Installing a heating system under the floors is increasingly becoming a popular method of warming the home, and provides its owners not only comfort, but also an affordable way to keep their homes warm.

Whether it is the bathroom, kitchen, or the whole home, placing a heating system under the floor provides an invisible warmth right underneath our feet. This system of heating does away with the need of radiators which occupy space ion the house, leaving little room for designing the layout.

There are two main types of floor heating mechanisms- hydronic and electric, and one can choose the one that best suits your home requirements.

Hydronic UNDERFLOOR HEATING System

A continuous water pipe is embedded in a concrete slab under the floor covering. Hot water flows through this system of pipes from a common source- it could be water heaters, heat pumps, wood boilers and even solar water heaters.

The hydronic or wet floor heating system will have a low running cost, mostly due to the lesser amount of energy wasted as compared to the heat generated by a traditional radiator. However, the temperature of the floor reached as a result of these water pipes is a little lower than that from a conventional radiator, wherein the heat quickly rises to the ceiling.

This method of floor heating, however, distributes heat more evenly across the floor, providing comforting warmth. The type of floor that can be used with this heating mechanism also plays a role in determining its effectiveness. A concrete floor is the best choice to complement floor heating.

Electric Underfloor Heat System

The electric heating system is believed to be more advanced over the water pipe method as there are no chances of leaking , and the overall fitting under the floor is a mere 3.5 mm in thickness!

The electric floor warming can also be refitted easily into older floors, and once fitted, are quite maintenance free and much more efficient than the conventional radiator systems. The temperature of the floor can be modulated to suit the comfort of the home owners.

This method of warming floors is ideal for placing under tiled floors or solid stone surfaces. Being compactly and efficiently fitted under the floors, there is no space lost on the walls, leaving the home owners enough options to design their home aesthetically without having to worry about hanging radiators or wires.

Things to Look Out for

The cost is the biggest concern when installing floor heating. Though, the above two mechanisms are more expensive at the time of installation, it does help save money in the long run. Also, before you actually go out to the market, measure your floor area. It becomes an important consideration when you plan to install your floor heating as a DIY project.

Of course, following the installation guidelines correctly will ensure the process goes ahead smoothly.