Water-Based and Electric-Based Underfloor Heating

• Water in water-based underfloor heating is heated to a lower temperature than conventional central heating (typically 50°C rather than 60°C plus). This makes it more suitable for use with efficiency condensing boilers, heat pumps and solar water heaters. The temperature of the heating pipe, which runs through the flooring, is controlled by mixing existing water in the pipe with hot water from the boiler. Electric based underfloor heating uses an electric heating cable instead of a pipe. With all underfloor heating systems, the areas to be heated are separated into different zones, usually one zone per room, and the temperature of each zone is controlled independently.
  
  

Flooring Techniques

• In new builds with solid floors, the heating pipe of the underfloor-heating system is embedded directly into the floor. When an underfloor heating system is being installed into an existing building with solid floors, the heating pipe is normally laid on the surface of the existing floor and then covered by a new timber or laminate floor. This lifts the floor level which also means that skirting boards and doors also need to be lifted.
  
  

Advantages

• Water based underfloor-heating systems are claimed to be cheaper than central heating systems using radiators because the water used is heated to a lower temperature. It is also argued that underfloor heating achieves a higher level of comfort than conventional heating systems because while wall-mounted radiators heat the air in their immediate vicinity, causing areas of intense heat but also colder areas, underfloor heating evenly heats the room using the whole floor area.
  
  

Disadvantages

• The biggest disadvantage of underfloor heating is the slow response time, especially where the heating pipe or cable is embedded in a solid floor. A wooden floor will take 30 minutes to an hour to warm up and concrete floors will take several hours. Underfloor heating also limits the positions where cupboards and furniture can be placed because direct heating can damage furniture and cause wood to "sweat."
  
  

Insulation

• For underfloor heating to be economically worthwhile and environmentally sound, proper installation must be used. Adequate insulation keeps the heat in the room. Also, because of the lower temperatures of underfloor heating, users may find that without proper insulation underfloor heating is inadequate as a sole heat source. The floor, walls and ceiling must be substantially insulated to achieve an optimum system.