Would you replace your radiators with underfloor heating?

Given a choice between underfloor-heating and radiator
emissions, it is the former every time as it provides better
and more effective heating all-round.

Long ago when I came here to study, I was put up in a hall
of residence for a winter term that had both forms of heating that
was very warm and comfortable. The bathrooms had both these
forms of heating too.

In London SW1 nr Harrods, it was much too valuable a piece
of real estate for student residential use… last heard of
it was converted to Crown Court use that presumably is still
continuing.

My understanding of the electric kit underfloor heating is that it has a limited life span around a decade but mileage may vary with use. When we revamped a small bathroom we did have it fitted under vinyl as for a very small space it was very cheap and easy to fit. An electrician connected up the controls etc.

For light use fine. Installing it in a conservatory under tile I think could be expensive in usage, and expensive when it goes wrong to put right. Electric is an expensive form of heating normally so I would not rush to install it.

The main heating here is a gas fired air system. I replaced the 40 year old Lennox burner with a modern Lennox which is claimed 98% efficient. It is also a sealed system unlike its predecessor so the air for burning and the exhaust gas is all outside. Additionally you can add aircon and charged filter system. In our climate the aircon is unnecessary particularly as the air system will blow air around in the summer if required.

The house is a 1960’s with huge amounts of window so the solar gain in the morning and during the day is vast so a wet system would have trouble adjusting to the rapid rise. The flipside is even double glazing cannot stop quite a lot of heat loss during the heating season. : (

I did have an wet underfloor system installed in a new extension at a previous house which I put under tile over concrete as that is the most efficient transfer system. Roughly 40 square meters was sufficient to keep most of the house warm – effectively it was a giant storage heater but gas-fired.

I have considered air source and ground source heat pumps and I do think there is some benefits – huge benefits if you do not have mains gas or your own private woodland. I think it is a technology that needs to be more known as though it will not suit everyone it is an option that ought to be in the frame. Beware of cowboys as new technology can sometimes mean someone is using you as a training chance!

Katie – As you have Economy 7 this might be a useful read. Its quite exhaustive and runs to nearly
6,000 words.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/economy-7

I am a little bemused though that if the flats are purpose built with electric underfloor heating then the assumption must be that the meter is for the underfloor heating. Perhaps the residents company can explain it,

Incidentally there is a fair bit of research on how the position of a flat within a block has a marked effect on heating costs. Ideally you want a middle, possibly top floor non-end flat. As you can appreciate if you are surrounded by other flats then you should be benefitting from their heating.

No doubt underfloor heating does provide more evenly heat distribution in a room and it will allow more flexible positioning of furniture.

But installation cost is much higher than radiators because of the extra floor insulation and kit needed and if anyone thinks it’s more economical on a day to day bill paying basis they’ve either found a way to defy the laws of physics or they’re deluding themselves.

Underfloor heating using a mains gas boiler wet system will result in your bills remaining much the same given you heat to the same temperature. Although some saving might be possible with zone control, but you could fit that with a radiator system, it’s a factor of the control system rather than the heating emitter type. Electric underfloor heating, like all electric heating costs much more.

Underfloor heating can be very nice, very comfortable, very desirable, but a cost reducing measure it won’t be.