Is underfloor heating more efficient than traditional heating systems?

Underfloor Heating: Just how good is it?

AGL Heating installs underfloor heating in St Helens and the surrounding areas. In this blog post we explore how underfloor heating compares to traditional heating systems.

Underfloor heating is not a new innovation, it was actually used in Ancient Rome to heat houses, baths and public buildings. But where the Romans used a furnace, we now pump hot water through pipes or use electric coils, meaning underfloor heating is now an efficient and attractive alternative to traditional heating system.

What are the benefits of underfloor heating?

Efficiency

Underfloor heating requires less energy to run than radiators, and can be up to 40% more efficient. This is largely because radiators have a much smaller surface area than that of the floor, they therefore need water to be at a much higher temperature in order to heat a room to a similarly comfortable level. Underfloor heating is also more efficient as it takes advantage of the fact that heat rises, allowing it to disperse heat much more evenly across the room than a radiator, which heats the surrounding air which then disperses upwards.

If you are environmentally driven, underfloor heating offers the extra benefit of being able to harness energy from renewable sources such as solar panels or heat pumps.

Appearance

Underfloor heating also offers many advantages in terms of aesthetics and practicality. Radiators can be unsightly and take up room, which can be problematic in smaller houses. Radiators also pose maintenance problems as they need to be regularly cleaned behind and occasionally repainted, neither of which is necessary with underfloor heating.

Comfort

As well as a more even distribution of heat, underfloor heating will keep your floors warm even after you switch the heating off, meaning you’ll never have cold feet again. Stone floors, with can get very cold in winter, work particularly well with underfloor heating because they retain the heat well.

What are the downsides?

Cost

Underfloor heating tends to be more expensive to install than traditional heating systems, especially if your flooring needs to be raised, but it’s worth bearing in mind that much of this cost is associated with replacing the flooring, so if you are planning to remodel or replace your flooring anyway, you may be able to make significant savings. Another thing to note is that because underfloor heating is more efficient, you will be able to recoup the cost of installation over time.

Speed

Underfloor heating takes a while longer than radiators to heat up, so if your heating use is irregular, switching to an underfloor system may be more challenging. However if you already make use of heating controls then switching shouldn’t be an issue, as you can time your heating system to turn on at a suitable time.

In St. Helens? Get in touch

If you are interested in underfloor heating St. Helens or would like any advice please get in touch!