What to consider - Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating provides additional heat but also comfort to any room where it is installed. Nowadays, homeowners want to get the most out of their bathrooms with spectacular designs, bigger tiles and as little ‘clutter’ as possible. Underfloor heating provides a great addition to this, reducing the requirement of radiators, freeing up space and offering, in most instances, more heat throughout the whole bathroom than one single radiator.

Which system?

You can get an electric or water-based system. Always discuss the options with your installation team. Both can alter the height of your floor which needs to be considered as well as the overall output and size required and ultimately the costs associated. Electric allows the single area to be controlled independently through its own thermostat.

Electric underfloor heating can be more expensive to run than warm water options, however, the installation costs of the separate systems can vary. Customers often prefer the electric systems for bathroom installations for various reasons such as; minimal flooring height adjustment, ease of use and less maintenance. In small spaces, electric systems are a relatively low cost and spending a little more money to purchase a programmable thermostat is well worth the cost.

Which flooring should you use?

Tiles are always a strong favourite flooring to go on top of the underfloor heating and can withstand the heat in most applications. When installed correctly, they can last substantially longer than most other flooring options. If a customer wants to go with an alternative floor covering such as laminate or vinyl, they will need to check with the supplier which underfloor heating options can be used with the flooring choice. It is also important to note that standard electrical kits cannot be used with most vinyl or laminate flooring.

How about the temperature?

Most underfloor heating options come with instructions of the best temperatures to set and how to use the system efficiently. Most will recommend installing the system with a programmable thermostat so that you can set your requirements against the times you use the area. 16 to 25 degrees are advised for systems left running for long periods depending on how cold the room is, this keeps the system efficient and provides the area with a consistent amount of heat.

How often does it need to be serviced?

Underfloor heating is mainly maintenance-free and doesn’t require servicing, however, we would always recommend a yearly check on any type of system to ensure it's working at capacity and there are no faults.