Electric Underfloor Heating Pros and Cons
If you think that underfloor heating is all about luxury and only for those who can afford it, you couldn’t be more wrong. Underfloor heating is a really great choice for your home as it has so many advantages. It’s not that hard to install and it can spread heat across a room very quickly. Cold spots are eliminated pretty quickly because of the way underfloor heating is distributed.
It is becoming far more popular than it once was, and is no longer a rare source of heating. It’s especially cost effective if you’re thinking of taking up the floor for whatever reason. This is usually to correct any anomalies or errors in your flooring, or simply because you want to try something new. If you’re having tiles installed for instance, installing electric underfloor heating is a great idea, because as well as providing the heating, it’ll also take the icy chill off the surface of your tiles.
There are 2 types to choose from, those being either water based or electric. So let’s look now at the pros and cons of underfloor heating.
The pros of electric underfloor heating
If you choose electric underfloor heating, the heating comes up from the floor rather than being circulated from a radiator so it’s warmer with no cold spots.
Electric is much cheaper and easier than water based to install, so you can skip the professional installation if you wish, although we always advise you consult a professional before you start anything regarding the use of electrics.
With a dry system there’s less installation and materials to consider because there are wires instead of pipes which need to be fitted into a subfloor - and these can be installed above it. They heat up quicker than water based systems, so you’re not waiting a long time.
Installation can be longer than with conventional heating because a compound will need to be laid and this has to dry before anything else can be done. There’s also the cost to consider, it probably will be more than a traditional radiator heating system, and if you’re having a new floor at the same time, there’s also the cost of this to factor in too.
Pros and cons of water based underfloor heating systems
As we’ve already seen, water based heating systems can take longer to install and be more complex due to the fact they need more space for the pipes. However, although it may take longer to install due to pipe installation, the running costs long-term are cheaper than that of electric underfloor heating.
Water based are usually better for new builds, so it’s already installed prior to a homeowner moving in. If you live in an older building it may be more problematic to install.
Which to go with or not at all?
That is the question. Thing is, if you’re looking for more floor space, then underfloor heating is ideal, because where the radiators would have been you’ve got more wall space to play with. That aside, you’ve also got the low running costs once it’s installed and the lack of cold spots so you get warmer quicker.
Bryan Morris Plumbing and Heating - Speak to the Experts
If you’re still torn, why not contact us? And if you do decide to go ahead with it, we’re the perfect team to choose with all the qualifications, experience and expertise for both simple and more complex jobs, so give us a call today.