Underfloor Heating Means No Cold Feet in the Morning

If you have ever experienced the difference between underfloor heating and conventional heating systems, it’s no wonder you’re reading this today. Underfloor heating is so much more than a warm house. It means warm surfaces instead of cold and uncomfortable cold spots.

You may already know from science class that warm air rises, and the technology behind underfloor heating systems uses this principle to enhance the warming effect. The underfloor heating system does the rest by keeping the floor warm and provides a comfortable setting in any room.

Another obvious benefit is the extra room created because heat pumps and radiators no longer take up precious living space. But many people worry this type of heating is expensive to install and operate. When you understand the operation of underfloor heating, you will have a better understanding of costs and if it’s a worthwhile investment.

How Does Underfloor Heating Work?

The best and least expensive installation option is to have underfloor heating installed during the home’s construction. With wide-open space to work, the installation proceeds smoothly and without having to stop and start because of obstructions and the extra time required for removal.

If you decide to install underfloor heating in an existing home, certain costs like removing a floor to make room for the new one which leads to every room you plan to heat will increase the total investment. But it’s not impossible and the result will make the sacrifice worth the extra work, if that’s the only way to complete the job.

You will find two types of underfloor heating systems. They are the electric variety that use high-resistance copper strips that heat at a predetermined rate and hydronic systems that use heat pumps to heat water pipes laid under the floor. For the best operation of either type, experts recommend continuous operation during cooler months because of the extra time required to warm the home compared to other types of heating systems.

Benefits of Underfloor Heating

As you might expect, good insulation for your home, including concrete foundations, increases comfort levels and lowers operating costs, too. But the real benefits of underfloor heating show during colder months when you experience the luxurious comfort that even-heat provides for your family.

Your old system wasn’t capable of warming those persistent cold spots unless you turned the heat to extreme levels. That’s costly and a waste of energy. With that in mind, remember to assess the need for more insulation in your home. While underfloor heating does an excellent job of preventing most cold spots, it can’t prevent cold air from entering your home and affecting the balance of warm air in places it’s needed. There are several more benefits aside from comforting warmth in every part of your home. They include:

• Sanitary. Bugs, especially dust mites, find out quickly a warm and dry space has replaced their once dusty and damp environment they can’t live in anymore. Asthmatics and other people suffering with respiratory issues will find comfort using underfloor heating.
• Flexible installation. Depending on your heating system, you can install underfloor heating with most floor surfaces. This includes vinyl, wood, carpet, and laminate.
• Adjustable room temperatures. Dedicated thermostats for each room mean you can adjust each room’s temperature independent of the others.
• Quiet operation. While you’re enjoying your warm home, another major benefit is never hearing the noisy air handler inside your furnace starting up and forcing you to talk louder or increase the volume of the TV.

How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost to Install?

When calculating installation costs, consider the amount of actual heating space rather than the size of the entire house. Costs depend on the size of the house and the type of heating system for the home. In new construction, electric systems cost less to install because you won’t need the various trenches and pipe work, but the operating costs increase over other types. Most builders recommend warm water systems because although they cost more to install, the lower operating costs will pay for the difference.

Installing underfloor heating in an existing home is more expensive because existing components of the old-style radiator system must go first if applicable. You must decide if the savings of an underfloor system is worth the cost of installation when you consider removing existing radiators and replacing the boiler, too. The approximate cost for installation of a warm water underfloor system in a new, average size home is $12,000 to $15,000. For installation of an electric system in an existing home, you can expect the cost to average approximately $11,000 to $12,000.