In recent years, underfloor heating has been gaining popularity. Is it worth replacing traditional radiators and installing underfloor heating systems? What are the advantages and disadvantages of underfloor heating? Is cost the biggest obstacle?
Underfloor heating has become increasingly popular in recent years when it comes to central heating systems. Of course, radiators still dominate, but underfloor heating offers certain advantages. Underfloor heating falls into the category of low-temperature heating, with floor temperatures ranging from 21 to 28 degrees Celsius (approximately “69.8°F to 82.4°F”), depending on the room’s purpose. This, coupled with the fact that heat emanates from the floor, brings many benefits compared to traditional radiators.
Advantages of Underfloor Heating
One of the most obvious advantages is the absence of visible heating elements in the house. It’s often convenient to place a dresser or cabinet under the window, but this isn’t possible because radiators are typically located beneath most windows.
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Underfloor heating is beneficial for individuals with allergies. Radiators and other heating elements, due to their high temperatures, create intense air movement and swirling, which increases dust in the room. With underfloor heating, which evenly emits heat across the entire floor surface, this is significantly less pronounced. Additionally, underfloor heating does not dry out the air in the rooms, eliminating the need for special humidifiers.
Since warm air rises, traditional heating methods often result in colder feet, with the room feeling hot but the feet feeling cold. Underfloor heating heats from the feet up, evenly spreading the room’s temperature by volume. This not only improves comfort but also reduces consumption, as the thermostat for underfloor heating is usually set to a lower temperature.
Disadvantages of Underfloor Heating
Of course, there are certain drawbacks, albeit conditional ones, as it depends on the case. Underfloor heating is more inert than radiators. Since underfloor heating operates at lower temperatures (around 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), , while radiator heating operates at temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celzius (158°F)), and because the pipes of underfloor heating are hidden beneath the floor, it takes longer for the room to heat up.
This can be problematic in the mornings, so the best option is not to turn off underfloor heating at night, but rather to lower the desired room temperature. Therefore, underfloor heating is not a good choice for properties heated occasionally, such as utility rooms, offices used intermittently, and the like. Additionally, underfloor heating cannot be installed in an apartment already connected to a central heating system, as such adaptations are not allowed.
Furthermore, installing underfloor heating requires raising the floor level by 10 to 12 centimeters (3.94 to 4.72 inches), so it’s advisable to take this into account during the building’s construction. Otherwise, adjustments need to be made, such as raising all the doors in the apartment, which complicates the situation to the point where it’s logical to abandon the idea altogether and install traditional radiators. Naturally, when deciding between radiators and underfloor heating, the often decisive factor is that underfloor heating installation is slightly more expensive.
Types of Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating can generally be divided into two categories: water-based and electric. Electric underfloor heating is simpler and cheaper to install. Instead of pipes circulating hot water, which requires a separate heating system, electric underfloor heating involves placing a very thin electric panel under the floor, similar to an electric blanket, with the entire system controlled by a thermostat and timer. Lower initial costs and simple installation may sound appealing, but this heating method is only suitable for smaller apartments or rooms occasionally heated.
A large apartment would quickly offset modest initial investments through bills, as unlike storage heaters, underfloor heating must operate during the day when electricity is more expensive, and at night when electricity is cheaper, heating operates at a lower capacity or not at all.
Water-based underfloor heating
In contrast to electric heating, water-based underfloor heating, like radiator systems, connects to the central heating system, which can use a significantly cheaper fuel source, such as wood, gas, or pellets. One of the common dilemmas is how to connect a water-based underfloor heating system, which uses water at temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F), to a pellet boiler, which typically operates at temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees Celsius (140°F to 248°F), and whether such connection is possible.
Of course, it is, requiring only the installation of a mixing valve with a thermostatic head on the boiler’s outlet to regulate the temperature in the system and maintain it at the preset 40 degrees (104°F). Therefore, underfloor heating installation is possible on existing central heating systems with radiators. The same applies to all other fuels the boiler uses, not just pellets. Installing an electric boiler in a water-based underfloor heating system is, of course, not a cost-effective option, as electricity consumption would then be equal to or greater than electric underfloor heating, but initial investments would be higher.
Underfloor Heating Installation
Those opting for underfloor heating should pay attention to some additional details. Ceramic, marble, or granite are recommended as the finishing surface for underfloor heating because these materials are excellent conductors of heat. Additionally, two-layer or three-layer parquet can be installed. Solid wood parquet is not recommended as it may dry out, leading to warping and buckling.
The cost of underfloor heating can vary depending on the type of pipes and substrate used, as well as whether temperature and flow regulation are installed for each room individually or just one regulation for the entire property.
Foto: Schluter