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Original poster

Underfloor heating - economically efficient or not?

12 replies

jennymac · 23/09/2010 13:51

Just about to start building a new house and wondering if anyone who has installed underfloor heating could give me some idea whether it works out more expensive for oil than using radiators?

OP posts:

EdgarAllInPink · 23/09/2010 13:55

interested to know myself...

bacon · 23/09/2010 21:27

Underfloor is the most efficient system you can run. We have it in a new build and in our acient farmhouse. This isnt just my opinion, its a fact if you contact many plumber who is in the know with energy savings.

Rads have cold spots and have many pitfalls.

It is more pricey to install but it isnt excessive. Every room can have a thermostate too.

Do you mean you are running the hot water system on oil? Running underfloor is cheaper to run as its efficient and the running temp is lower.

If you are building new most architects would state that this system is the best and would be a shame to stick in rads.

You could also consider solar panels for heat? We are looking at alternatives as we are on LPG gas and the bill is extortionate (heating hardly on) so long term thinking about running costs is essential at this stage.

I would deff contact a local heating specialist at this stage.

Cleggy36 · 23/09/2010 21:50

Another option which spreads the heat around the room and avoids the need for radiators is www.discreteheat.co.uk who sell "radiator skirting boards". I don't know how effective they are but I saw them at a building exhibition earlier this year and I thought they looked great.

TheNextMrsDepp · 23/09/2010 22:24

What about electric underfloor heating? Our electrician was a bit about it; said it wasn't very efficient.

Deux · 23/09/2010 22:32

Our architect (oooh get me ) has recommended wet underfloor heating and said 'if anyone tries to convince you electric is just as good, run a mile, it's useless'. He is of the opinion that it's wet or nothing.

Can I ask a question about boilers? Sorry for hijack. If you want rads upstairs and wet underfloor downstairs, do you have to change your existing boiler that is serving rads to whole house? Or need a separate boiler? Haven't got into the detail yet and it's all a bit vague.

teta · 23/09/2010 23:01

I think your plumber has to check the existing boiler to see whether it is suitable.You don't necessarily have to change.

Original poster

jennymac · 24/09/2010 08:34

Am really struggling with what to do about heating the house. When we first decided to build I really wanted a ground source heat pump or a biomass wood pellet boiler but the problem is that we are now really tight on budget as our house only sold for a fraction of what it was valued a couple of years ago due to slump in property market. As well as that, we live in NI, and while the rest of the UK is offering a really good grant for renewable energy sources, the govt dept here responsible for that is still "considering its options!". We are definitely going for a solar panel for hot water but tbh hate the thought of putting in oil as it is just going to get more expensive.

OP posts:

GrendelsMum · 24/09/2010 08:34

If you're building a new house, why don't you go for a ground source heat pump and underfloor heating? We'd do this like a shot if we didn't live in a listed house with the original floors.

On the other hand, if you install a full control system on your radiators rather than the standard thermostatic valves, you can save a lot of money by more efficient use of your heating oil.

Cleggy36 · 24/09/2010 08:38

Electric underfloor certainly works but I have no idea really how efficient it is. We have it in part of our kitchen where there was no room for a radiator and it works fine although it's quite slow to heat up.

UnderfloorHeating · 24/09/2010 10:44

Hi Jenny!

I work for Warmup UK's leading supplier of Electric Underfloor Heating. Our website details a lot of information for you about electric floor heating and comparisons with other heating methods.

Our research has shown Electric Floor Heating to be one of the most efficient forms of heating your home, but it does depend on how well insulated your house is.

I am happy to answer any more specific questions you may have my email is [email protected] or use the contact form on our website.

All the best!
Brian

UnderfloorHeating · 24/09/2010 10:46

Sorry got that link wrong.. Here is the Warmup website link Undefloor Heating

bacon · 24/09/2010 14:23

Nice sales pitch but hot water is the best. Been through this with my expert fitter.

No, you dont need seperate boilers as we have diesel boiler that heats both the underfloor and upstairs rads (gone for the chunky cast iron modern style). Lots of piping but when new its easier. Existing boilers need to be checked. I have a huge water tank (theromastore) too.

Believe me there are no decent eco energy grants out there. Have been through this and unless you do it as part of a commuity project where you enhance the area there are no grants here in wales worth bothering with. There used to be some form of grant system but you had to apply at the end of the month and it was first come first served and apprently a nightmare.

I also wanted a bio mass but the system itself and self feeder came to over £20k without all internal system. We also have a sort of incinerator/huge wood burner so you can throw rubbish and well seasoned wood on but you end up so dirty. It overheats the water too so the system wasnt designed to accommodate this but ideal to save a few pennies.

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