Underfloor heating can save money on the cost of heating your home

(21/12/2009)

A recent survey by the Energy Saving Trust identified that 4 in 10 British people are worried about how they will manage to pay for heating their homes during the cold weather.

Perhaps not many of them would consider installing underfloor heating, which is usually thought of as a luxury addition to a property. However, it can be a relatively simple process to install an underfloor heating system and what’s more it can save householders money on the cost of heating their homes.

"Underfloor heating is actually a very efficient way of warming rooms," says Graham Poole, owner of the company Floor Heating Online and an industry expert, "as unlike traditional central heating systems which use radiators, the warmth from underfloor heating gently rises from the floor up. This means there are no cold spots in the room and overall it uses less energy, as the temperature settings on the underfloor system don’t need to be as high as ordinary central heating thermostats to give the same level of warmth in a room. Plus, the required heat settings can be altered for different rooms – so ones that are less occupied can be set to a lower room temperature, which also saves energy."

Radiators generate localised currents of hot air which rise to the top of the room, often leading to a stuffy feeling at head height. The hot air currents also cause environmental particles to circulate around rooms too, like dust, pollens, pet hair and other potential allergens. As underfloor heating avoids this, it can be ideal for those who suffer from allergies and asthma.

Underfloor heating is virtually silent too – no need to be woken up early on cold winter mornings by the banging and clanging of radiator pipework! Bathrooms and kitchen floors will dry quickly when wet; and yet another benefit is that underfloor heating makes rooms more spacious, as there are no bulky radiators taking up valuable wall space.

Floor Heating Online recommends taking the advice of an experienced professional or reputable company to make sure any underfloor heating system is suitable for the property. Modern underfloor heating equipment can be installed underneath tiles, laminate flooring, concrete, other hard floors and even carpets, and reasonably priced bespoke systems to fit particular rooms are available to order from underfloor heating specialists.

Related categories:  Energy Conservation   Radiators: panel, convector, towel rails   Residential applications   Underfloor heating: wet and dry systems