Blog

The Ultimate Underfloor Heating Guide

Modern homeowners have many options when it comes to heating. Whether you want to install a new type of boiler or move to a unique form of heating system, there’s something for every homeowner.

One energy-efficient and cost-effective heating system is underfloor heating. It’s one of the fastest-growing sectors in the

UK heating industry, and if you know a little about underfloor heating, then it’s easy to see why.

When compared to traditional radiators, the solution is highly beneficial and can save homeowners money and still give them a cosy home all year round.

Alongside being energy-efficient, underfloor heating is also ideal for warming rooms and properties of all shapes and sizes. You can choose from two options: electric systems and water-powered systems.

As one of the leading underfloor heating providers in the UK with satisfied clients around the North of the country, CP12 Energy understands the many benefits of this innovative heating solution and how it could benefit UK homeowners such as yourself.

That’s why we’ve put together this handy ultimate guide to underfloor heating, so you can find all the insight you need to make an informed choice.

A Definition Of Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating does what it says on the tin: it heats your home from the floor up. It is comprised of pipes, which are installed under your home’s floor and then hidden by your floorboards.

Depending on the type of system you choose, it either uses hot water or electricity to heat your room through the floor.

It’s possible to use a variety of heat sources to fuel your underfloor heating system, including a combi, system or heat-only boiler. Whether you use oil, electricity or even biofuel, you can fuel your underfloor heating using almost any solution.

Each section or room in your home is divided into a ‘zone’ and can be controlled through a thermostat so that you can select the perfect temperature for each room.

As heat rises, underfloor heating can help you to heat the rooms in your home more evenly than traditional wall-mounted radiators.

The Types Of Underfloor Heating Available

There are two main types of underfloor heating available currently: wet underfloor heating and electric underfloor heating.

Carry on reading to find out about the differences between the two underfloor heating options and how they could each benefit your home.

Wet Underfloor Heating

Wet underfloor heating is one of the most popular types of underfloor heating in the UK and with good reason.

This type of system involves installing pipes under the floor, which are usually embedded in floor screed.

These pipes are then covered by your chosen type of flooring, so they can’t be seen by inhabitants of the room.

The pipes are filled with hot water from the boiler, which heats the room evenly from the bottom upwards.

Our team think that this is the best possible solution, which is why we offer customised wet underfloor heating systems to suit any property.

The solution takes more time and effort to install than the electric option, but wet underfloor heating is cost-effective and offers a reduction in running costs over its lifetime.

As such, if you’re planning on installing underfloor heating throughout your home, then wet underfloor heating could be the ideal solution.

Electric Underfloor Heating

Much like wet underfloor heating, the electric version heats your home through a series of wires that are installed under your floor.

The main difference is that electric systems are fuelled by electricity rather than hot water from the property’s boiler.

While electric underfloor heating can often be cheaper and easier to install, particularly if your home isn’t a new build or renovation project, however, the running costs of electric underfloor heating can be significantly higher than those of wet underfloor heating.

As such, you should consider electric underfloor heating in small rooms, for example, in a bathroom or a utility room where there is no radiator.

The Benefits Of Underfloor Heating

There are many benefits of installing underfloor heating in your home. Over the years, our team have seen many satisfied customers enjoy our underfloor heating solutions to make their homes snug and cosy.

We’re based in the North East, so our clients are used to cold weather. They know that they can trust us to offer them the best solution to keep their homes warm, which is why you can trust us when we say that underfloor heating is a great heating system for any property.

You don’t have to take our word for it: we’ve also put together this guide to the benefits of underfloor heating.

If you want to see a breakdown of some of the most significant benefits of underfloor heating systems, then keep reading.

Underfloor Heating Saves You Energy And Money

The most significant benefit of underfloor heating is that it saves you energy. As a result, you’ll save money on your home energy bills over the solution’s lifetime.

Underfloor heating is energy-efficient, particularly wet underfloor heating. That’s because the water needed to heat the system is heated to a lower temperature than the water used in traditional radiators.

As such, this system could save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills over the years, which will be a significant amount of money.

That saving offsets the initial underfloor heating cost and makes the solution ideal for thrifty homeowners.

Reducing your energy consumption also helps you to reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Home heating is one of the most significant ways that individuals use energy.

As such, by choosing underfloor heating over radiators or even more unsustainable heating systems, such as electric heaters.

This Type Of Heating System Is Discreet

Choosing underfloor heating for your home means that you’ll reduce the impact your system for heating your room has on its aesthetic.

After all, as the pipes or wires are hidden underneath the floor, you’ll never notice them. That means that you can save space as you won’t need bulky radiators.

It also means that you and your guests will only notice the warm feeling that your underfloor heating provides. You won’t see it, and the thermostats are usually discreet and easy to hide.

Therefore, you can create a modern, innovative and stylish home easily if you choose to install underfloor heating.

You won’t have to design your room around your heating solution: instead, you can focus on creating an Instagram-ready home that’s the envy of all your friends and family.

Underfloor Heating Works Can Be Installed In Any Property

Whether you’re creating a new build home or renovating a historic building, you can use underfloor heating in any property.

While there might be some disruption if you’re living in the property when you get your new system installed, experts such as us can minimise this and make the installation process quick and straightforward.

Whatever the age or style of your home, this discreet heating solution can easily be incorporated. It won’t detract from any decorative features, as it is hidden under the floor.

It can even be installed in between or above the joists in your ceiling, meaning that you can install it in an apartment or a large, multi-story property.

So, there’s no reason why any homeowner should dismiss underfloor heating as unsuitable for their home. It offers many benefits, so you can get the most out of your system and enhance your home.

It's Quick And Easy To Install

As mentioned above, it’s easy for experts such as CP12 Energy to install your underfloor heating and get it up and running in no time.

We understand that ripping up your existing floor coverings and installing a new heating system might sound time-consuming and challenging.

However, when you hire experts such as us, you get the benefit of our expertise and exceptionally high standards of service.

We will aim to make the transition from traditional heating to underfloor heating as smooth and straightforward as possible.

A wet underfloor heating system could take as long as 2-3 days to install, but our team will support you throughout the process and aim to make it as simple as possible. An electric system will require less time, but it will cost more to run over its lifetime.

When you work with CP12 Energy, we’ll aim to provide you with the best support possible and do everything to minimise disruption to your life.

If your home is a new build or being renovated, then the installation will be easier as the property will be unoccupied.

For homes that are occupied, our team will work with you to ensure that the process goes without a hitch and that you can carry on with your life as quickly as possible.

Many Types Of Thermostat Work With Underfloor Heating

From smart thermostats to traditional dials, almost every type of thermostat works with underfloor heating.

As such, you can find the perfect option to suit you and allow you to control your new underfloor system for heating your home.

If you’re unsure about the best type of thermostat for your new system, then our team can advise you and make the process of selecting the proper controls to make using your underflooring heating simple and straightforward.

Keep Everyone Safe With This Heating Solution

Small children and animals often like to touch unknown objects, such as radiators or pipes. Traditional systems for heating your home require external pipes and valves that are often attached to radiators.

Children or pets might fiddle with these, which could be hot to the touch. As such, they might burn themselves or damage your system.

With underfloor heating, you can ensure their safety, as the pipes and wires are concealed under the floor and therefore out of reach.

That means that your family can stay warm and safe at the same time with underfloor heating. You won’t need to keep your little ones or pets away from radiators anymore and can spend more time making great memories with them.

Heat All Your Rooms More Effectively With Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating is not only energy-efficient but also generally a better way to heat your home. That’s because it heats your room better than wall-mounted heaters such as radiators.

When you use underfloor heating, the pipes heat every inch of your room. Pipes are more flexible and can reach into corners better than large wall-mounted boxes such as radiators.

As such, there won’t be any troublesome cold spots in your room, and you can feel snug and comfortable no matter how cold it might be outside.

It Can Add Value To Your Property

As underfloor heating is a cost-effective, sustainable and trendy heating solution, it can increase the value of your home significantly.

That means that when you go to sell your property, you could earn more money and be able to sell it quickly and easily.

Underfloor heating is highly desirable, so your property could be more enticing to potential buyers and make them offer more money than if your home uses traditional heating methods.

Therefore, the solution could earn back the initial underfloor heating cost and more when you go to sell your home.

Underfloor Heating Is The Future Of Home Heating

As a rising market, it’s clear that underfloor heating is the future of keeping your home warm and snug.

Therefore, by choosing to install underfloor heating in your property today, you’ll ensure that your home is ahead of the rest.

Your home will be modern and innovative, and you won’t need to replace an outdated system in the next few years.

The Costs Of Underfloor Heating

The cost of underfloor heating depends on many different factors. These include the type of underfloor heating you choose, the provider you work with, the square footage of your room and more.

As your underfloor heating system will provide you with heating and comfort for many years to come and can save you money in the long run, you need to ensure that you choose a high-quality solution and an experienced provider.

While underfloor heating is slightly more expensive to install than a traditional radiator heating system, as we’ve stated above, it can save you money in the long run.

At CP12 Energy, we pride ourselves on using only the best materials and hiring experienced, dedicated underfloor heating engineers.

As a result, you know that you’re getting the very best possible service when you hire us to install your underfloor heating system.

When you pay for quality, you’ll only need to pay once and will receive an exceptional solution that will last well into the future.

Get a quote online for free or contact us directly to find out more about the cost of your underfloor heating installation project.

Types Of Floor Coverings That Work Best Over Underfloor Heating

If you’ve decided to choose underfloor heating for your home, then another consideration that you must make is what types of flooring to use over the top of it.

Some flooring solutions, such as antique or softwoods, might not withstand the extra heat and warp as a result.

However, for the most part, almost every type of floor covering will work well with underfloor heating solutions.

That means that you’ve got plenty of choices when you’re selecting a flooring type to cover the system and decorate your room.

The best type of floor covering for underfloor heating is one that can efficiently transfer the heat from your underfloor heating system to the room.

Among the best floor covering solutions for an underfloor heating system are:

• Ceramic Tile: Tile often feels cool under your feet, as it transfers temperature well. As such, it’s a great solution for using over underfloor heating. It’s also a durable and easy to maintain flooring solution, so it’s ideal for bathrooms or kitchens with underfloor heating systems.

• Stone Tiles: Like ceramic, natural stone tiles such as slate or granite are ideal for going over underfloor heating. These types of flooring can easily transfer heat and won’t be damaged by being heated from below.

• Polished Screed Or Resin: Resin or polished screed are durable and can easily be covered with carpet or rugs for extra snugness. These solutions are durable and can withstand the heat from your underfloor heating system.

• Linoleum: Lino is a durable, versatile flooring solution that comes in many different styles. It also works well for going over underfloor heating, as it transfers the heat well and won’t shrink or warp. This flooring product is ideal for modern homes and smaller rooms with low heating requirements. It’s cost-effective, and there are so many different styles that you can find the ideal one for any room in your home, no matter what your tastes.

• Solid Or Engineered Wood: While softer woods might warp or get damaged by the heat from underfloor heating systems, a harder wood or an engineered softer wood will withstand the rise in temperature. As such, these solutions are great for homeowners who are aiming for a rustic look.

• Carpets And Area Rugs: Carpets and large rugs are snug and warm anyway, but they can be made more so by being placed over underfloor heating. They transfer heat well to the rest of the room, and they come in many different colours, textures and patterns, making them great for a wide range of homeowners. If you choose to install carpet over your underfloor heating system, then make sure that the underlay is not made from felt, rubber or polyurethane, as these materials can affect the transfer of heat.

• Laminate: Laminated flooring can be made to imitate many other products, such as harder woods or marble. It’s another durable and flexible type of flooring that you can use over your underfloor heating. Also, the product is cost-effective, meaning that it is excellent for cost-conscious homeowners.

When choosing a flooring solution to go over your underfloor heating system, the best option is to communicate with your provider.

Heating experts like us can offer you expert insight into the best type of floor covering to suit each room in your home.

We’re always happy to offer our clients the benefit of our expertise, so you can choose the perfect floor product to cover your new underfloor heating system.

The Issue Of Raising Your Floor's Height

Among the main questions that many homeowners have when considering whether or not to install underfloor heating is: will it raise the height of my home’s floor?

The answer is yes, naturally, as you are adding an additional system of pipes or wires underneath your existing floor.

However, the increase is usually unnoticeable, and there are some products that can be embedded in the screed to reduce the height of the floor.

Additionally, if your home is being renovated completely or is a brand new property, then you can adjust the height of the doorframes to make the raised height of the floor look more natural.

So, while underfloor heating does raise the height of your floor, that doesn’t have to be a significant issue if you work with a professional underfloor heating installer like us.

How To Choose The Right Underfloor Heating Supplier

When you’re searching for an underfloor heating provider, you need to look for one that has the experience you expect and offers expert support.

The team at CP12 Energy knows that you expect the best support and a range of heating system services.

That’s why we offer a one-stop shop for all of your home heating needs. Whether you’re looking for underfloor heating, boiler installation, or even property management support for landlords, we can help.

So, whatever you need, we can assist. You’ll get the benefit of our expertise, which extends to being trusted by UK landlords to certify their boiler and conduct gas safety checks.

If you’re interested in finding out more about underfloor heating in the North East, then you can phone us on 0191 814 4237 or email info@cp12energy.co.uk.

We’ll be happy to discuss our services in more detail and help you to plan your next project or maintain your existing heating system.

Blog

The Ultimate Underfloor Heating Guide