Underfloor heating v radiators - pigletJohn??

[SummerSazz]

I'm thinking of putting water underfloor heating in my kitchen which is always cold! It currently has electric underfloor heating which is too expensive to run 🙄

Will water be cheaper or should I go for radiators (tricky to place them)?

I know pigletJohn has good advice but can't seem to tag him 🤷‍♀️

You can put underplinth heaters in. Out underfloor heating went in as part of renovation so they were put in and screed poured on top, it was a big job and you need space for the manifold. If you’ve got a solid floor it’ll have to come up. Radiators would be easier.

Thanks @Justcannotbearsed. It would be part of a renovation with the existing tiled floor coming up anyway. The quotes for the installation aren't too dissimilar c2k more for underfloor but I'm more concerned about running costs. We don't use the current electric underfloor as it's stupidly expensive to run.

The plumber and electrician are coming round today so I'll check exactly what system they are proposing

You have identified your own problem.

My Electric mat underfloor, fitted by my builder, in two bathrooms is ridiculously expensive to run. So expensive I never use it.

My downstairs wet underfloor system is the cheapest heating system I have ever run. No hotspots, just gentle warmth in all 4 downstairs rooms, topped up by a woodburner in the living room for the coldest days.

I would never touch an electric mat system again, but would happily go for a wet system.

That's brilliant to hear @Flyingsouthagain

Thankyou! 🙏

Agree with the above
Wet underfloor heating is like a big spaced out radiator, so cost to run it shouldn’t be much different to having some radiators in there.

@Flyingsouthagain
I too have electric underfloor heating in two bathrooms that is never turned on as it is too expensive to run.

Only thing that surprised me a bit was that ours takes quite a long time to heat up (and cool down). So to have it toasty in the morning for breakfast time and first bit of the morning, it’s on something like 5am - 7.30am I think.
We have a separate thermostat and timer thing for it.

If it's part of a renovation - then yes, it's really cheap to run. I think the idea is that you have it on low pretty much all the time (in the winter) and then if you need to wack it up you can and it doesn't take ages to heat up. Provides a lovely heat and the cat loves it.

We haven't really had ours on properly yet as the builders are still in an out leaving all the doors open. But when we had it on for a while to dry the floor out before fitting the flooring it didn't make a dent in the oil tank.

@Justcannotbearsed - we are on oil as well so good to hear it's not too thirsty for that!

@NautaOcts thanks for the tip

👍 we’re on oil too

If you are taking the floors up, wet UFH is great.

It is not too bad to fit if you have wooden floors and are about to refit the kitchen

It is impractical with concrete floors unless included when they are built, e.g. when adding an extension.

Wet under-cabinet plinth heaters with an electric fan blower are a good idea, but they have a reputation for clogging with sediment, and are harder to get at than radiators.

Agree with @Justcannotbearsed, I keep mine on all Winter at an underlying heat of 20 degrees in the day, dropping it to 17 degrees overnight. I have it off in the Summer.

The cost to heat my 1450 sq ft house last year, including the underfloor downstairs and two radiators upstairs was £730 (Gas).

Well the plumbers have just been and they don't think they can fit it - it's an upstairs kitchen with tricky cross beams.

@PigletJohn they suggested the under cabinet blowers too so great to hear they may be a decent alternative. I've asked to wait until they've taken the floor up to see what is lurking beneath.

Thanks all for your experiences

If you don't already have one, get a magnetic system filter fitted, in a convenient place for emptying, before the new heating goes in. Working on an old system will disturb existing sludge and sediment, so you want the filter to trap it before it can into the new devices, especially.

If you're having the floor up, I'd also fit insulation if it is above an unheated space such as a garage, or if the house is old and draughty. The loft insulation type will do. It's especially important round the edges of the room to prevent draughts blowing up under the skirtings and holes for pipes (and dowlighters, if any). The brands treated with Ecose do not shed irritant dust and fibres. It squashes into irregular gaps without needing precision cutting.

@SummerSazz I have overfloor underfloor heating. You lay it on top of existing floors. Ours is by Wundafloor. It’s a wet system. We’re on oil too. We have an old large house and it is fitted upstairs and down. Have a look at that as an alternative? Wundafloor are great to work with, plan to your room specs and the profile is very low. We have wired thermostats in every room and the house is v toasty. Much better than our previous old house which had cast iron rads and was always draughty. Plus you can place furniture anywhere you like.