Advantages

Simple to fit, cheap to install and maintenance free, Energy savings of 25% for the basic system rising to 30% when combined with advanced zone controllers, Water circulates at 50-60º rather than at 80º so you are able to use alternative low energy heat sources.

Combined with the use of solar panels and heat pumps can provide 50% savings on energy costs for space heating and hot water

Is my house suitable?

There two types of underfloor heating:

Wet systems - Warm water circulating within polyethylene pipes
Electric systems - Using electric matting

For new houses we would always recommend a wet system as the savings and benefits are greatest when a whole house uses underfloor heating.

It can be expensive to install a wet underfloor heating system within an existing property because the floors will need to be taken up but electric matting is easy to install with the minimum of disruption.

In existing houses it can be the perfect solution for bathrooms, particularly those with cold stone floors. Conservatories and extensions, especially those containing stone-floored kitchen-diners, are also excellent locations for underfloor heating - even more so if you can get the system installed as part of some building work. There are systems to match most flooring types, including hardwood, laminate, lino, stone and even carpet, so it’s possible to put underfloor heating in virtually any room.

Like any heating system, underfloor heating will not work efficiently in poorly insulated homes, where the heat generated will simply escape. It is important to take steps to ensure you have minimised heat loss from your home to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.