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Underfloor Heating

An underfloor water heating system is an energy-efficient way to heat your home, providing consistent warmth from the floor up. Unlike traditional radiators, it helps distributes heat evenly across the room, helping to create a comfortable living environment while maximising available wall space.

Suitable for both new builds and renovation projects, underfloor heating can be installed beneath a range of floor finishes, including tile, laminate, engineered wood and stone. With various underfloor heating options available, it's easy to find a solution that meets the requirements of your project, whether you're heating a single room or an entire property.

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Underfloor water heating

Underfloor heating is a hidden system installed beneath a floor to warm a room from the ground up using radiant heat.

How does underfloor water heating work?

  • Traditional kinds of radiators heat the air nearby, which creates currents that can leave cold spots.
  • Underfloor heating turns the entire floor into a gentle, wide-spanning radiator that directly warms people and objects.
  • The system operates at lower temperatures than standard radiators while providing an even, comfortable room temperature.

How do underfloor water heating systems work?

There are two kinds of underfloor heating, which are electric and warm water, and both work in a very similar way.

A network of pipes (for warm water systems) or electric cables (for electric systems) are laid under the floor, and when the system is switched on, the pipes or cables warm up and heat the floor’s surface, providing radiant heat that warms the room from the ground up!

How energy efficient is underfloor heating?

Technically speaking, most underfloor heating systems are much more efficient than radiators due to how the heat is emitted more evenly around the room. The heat also comes from a large surface area - which means it can work with water at much lower temperatures.

As for electric underfloor heating, it can be considered less efficient than water due to how electricity is less efficient at heating than gas. This could then mean that running costs are higher, but, it's a much more efficient way of heating a single, small room due to its independent usage.

Ultimately, overfloor heating efficiency depends on a lot of factors, such as how well insulated the room is, the overall size of the room, and the type of flooring that's used.

What flooring works best with underfloor heating?

Stone, porcelain tiles, LVT and engineered wood are the best overall flooring choice for underfloor heating because they have the highest thermal conductivity and transfer heat quickly.

Avoid using solid hardwood and carpets, as this can be prone to warping and cupping, and can also act as an insulator to trap heat beneath the floor.

We have a wide range of online products that you can view on our website, and if you have any further questions, you can visit your local Howarth branch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does underfloor heating take to heat up?
Underfloor heating takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours or more to warm up, but that depends primarily on whether you have an electric or water-based system.
How long does underfloor heating last?
Underfloor heating can last between 20 to 30 years for electric systems and 40 to 50 years for water-based systems.
How much electricity does underfloor heating use?
Electric underfloor heating typically consumes about 100 to 150 watts per square metre (W/m²) of a heated floor area.

How to Guides

Underfloor Heating Guide

Underfloor heating is suitable for timber frames, solid floors and joisted systems.