Having underfloor heating in your home can have many advantages. If it is coupled with renewable energy resources it can deliver significant energy and carbon emission savings. This is especially in comparison to other forms of heat emitters. However, as with most other things, underfloor heating can also have it's disadvantages, and whether or not it is for you will completely depend on you and your choice of lifestyle.

What is underfloor heating?

The warm water from the boiler system is circulated through continuous lengths of pipe embedded in the floor. Each of the rooms have their own circuit and all circuits are connected to a distribution manifold. With each room having its own circuit, the process behind temperature control is quite simple. A thermostat is fitted in the room and connected to an electrically operated valve on the circuit serving that room.

What are the advantages of underfloor heating?

One of the reasons why many people decide to have underfloor heating installed is so that they can have the flexibility and room space to decorate how they wish. Another positive attribute is that an underfloor heating system can be suited to almost any type of flooring.

A further good aspect of underfloor heating is that homeowners will not have to hear unusual noises coming from the room. This is in contrast to radiators which have a tendency to make sounds when they are switched on or off. This can be beneficial for health and safety reasons as you will not have to worry about hot radiators and the under floor's heating presence will hardly be felt.

A noticeable problem with radiators is that they are not very good for the air in the house as they tend to dry it out. You will not find this with underfloor heating and will notice the difference to the overall well being in your home. Underfloor heating is also beneficial for allergy and asthma suffers as it has a balance of convection and radiation which minimises disturbance.

What are the disadvantages of underfloor heating?

Although underfloor heating is great for saving lots of space in the home, and is a positive step forward in terms of energy saving, as with anything, there are some disadvantages to having underfloor heating.

For one thing, in order to do a complete installation, you will have to be mentally prepared for widespread chaos. Imagine that your whole house will have to be turned upside down in order to get the system installed. Some people find this easier to deal with than others. If you want full insulation in the floors, then be prepared for a complete rebuild.

One problem that most people have with underfloor heating is the fact that, it can take quite a bit of time to heat up. This is particularly the case if the pipe is embedded in a solid floor. Depending on what type of flooring you have, the waiting time could even be longer. For instance, with a wooden floor, you might be looking at a 30 minute waiting period for it to warm up. On the other hand, a concrete floor could potentially take hours. You will also have to be prepared for an equally lengthy cooling period. At the end of it, it all depends on your individual taste, and what you are willing to put up with for your comfort.