Types of underfloor heating

  

The Two Types Of Underfloor Heating And Which Is Best For Your Home
 

Underfloor heating is rapidly growing in popularity across the UK and is set to become the number one way to heat a home and for good reason. These cost-effective, neatly designed heating systems come with a whole load of benefits including heating your home faster, improving air quality and saving you money on the monthly bills. But what kinds of underfloor heating are there, and which one is best for your home?
 

There are two main types of underfloor heating, wet and dry. Wet involves installing plastic water pipes under your floor and having the hot water from your boiler warm up your living space. Dry systems use electric wires on mats placed under the floor covering. While each of these has their benefits, it is important to consider what kind of room you are wishing to install the system into any space you have below the floor to do this.
 

Wet UFH systems

This type of underfloor heating is the cheapest to run of the two systems. While it uses the water from your boiler to heat the floor it requires less energy than the heating of electrical wires. You will need to ensure your hot water capacity will support this system before going ahead if you have a large space you’d like covered.
 

While this option is more economical to run in the long term, it is more expensive to install. The system is fairly complicated to fit as it requires a certain amount of space under the floor to fit the pipes. This means you may have to have your floor elevated if there is not enough room. However, this system is perfect if you are working on a new build as it can be incorporated easily into a design and fitted along with the floor.
 

These systems come with a lifetime guarantee and need virtually no maintenance. There are no chances of leaks so once installed you hardly ever have to think about it. As it will make your home a little cosier and keep your toes toasty on warm winter mornings, it’s perfect for bathrooms and kitchens.
 

This system is also better for larger areas as it has the capacity to heat up a bigger room while being cheaper than dry systems. So, if you’re looking to renovate your living room into an open plan lounge this system is probably best for you.
 

Dry UFH systems

These electrical wire systems work by heating wires in a matt under the floor and are fairly easy to install. Unlike wet systems, they can be done by a confident DIYer and is a far quicker process. As they come with fewer complications when installing they are cheaper to fit. If you are thinking of fitting them yourself make sure you contact an electrician to connect it to the mains supply and your good to go.
 

Dry systems are also easier to fit into smaller spaces and tighter corners as their wires are loose and can work with bends and edges in the floor. So if you’re looking to fit just your bathroom or an upstairs bedroom this is your best option as there is no floor elevation involved.
 

This system takes less time to heat up than a wet system as you do not need to wait for hot water to travel to the pipes. However, it is more expensive to run in the long run. They use more power than the water from your boiler, so the electrical underfloor heating system is better if you’re wanting to heat up a small room in the house rather than whole open plan area.
 

Like the wet underfloor heating system, it comes with a lifetime guarantee and unrivalled reliability meaning it requires very little maintenance. While heating your home faster they do not create air movement the way radiators do and so you don’t get the same circulation of dust particles making them ideal for allergy sufferers.
 

So, if you’re looking to increase the value of your home, get rid of those big clunky radiators and modernise your living then underfloor heating is perfect for you and your family. Whether you’re looking to renovate a smaller upstairs bathroom with a dry system or your planning on designing your new build with a whole wet system built in, there is an option for you that will work with your budget and your space. Underfloor heating is no longer for the wealthier among us, we mere mortals can too live in luxury without the luxury price tag.