Underfloor heating: advantages, disadvantages, ways of realization

Underfloor heating is an alternative to traditional heating with thermal or electric radiators. The system is widely used in the Nordic countries (over 80%) and although it seems incredible, it was used in ancient Rome. There is also growing interest in this type of heating. But like any system it has advantages and disadvantages and to make the choice it is good to know what is involved in installing a floor heating system, what types there are, where it works and where it doesn't.

Why is underfloor heating preferred to other ways of heating rooms? What are the advantages?

What could be more pleasant than walking barefoot around the house in the middle of winter, feeling a pleasant temperature of 25-26 degrees Celsius? If your heating is underfloor you can certainly do that. But that's not the only advantage of this heating system. Here are the most important ones:

• the heat is evenly distributed over the entire floor surface;
• The house is heated from the bottom up, unlike other systems, where heating is done first at the top and then at floor level;
• Lower temperature of the thermal agent which leads to lower bills;
• a pleasant and healthy indoor climate;
• no radiators and pipes in sight;
• Underfloor heating increases the value of your home if you are thinking of selling.

What disadvantages can such a system come with?

No system is perfect, so problems can occur here too. Mostly it is referred to the fact that there has to be a plan of how the furniture should be placed in the house. In addition the furniture fixtures must have legs. Why these requirements that seem strange at first glance? For the system to be effective it must not be covered with furniture, and placing furniture directly on the floor (the one without legs) can lead to damage to the system.

Another disadvantage is the fairly significant cost of installation. But this cost is paid back over time in energy savings.

There are people who say that underfloor heating raises the dust or dries the air. But it doesn't do it any more than other systems. Even if it doesn't entrain dust, as warm air rises, the air currents that occur when radiators heat the air entrain the dust by moving it from one place to another. So, if there is dust in the room it will be "walked around" regardless of the system.

Also, other heating systems dry the air, so this cannot be used as an argument against using underfloor heating.

There are 2 main types of underfloor heating: hot water and electric

Basically, underfloor heating means a network of hot water pipes or a network of electric wires that are installed in the floor and over which the tiles, stone or parquet are laid. This turns the floor into a large radiator that heats the whole room evenly.

Hot water heating: advantages and disadvantages

Resistant polyethylene pipes are installed in the floor and connected to a system that heats and circulates water (central heating, solar panel system). An insulating layer is laid under the pipes to prevent heat loss. The entire pipe assembly is covered with a screed. Tiles, natural stone or parquet are laid directly onto this screed.

It is a good and efficient system, as the water temperature is lower (30-40 grd.C) than the water in the radiators (55-65 grd.C). It is considered that such a system is 25-30% more efficient than a traditional one.

The main disadvantage of the system is the installation, both in terms of "disruption" and cost. After installation, the pipes are encased in a thin sheet. This means a rise in the level, not very high, but noticeable (the screed should be 3-5 cm above the pipes), which in the case of an already built house can be a problem. That's why this type of heating is especially recommended for houses that are being built from scratch.

Another disadvantage is a certain heating inertia. It takes several hours to reach the desired temperature because the screed heats up first. Cooling is also slower because of the heat accumulated in the screed.

Some are reluctant to choose water underfloor heating because of the problems that can arise if an intervention has to be made. But manufacturers say such systems are guaranteed to work for at least 30 years, and breakdowns are very rare.

Electric heating: advantages and disadvantages

It is made by fitting a kind of carpet through which electrical wires run. It is cut to size and can be laid in the most difficult places. It's very thin and easy to fit, so it can be a good choice for quickly installing heating in bathrooms and kitchens without disturbing the rest of the house.

In addition to quick and less expensive installation, another advantage is the virtually instantaneous heating of the floor. Cooling is not immediate, however, especially if the system is installed under tiles or natural stone, materials that store heat and release it gradually.

The disadvantage is the increased cost of electricity. However, if a thermostat is fitted to switch off the electricity supply when a certain temperature is reached, the costs go down.

How does wood behave when heated underfloor?

Underfloor heating works very well when surfaces are covered with tiles or natural stone. If we have underfloor heating under wooden floors things change. Specialists do not recommend using solid wood flooring because of the dimensional variations that can occur. It is recommended processed wood, i.e. laminate flooring, tackle, materials that have very small dimensional variations.

If you still choose to use the solid woodThe best essences are considered oak, walnut or tropical essences and the elements should be as small as possible. Your flooring supplier can tell you if it can be fitted over a heating system and which would be most suitable. Before installation, the flooring should be left in the house for a few days with the underfloor heating on to adjust to the temperature and regulate the humidity.

Laminate flooring can be fitted without any problems because there is no more wood. Laminate flooring is printed paper coated with resins.

In the case of electric heating, it is not recommended to mount the flooring directly on the electric carpet, but a floating installation with space under the flooring. If the heating is water heating, the floor can be mounted (glued) directly on the screed.

Costs of installing such a heating system

I was curious to see what the installation costs of underfloor heating would be. I found values between 15 and 50 euros/sqm, depending on the materials used and the system chosen. For example, George Buhnici says the installation of the hot water heating system in his own house cost him around 40 euro/sqm.

Underfloor heating is clearly an increasingly popular heating method. Especially young people who choose to build a home are going for this system. It can be upgraded and the new smart home concept can make it very cost-effective.