Can electric underfloor heating be fitted on existing floors?
As mentioned earlier electric underfloor heating can be fitted in both new and old properties, and on existing subfloors. However the actual floor finish such as tile, laminate or vinyl needs to be removed and replaced with a new floor finish.
Is underfloor heating the best way to keep your home warm?
Warming your home with underfloor heating can be a brilliant way to stay toasty over cooler months. There are pros, cons and installation costs to consider. How much does it cost to install under floor heating?
Do I need subfloor insulation for underfloor heating?
For all floor types, it is advisable to ensure adequate subfloor insulation when considering retrofitting an underfloor heating system. Subfloor insulation can be installed effortlessly using Warmup Insulation Boards (WIBs).
Can I fit my own underfloor heating?
DIY electric underfloor heating is quick and simple for anyone to install, but is only cost-effective in smaller rooms because of the higher running costs. If you are looking to heat a larger space, we'd recommend warm water DIY wet underfloor heating systems like LoPro®.
Can you put underfloor heating on an existing floor?
Water underfloor heating over existing floors. Our overfloor systems can be installed directly over any solid subfloor such as existing floorboards, plywood or concrete/screed floors, or any solid surface such as existing tiles/wooden floors.
Is it worth installing underfloor heating?
When renovating your bathroom, underfloor heating is especially worth thinking about. You will save a lot on the labour cost if the flooring is being lifted up and changed anyway. The comfort and the cost savings of running the system on your heating bills will work out to your advantage in a longer run.
Can you have underfloor heating in just one room?
A OneZone® kit includes everything you need to install underfloor heating in one room only – whether large or small – where a full system design is not required. This could be as part of a new extension or a renovation project, such as refitting a kitchen or bathroom. There's a OneZone® solution for every scenario.
Can you replace radiators with underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating is a popular heating method and ideal in bathrooms and kitchens, but it can be used anywhere in the house. Using underfloor heating instead of radiators is possible and depending on your heat loss, you can even get rid of radiators completely.
Can I put underfloor heating on top of a concrete floor?
It is possible to install underfloor heating on an existing concrete surface or subfloor for that matter. If you've got a polished concrete floor already, then you'll likely be able to fit insulation along with a low-profile electric floor heater.
Is underfloor heating cheaper to run than radiators?
Underfloor heating is more eco friendly than using radiators and uses less energy, meaning they cost much less in the long run! As long as you have installed it properly, you could save about 25% of the energy you would use with a radiator, and up to 40% when running from a heat pump.
Do I need a new boiler for underfloor heating?
No, you do not need a special boiler for underfloor heating. Most UFH systems work brilliantly with all types of boilers, including gas combi boilers, condensing boilers and oil boilers. However, your current boiler may need some adjustments to ensure it works efficiently with the new underfloor heating.
Does underfloor heating use a lot of electricity?
It costs less than 10p to run 1m² of standard underfloor heating at full power for six hours. Although some people still expect underfloor heating to be expensive to run, the reality is that both the initial installation cost and the ongoing running expenses can represent great value for money.
Can a combi boiler run underfloor heating?
If you have a combi boiler in your home, you can still have underfloor heating installed. However, some adjustments may need to be made. If your radiators run off the same boiler as the underfloor heating, you'll need to have a suitably qualified heating engineer install a two-port valve.
Does underfloor heating increase property value?
An underfloor heating system is much more economical and efficient in comparison with other home heating systems and it can even increase the resale value of your property.
Is underfloor heating expensive UK?
How much does underfloor heating cost? Warm water underfloor heating costs as little as £800 for a 20m² room, but price varies by project. It is an affordable heating solution that is around 25% more efficient than radiators, so savings can also be made on heating bills.
Do you have to dig up floor for underfloor heating?
There are a number of solutions, which mean underfloor heating is still be a viable option, regardless of the type of flooring or the age of your house. It is possible to dig up a concrete floor and install the insulation, pipes and screed, (the best option for optimum heat output) retrospectively.
Can you put underfloor heating on top of wooden floor?
Can You Use Underfloor Heating With Wooden Floors? In short, yes, you can use underfloor heating with wooden flooring — both wet systems and electric underfloor heating. Timber flooring is capable of effectively holding onto heat and releasing it into a room, plus it heats up quickly.
Is underfloor heating expensive to install and run?
Electric underfloor heating running costs can be three to four times more than a warm water UFH system, or a radiator system, that is paired with a gas boiler. This is simply because electric tends to cost far more than natural gas per kWh.
Is underfloor heating expensive to run?
Electricity is more expensive than gas, thus electric underfloor heating will not cost less than using a gas radiator. However, after the initial price for material and installation, water underfloor heating will pay off with very cheap bills over time.
How does underfloor heating work?
Underfloor heating comes in two types. Wet, which is so called because hot water is pumped through pipes in the floor, or dry, which is the name used for electric systems that run off the mains. Wet systems are fed by hot water often heated by a boiler, but also work well with renewables such as solar panels or heat pumps.
What are the other pros and cons of underfloor heating?
We asked the experts to tell us the benefits of underfloor heating, as well as explaining any possible downsides.
How much does it cost to install floor heating?
Overall, the tradesperson-recommendation site says underfloor heating installation and materials from a professional will cost anywhere between £500 and £8,000.
Is underfloor heating the best option for my home?
UFH is particularly effective for large open-plan spaces – especially those with high ceilings – as the entire floor radiates heat upwards warming feet and creating even room temperatures. This radiant heat also means reduced draughts, moisture levels and airborne allergens.
Is it cheaper to leave underfloor heating on all the time?
Whether it’s cheaper to leave underfloor heating on all the time depends on the system and the time of year. Be aware, though, that to ensure your home is comfortable, you will need to factor in a longer warm-up time compared to a radiator system with some types of UFH.
Can I combine warm water underfloor heating and radiators?
A combination of both systems can be the answer for many homes, as radiators can be easily incorporated into an underfloor system.
Does underfloor heating come with a warranty?
Look for systems that come with an extended warranty as standard. Wet systems consist of various components, and you may find different lengths of warranty are offered on each part – for example, 25 years on pipes, but perhaps two years on the manifolds. As a general rule, manifolds are simpler to replace than pipes, so a long warranty on the pipes themselves is highly desirable.
What is underfloor heating?
There are two main types of underfloor heating for homeowners to choose between: wet or electric. Wet underfloor heating systems use warm water to create the heat, sourced from the central heating system, while an electric system uses coils powered from the mains.
What to do if your heating system stops working?
Otherwise, there is little aftercare that needs to be done to either type of heating system – this is one of the factors that make them such an attractive heating option. If the system stops working suddenly, contact the manufacturer, who may recommend that an electrician or plumber comes to look at it if the problem has nothing to do with the product itself.
What is screed heating?
There are two forms of screed that might be used: a semi-dry trowelling screed and a fast-flowing liquid screed that can be pumped over the heating pipes to a prescribed depth. Consult with an expert to ascertain which type of screed you should lay, and how deep it should be.
How long does screed need to dry before heating?
Once laid, the screed must be allowed to dry naturally (which shouldn't take more than seven days) before the heating system is turned on.
How does wet heating work?
Wet heating systems see water pumped through pipes that are laid on the subfloor under the top surface of the floor. The system reduces the cost of water heating compared to systems that involve radiators, as it needs the water to be heated at a lower temperature to work effectively.
Why is it more difficult to install a wet or electric system?
As already noted, a wet system tends to be more problematic to install than an electric system because of the general complexity of the system and because of the fact that it often means that the floor of the room has to be raised to accommodate it. Electrical systems are more compact and the raising of the floor (if required at all) will be minimal.
Is underfloor heating a cost effective heating system?
Widely used in Scandinavia where outside temperatures are regularly freezing, underfloor heating is increasingly being viewed in Britain as a cost-efficient method of heating various rooms within a house where a comfortable temperature might be difficult to maintain, such as a kitchen or bathroom. The fact that is invisible and does not affect the clean-lined look of a room in the same way that a radiator would, in addition to lack of maintenance and care it needs in order to work effectively, also makes it an attractive option for homeowners.
What temperature is too warm for a floor?
A floor temperature over 29 degrees Celcius is guaranteed to make your feet too warm. At this juncture, floor heating is really not comfortable anymore. It is the task of the installer to set the maximum temperature.
What is floor cooling?
Floor cooling: temperature flow below the dew point. An absolute no-no for floor cooling: setting the water temperature supply below the dew point. The floor will condense, resulting in moisture on the floor.
Why are expansion joints avoided?
Expansion joints are often avoided because of aesthetic reasons but let’s be honest, with tears in your expensive marble tile floor, you have much bigger problems! To learn more about Wavin's underfloor heating solutions, please visit your local Wavin company website.
What happens if you don't use a heat pump?
If you don’t, the pipes and/or the distributor can corrode and the boiler or heat pump may be impacted. Not exactly conducive to the life of the system. Until about 20 years ago, non-impermeable pipes were often used in underfloor heating systems.
Why doesn't it matter to run a manifold in a hallway?
It doesn’t matter because it is simply not convenient to place the manifold in the hallway. If all supply and return lines run through the hallway, the temperature in the hall itself will be poorly regulated. In this case, opt to make a recess in the wall and run the cables directly through the wall itself. 5.
What happens if you don't use expansion joints?
All floor surfaces expand and contract to some degree, so allowance has to be made for this or you will have ugly cracks. This is what will happen if you do not use expansion joints. My advice: when you work with larger floor surfaces (40 square meters+), always use expansion joints. In large, luxury homes, expansion joints are a must. Most of these homes have marble floors which are subject to cracking if there are no provisions made for underfloor expansion. Expansion joints are often avoided because of aesthetic reasons but let’s be honest, with tears in your expensive marble tile floor, you have much bigger problems!
Why do you need a border zone in your heating system?
This prevents cold traps (when cold air drops alongside a window) and generates extra warmth and comfort.
How Does Underfloor Heating Work?
Ironically, perhaps, UFH is actually closer to being a ‘radiator’ than a radiator is. UFH heats the mass of the floor (the screed and the floor finish) and that heat then (mostly) radiates into the room — there is some convection going on but over 80% of heat transfer is by radiation.
What are the Cons of Underfloor Heating?
Underfloor heating is more expensive to install than a comparable radiator system — it typically costs 20% to 50% more .
Can I Install Underfloor Heating into my Existing Home?
In a new build, the extra cost of underfloor heating relative to the whole build cost is seldom a deal breaker.
What Thickness of Screed Do I Need with an Underfloor Heating System?
The thickness of the floor screed during your installation process will make all the difference. The screed thickness in which the warm wet pipes sit will have a dramatic impact on how the system is used.
Can I Use Underfloor Heating With Polished Concrete Floors?
Concrete is a superb heat conductor, so polished concrete floors work really well with underfloor heating. The thermal mass of your concrete will retain heat and ensure your room stays warm for longer after your heating is switched off than would be the case with a radiator system. They are easy to pour over the pipework and they absorb and hold the heat produced well. Seek the advice of your installer before switching your underfloor heating on though — too soon and it could crack.
How much energy savings does an underfloor heating system offer?
An underfloor heating system also offer a 15% reduction in energy demand compared to a radiator system, which is hard to ignore.
How long does an underfloor heating system last?
The running costs are generally far lower for UFH than radiators. It's worth noting too that underfloor heating systems have a lifespan of 50 years plus, while the average radiator will only last between 8-12 years before becoming inefficient.
What is Underfloor Heating?
Wildly popular for a number of years in Scandinavian territory, underfloor heating is exactly as its moniker suggests.
What is the biggest factor in deciding between a water or electric underfloor heating system?
Probably the biggest factor at play in deciding between a water or electric underfloor heating system, outside of the expense, is the layout and specifications of your home on the whole.
Can Underfloor Heating be fitted underneath any type of flooring?
The versatility and flexibility of underfloor heating is one of its absolute key advantages too. Football fans could do worse than imagine it as the James Milner of home heating solutions; instead of delivering a premium performance in almost any position, it can do so installed beneath almost any flooring type.
Is Underfloor Heating easy to install?
At first thought, the idea of a troublesome and disruptive installation process is one of the most off-putting elements associated with the potential addition of underfloor heating.
Why do you put polythene foam on wood flooring?
In a lot of cases, a layer of polythene foam is placed between the floating wooden boards and heating system to guarantee the underfloor heating operates as effectively as possible .
Can you install underfloor heating with a new boiler?
There are a few ways that your underfloor heating system can be linked to a new boiler or existing central heating system, which does simplify the installation process to some extent. But realistically, particularly so if you are hoping to install wet underfloor heating, it is ideal to do so in a new property or as part of a full-scale renovation project.
Can stone be used as underfloor heating?
It should be noted that certain materials, such as stone, are natural conductors of heat, so they can heat up quicker and retain their warmth better than other types. However, professional installers will be able to adjust the heat output, underlay and screed to ensure your underfloor heating works to very best effect alongside the likes of laminate or wood flooring too, or practically any other type.
HOW CAN I CONTROL UNDERFLOOR HEATING?
The ease of fitting an electric underfloor heating systems has allowed millions of homeowners to install a warm, comfortable and highly controllable heating in individual rooms or as a whole house heating systems.
What is retrofitting a heating system?
Retrofitting of other heating systems usually means more laborious work including removal of old floors (not just the floor finish but the whole floor), refitting of new ones and finally, installation of pipework and boilers in case of hydronic systems. This again increases the overall cost of the renovation.
What is retrofitting a house?
First of all, let’s begin with a definition – retrofitting. Retrofitting means the process of adding components to already existing projects. In this context, we mean installing underfloor heating onto existing floors when renovating a room or a house. Electric underfloor heating is well-suited to retrofit projects. In this section we are going to answer the questions:
Can you refit an underfloor heating system?
As discussed earlier, many people confuse the terms ‘refit’ and ‘retrofit’. For those ones who nevertheless are looking to actually refit the system, we must say that an electric underfloor heating system should only be fitted once. It is not possible to take up an existing system and refit it into a different room. This is due to a number of issues:
Is underfloor heating easy to install?
The installation of the electric underfloor heating system is also quick, easy and clean. However, it is important to involve a qualified and certified electrician in the project to ensure that the electrical distribution is designed and carried out correctly.
Can electric underfloor heating be installed on existing floors?
In other words, fitting underfloor heating onto existing floors means removing the existing floor covering, adding insulation boards (if necessary), installing the heater on them and then laying down a new floor covering above the heating system. It is very difficult to lift up the existing floor finish and lay the same floor back again after the installation of an underfloor heating system. It goes without saying that most of the floor finishes such as tiles are doomed to get damaged when lifting the floor up. Electric underfloor heating is, therefore, a perfect option for people who are wishing to change their floors whilst renovating because the heater is very thin and does not raise the floor height visibly.
Can you warm up underfloor heating?
To start with, Warmup underfloor heating can be fitted both into new constructions and older properties and nearly all electrical underfloor heating systems can be fitted onto existing subfloors.
What is underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating, also known as radiant floor heating, is a heating element that can be laid into or onto a subfloor to serve as an alternative heat source in a variety of settings. When installing underfloor heating, the second most important element to consider is the flooring that will be used over it.
What temperature should an underfloor heating unit be?
Typically, as a general standard, your underfloor heating temperatures should not go above 85°F degrees.
What is the best thickness for underfloor heating?
A flooring product with a minimal or standard thickness works better for underfloor heating, as this allows the heat to move more easily through the flooring and therefore requires less energy. LVT comes in many thicknesses, including 3mm, an industry standard, and 2mm, which is ideal for light commercial or multi-family settings.
What is loose lay flooring?
Loose lay typically requires a perimeter or grid-like adhesive application to secure planks or tiles in place while the remaining installation is laid down in place. Click or rigid core click flooring is a series of tiles or planks that are clicked together, using an interlocking system that holds the flooring in place.
What is the best type of vinyl flooring?
2. Floating Flooring. Floating flooring, an LVT option that requires little to no adhesive, is an ideal vinyl flooring option because of its application method. Floating flooring comes in two varieties, loose lay and click. Loose lay typically requires a perimeter or grid-like adhesive application to secure planks or tiles in place while ...
Does underfloor heating affect the floor?
Because there is minimal to no adhesive used to apply the flooring, the underfloor heating does not affect it. Furthermore, if there is ever an issue with the heating element, vinyl tiles and planks can be moved so repairs can be made without damaging the surrounding floor surface. 3. Moisture Maintenance.
Is LVT good for underfloor heating?
LVT is an ideal choice for floors with underfloor heating. Its defining properties – durability, sustainability and design variety – make it one of the optimal choices to install above underfloor heating. But, there are a few other unique features that LVT offers that are especially helpful for underfloor heating projects.
