How Does Underfloor Heating Work in Comparison to Radiators?

Underfloor heating works by circulating warm water through a series of continuous loops that are fitted underneath your floor creating a large radiant surface that heats your room from the floor upwards. This radiant form of heating is much more comfortable than the convected heat provided by radiators which draws cold air across the floor before heating it and then convects the warm air upwards towards the ceiling.

Comparing underfloor heating with radiators:

The 2025 ban on gas boilers in new builds may cause concern for some, but the widespread adoption of renewable energy technology opens up a new conversation around how we might heat our homes in the future.

Using underfloor heating can prove to be more energy effective in heating a room – whereby a large radiant floor surface area heats the space above it – than using convected heat provided by radiators which draws cold air across the floor before heating it.

What Are The Benefits of Underfloor Heating?

Running costs

UFH is proved to be between 15 – 40 % cheaper to run.

Life expectancy

Typical radiators are expected to be replaced at least every 25 years. UFH is expected to outlive the life of the building with a 50 year warranty on the pipework.

Safety

There are no hot surfaces or hard edges with UFH, providing a safe environment for young children and the vulnerable.

Health Benefits

In the UK each day on average 1 in 8 people in the UK are currently being treated for asthma. Underfloor heating is one of the many ways helping to reduce these figures. UFH uses radiant heat, unlike radiators or AC (convection heat), this reduces the movement of dust (and dust mites!) making it a far more comfortable environment for asthma sufferers. It also leads to cleaner homes!

Maintenance

UFH requires very little maintenance. Radiators require checking once a year for air in the system/bleeding and sometimes more invasive inhibitor dosing is needed.

Interior Design

With UFH being concealed there is freedom of design not only to configure furniture but to more easily accommodate full height windows, increasing natural light into the building.

Programme

We carried out a study with Skanska on 100 apartments to compare the installation duration between UFH and Radiators: UFH is 15% quicker to install. A project could be a month ahead of schedule if UFH is used on a 200 apartment development instead of radiators.

Heat Source

As UFH covers a greater surface area than radiators it can therefore run at a lower temperatures (between temperatures of 35 -55˚C rather than 75˚C), which makes integration with renewable energy sources super efficient.

Sale of Dwelling

UFH has become more expected in homes worth over £300k and is considered a valuable feature, thus estate agents will normally list it on the highlights of the particulars.

  • “All new build homes (£300k+) have UFH as standard now, even refurbished homes will have it in the very least in the wetrooms.” Statons
  • ‘’UFH is seen as an expected technology, so any property without it will stay on the market longer.’’ Strutt & Parker
  • “Buyers do understand most benefits to UFH but miss that it also has a safety benefit, for buyers with young children or vulnerable persons living with them the lack of hot surfaces and hard edges is a huge peace of mind.” Jackson-Stops & Staff
  • “It is on the must have list for buyers, with a raised eyebrow if the property doesn’t have it!’’ Foxtons
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