Let’s talk about underfloor heating. It’s not just a luxurious way to keep your toes cosy in the depths of winter but is economical, energy-efficient and a lot simpler to install than many of us think

There are so many reasons to opt for underfloor heating, and this form of home warmth isn’t reserved for contemporary new builds on Grand Designs – but is, in fact, one of the oldest ways of keeping a building comfortable! Originating in Roman times, heating under hard stone floors was created by harnessing basement fireplaces’ warmth, with chimneys running underneath the rooms.

Technology has come a tremendous way since the appeal of replacing clunky radiators with streamlined underfloor heating – so let’s explore how this type of home heating system works, and why it is a fantastic investment for your property.

What is Underfloor Heating & How Does it Work?

Of course, we all know that underfloor heating means running pipework underneath your floors, to keep your rooms deliciously warm underfoot.

But the practicalities are that the Pinnacle Works team fits piping or cables underneath any flooring surface, which usually draws on your same boiler, but distributes the heat differently. This technology puts less strain on your boiler than typical radiators, with a lower control temperature required to keep your rooms at a comfortable heat (around a 25 °C reduction in heat output!).

There are two primary ways of installing underfloor heating. The right option will depend on whether you are building an extension and creating a newly poured floor, or looking at a renovation project to upgrade your home.

• Wet or hydraulic underfloor heating uses the same system as a radiator, with water heated by a boiler or eco-friendly heat pump. The pipes are laid with a screed to keep them in place, and concealed underneath your floor.
• Electric underfloor heating is another option, often lower cost and faster to install in existing properties. It uses electricity to power the heated matting, containing the wires and cables. The downside is that the running costs tend to be slightly higher since an electrical system relies on your mains power supply, rather than water heated by your boiler.

If you’re considering underfloor heating for your building, feel free to get in touch for a chat about the best heating system for your home, style of property, and budget.

A lot depends on whether you’d like to heat specific rooms or floors, or the whole of your property – so give us a call, and we’ll run through the pros and cons!

What are the Benefits of Underfloor Heating?

Underfloor heating is a compelling option for many reasons:

• Reliability

Radiant heat technology warms your home gently, without sudden fluctuations in heat output from radiators. Warming a house from the ground up means that you don’t have pockets of cold or hot air and maintain consistent temperatures.

• Energy-Efficiency

Heating your property from under the floor is more energy-efficient, requiring less energy than multiple radiators. You don’t need a new boiler and can reduce energy costs by around 15% on average since underfloor heating runs at substantially lower temperatures.

• Flexibility

Contrary to common misconceptions, underfloor heating isn’t just something available for new construction projects or extensions – our professional teams can install it retrospectively in properties of any type. You can fit either hydraulic or electrical underfloor heating under any surface – from laminate to carpets, tiles to stone, and traditional wooden floorboards.

• Space Saving

If there is one key benefit to underfloor heating in addition to saving money on energy bills – it is being able to remove unattractive radiators from your walls, and make the most of the space on offer in your home! Heating cables are hidden perfectly beneath the floor, and take up zero room in your living spaces.

• Safety

Particularly for parents with young children or busy households, leaving heating appliances unsupervised can be worrisome. Having your building’s heating cleverly concealed means there is no risk that small hands or inquisitive noses will come anywhere near to hot metal or sharp edges!m

• Cleaner Air

Another lesser-known fact about underfloor heating is that it improves air quality. Radiant heat produces better Oxygen qualities and avoids the dust circulation caused by radiators, created by thermal currents of air rising to your ceilings and down again to the floor in a revolving cycle.

• Easy to Fit

The Pinnacle Works heating team often installs underfloor heating in existing properties. We can usually complete an installation in just a few days whether you opt for electrical matting or a pumped water system. Electrical matting can be quickly fitted and tiled or carpeted over without any extensive construction work or disruption.

• Seamless to Use

While we’ve all had a problem with radiator leaks, uneven temperature distribution or trapped air pockets, you have none of these issues with underfloor heating. Our systems require minimal maintenance once installed, and electrical systems don’t need much servicing to keep them in tip-top condition.

As you can see, there are multiple reasons that so many homeowners decide to opt for underfloor heating – and it’s flexible enough to be used in just one room as part of an extension project, or to be fitted through entire properties as a renovation!

The beauty of this heating system isn’t just in the cost-efficiencies, ease of running or safety. It’s that you never need to spend time changing radiator settings and that our dedicated thermostatic controls mean you can choose from automatic programming or schedules, so your home is always heated just as you like it.

Are There any Downsides to Underfloor Heating?

As with any design choice, it’s always worth thinking about the pitfalls – but it’s safe to say these are few and far between.

Initially, underfloor heating does, of course, incur a cost to supply and fit the heating system. However, the energy savings accumulate quickly, and an advanced quality system will pay for itself in a short space of time by reducing your heating bills. Another factor is that a heating system under your floors can increase your flooring height and, therefore, decrease the total volume of space in your home.

That said, low-profile hydraulic underfloor heating usually adds a minimal height of under 20 mm. An electrical underfloor heat pad can be as slimline as 3 mm – which is far outweighed by the space saved by being able to remove any pre-existing radiators from your walls!

If you’re interested in an underfloor heating system for your construction project and would like to have a chat about costs or installation times – or check out some of our previous work – do get in touch or visit our portfolio online! The Pinnacle Works team has years of experience in fitting every type of home heating system, so we’re always on hand to provide advice and guidance so you can make an informed choice about the safest and lowest-cost way to heat your home perfectly.