ceiling which results in the floor being the coldest part of the room and leaves lots of cold patches throughout the room.
How long does it take to install underfloor heating?
It takes around 2 days to install underfloor heating. Electricians and plumbers will be needed depending on the type of underfloor heating you have installed, they’ll need to take up the top floorboards and fit the piping and cables. You should also have an assessment done beforehand to see what your house needs, this takes around 1-2 hours.
How much does underfloor heating cost?
Underfloor heating costs between £60 and £180 per metre squared, depending on the type of heating you have installed and the type of property you have. Generally speaking underfloor heating costs:
- Electric heating in an old property: £60 to £85 per metre squared
- Electric heating in a new build: £50 to £75 per metre squared
- Water heating in a new build: £120 to £135 per metre squared
- Water heating in an old property: £135 to £180 per metre squared
Can I have underfloor heating installed alongside other work?
Yes. In fact we actively encourage you to get as much work done at the same time as possible as it saves money as you have builders already on site, it means less disruption as you only have the builders in once, and it’s less carbon intensive so better for the environment. Also underfloor heating goes hand-in-hand with getting a ground source heat pump.
