Under Floor Heating

[BlackAlys]

We have a really good chance of going for UFH in our renovation project and are looking for feedback on the water v's the electric - costs, efficiency etc.

All advice appreciated!

15 years old means it will be a fairly modern condensing boiler, so there will not be big change in efficiency if you buy a new one.

Wet underfloor heating works best with porcelain tiles as they conduct heat best , so even a low setting can be felt. If you want to use other floor types then it perhaps isn’t worth it from a fuel efficiency to cost basis.

@Ozanj "Wet underfloor heating works best with porcelain tiles as they conduct heat best"

Probably so. However, we have 14mm laminate and that is fine.

Ooh, this is all very interesting! Sorry to hijack but what happens if it needs repairing?

We have the exact same setup as BarkingUpTheWrongRoseBush - wet UFC on the ground floor on a separate circuit to the rest of the house, and electric pads in 2 small bathrooms. In fact, so similar I'm wondering if I name changed and forgot.

It works brilliantly - the downstairs is on constantly in the winter and is just lovely to walk on. We have a combination of engineered wood and porcelain tiles and we do find the tiles are very noticeably warmer, but that is fine as they're in a bathroom and utility which works well.

The two electric pads are such a small area and only on for short bursts (we have a timer that means they aren't left on accidentally) that they are not expensive just just add a really nice touch of comfort on a cold day.

@Andthenanothercupoftea

Ooh, this is all very interesting! Sorry to hijack but what happens if it needs repairing?

It's extremely unlikely for the pipework to fail, unless pierced by some imbecilic diy effort at some point. It's usually laid as a single length of plastic pipe per zone that any decent installer will pressure test for several days before it is covered in substraight floor etc.

All the other bits will be wring centre, zone valves etc will be acessable and serviceable in a cupboard of some kind

@Andthenanothercupoftea "Ooh, this is all very interesting! Sorry to hijack but what happens if it needs repairing?"

Well I would guess it would be extremely disruptive and expensive as would mean digging up the whole floor screed, laying new pipes and then rescreeding with months to dry. In reality, if laid correctly it shouldn't as all it could do is leave. They use continuous lengths of plastic piping so no joins and pressure test to far higher than what the pressure it will experience.

I guess if it leaked, most people would install radiators than have the hassle of digging up the floor. I haven't heard of anyone having to do it though.

We have wet ufh under wooden floors and it is amazing. Separately controlled via Hive, covering a large kitchen/diner/family area.
It’s changed my life.. so nice to get up to warm floors and it’s cosy!. We don’t find it expensive!

If you are renovating to the extent that you are potentially completely changing your heating system then you should be looking at air source or ground source more thoroughly. It seems crazy to put in a new oil system when they’re being phased out and even gas is not a great plan (although likely to be around a bit longer). The likely way of initially phasing out fossil fuels will be massive taxation before the bans. If this is a forever property it’s short sighted not to look at renewables.
Have you considered solar panels?

But back to your original question, electric is a cheap to install nice to have which you’ll rarely use. Wet is a proper hearing system

@Watchingyou2sleezes and @MarieG10 thanks, that's really useful! Was thinking of having it laid in our small kitchen to free up wall space.

@HasaDigaEebowai. Great user name.

The rest of our house is 1908, thick stone walls, original windows. The guy who sells heat pumps shook his head at us and said no.