In many Nordic European countries, underfloor heating can be found in at least 8 out of 10 properties, and it seems Britain is also following in the same vein. It is no secret that underfloor heating significantly increases how homely and cosy a property is, particularly during the long winters.
Existing Floors
If your property is being built from scratch or needs a total renovation, then a wet underfloor heating system makes perfect sense as all that would need to be installed is piping to pump the warm water through your subfloor. When fitted in from scratch, slab concrete is laid down as the foundation, which is then followed by insulated concrete substrate. Thin pipes are then laid down and covered in screed which is used to conduct the heat that passes through them. Unfortunately, for those with existing floors, this type of underfloor system would require ripping up the floors entirely to pour the screed material underneath, which is why an electric system would be easier.
Save Up To 30% On Your Bills
A wet underfloor heating system works in a very similar way to a typical central heating system, and is actually more energy efficient than using radiators. While the cost to install wet systems may be slightly higher than electric systems, this shouldn’t really deter you because in the long run, you will be saving far more money. In fact, you could save up to 30% on your bills as they function at a far lower water temperature than radiators.
Integrated Heating System
Another positive function of this system is that it can be fully integrated with your existing heating system, meaning that you can alternate the heating between the floors and the radiators in different rooms. Add to that, the fact that the heat emanating from the floors last far longer after activation and have a further reach than radiators. This type of heating is perfect for cold flooring materials like tiles, marble or flagstones. It’s worth noting that you can have underfloor heating underneath the wooden flooring, but since it conducts less heat than other materials, the temperature should never exceed 27 degrees, as this can cause it to crack.
Height Reduction
Because of the amount of layers of concrete, insulation and screed needed to create wet underfloor heating, the height of a room can be significantly reduced, depending on what type of floor finish is used. However, there have been advancements in producing thinner insulation layers than what the usual wet systems contain, and these do not exceed 100mm, causing minimal height reduction. This progression will surely pave the way for even more homeowners to opt for the wet underfloor heating system, whether it is for a house extension, a bathroom or an entire property.