Electric Underfloor Heating

Electric Underfloor Heating

Underfloor Heating

As we've mentioned there are two main types of underfloor heating both of which provide the same main benefit - namely removing the need for radiators.. This can be very useful in smaller rooms which is why electric underfloor heating is particularly popular in wetrooms and bathrooms - where space is limited and most of the time you will be walking around in bare feet.

Out of the two underfloor heating options electric is the more popular of the two with well over 60% of new installations being electric in the UK. There are a few reasons why electric is more common that wet systems -  one of the main aspects being costs. Clearly if installing a wet system takes you over your budget but an electric one does not that makes things fairly clear cut and explains why the balance is almost two to one in favour of electric underfloor heating.

Underfloor Heating Installers

The installation of electric underfloor heating is generally easier than water and as a result makes it cheaper to install it. In terms or time and hassle - if you are planning to change your floor, either changing floor tiles, laminate or even vinyl in just one room combining that change with the install of underfloor heating means that it just adds a little more to what you had been planning to spend.

Since the heating from an electric system works by the heating up of a think cable which is run around the floor it is fitted within the screeding which may well be planned to level your floor to make it ready for tiling, laminates or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). Most electric underfloor heating systems are only a few mm thick even if they are preset in electric mats. This means that the net result is a minimal, of not negligible, difference in floor height if you are going from one room which has traditional heating to the one where you are having underfloor heating installed. It's not great to be tripped up, especially in bare feet if there is a small lip to step over to get into your underfloor heated room.

Underfloor Heating Installation

When laying electric underfloor heating, if you have a uniform rectangular shaped room we can use electric underfloor heating mat. The electric heating cable is pre-installed into a mesh mat which can be rolled out. Several of these can be used and connected together which makes for a fairly speedy fit for this part of the installation process.

When you have a more irregular floor space or you have some permanently fixed items in the room then utilising a loose cable will be the best option, especially as this can be laid around those awkward fixtures. As both mat and loose electric underfloor heating come in different power options we will be able to advise on which power option will be most suitable and cost effective for your particular room. We will ensure that the space between cables and the power of the cables will provide the right amount of heat taking into account the floor substrate and final floor covering.

Installing underfloor heating will often involve several layers of different materials being stalled to provide the perfect finish and minimise any heat loss away from the surface of your floor. The use of adhesives, then an insulation board followed by the heat mat or loose cabling, followed by levelling compound, if required, then adhesive before the tiles are added on top. Whilst this outlines a scenario for tiles some aspects will be the same, or changed slightly based on the existing sub floor base and what your final floor surface will be.

Electric Underfloor Heating Disadvantages

Whilst there are some differing opinions on the comparative ongoing running costs of an electric underfloor heating systems like most power consuming devices as well as the actual efficiency of a device, user behaviour also plays a big part in the total amount of energy, which an appliance or system will use.

Whilst underfloor heating will take longer to heat up a room than central heating due to the lower operating temperatures this can simply be overcome but setting your heating timers appropriately.

As certain floor surfaces such as tiles and polished concrete retain heat very efficiently once they are heated they require less ongoing heat to maintain a steady temperature output. Since electric heating is often retrofitted into a room rather than a whole house the proper use of the thermostat and timer should enable you to enjoy the benefits of underfloor heating with minimal effort. So in addition to kitchens and bathrooms living rooms and hallways are also popular choices for underfloor heating as this allows full use of the floor and wall space available.

If your house is already fitted with renewable energy generation such as solar panels then installing electric underfloor heating over a much wider area will be a very cost effective feasible option.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which underfloor heating system is best?

    Best will depend on your budget, the size of your room and what floor surface ideally you would want. Our team can discuss the finer details but as a general rule of thumb: for a single room such as a bathroom or wet room - electric underfloor heating is cheaper to install. If you are looking at underfloor heating for a whole floor say constructing a self-build house, then based on current heating costs, a wet system running off your boiler would be cheaper to run longer-term. 

  • Can you fit underfloor heating under vinyl or laminate flooring

    Yes - laminate flooring is also quite a good option for underfloor heating. Heat efficiency decreases as the thickness of a laminate floor increases so to have effective underfloor heating through a laminate floor you should aim for laminates less than 18mm in thickness. The same principle would apply to wood flooring too.

    If you definitely want underfloor heating but perhaps need to shave costs elsewhere, a vinyl floor or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) in a bathroom is a great option.

  • Can underfloor heating problems be fixed?

    Depending on what the issue is will depend on what can be fixed. As a general rule if the installation of either wet or electric underfloor heating has been tested before, during and after installation and fitted properly the pipe or cable will be protected by surrounding layers - it is unlikely to get damaged in normal use and should therefore be reliable for many years. The most likely issue will be a fault in the thermostat. If that is the case a simple thermostat replacement will get you back up and running again.

  • Is underfloor heating expensive to run?

    If set up properly underfloor heating can be more efficient than traditional central heating although not by much. Under tiled or stone floors on the tiles have been heated they retain the heat and work in a similar principle to storage heaters meaning that the floor will stay warm and give off heat even without electricity running through it. 

  • Why have underfloor heating?

    One of the main advantages of underfloor heating is the space-saving it provides and the even heating within a room. 

    Whilst modern radiators have come a long way over the years in terms of design and efficiency they still can be seen as an eyesore. As a result, sometimes sofas or other items will be placed in front of them which then results in a poorer circulation of heat. 

    Underfloor heating can be laid across the whole floor, even across irregular shaped rooms to ensure even heating throughout

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