November 7, 2024

Smart Homes

A Complete Guide to Electric Underfloor Heating

Home comfort enters the 21st Century with electric underfloor heating. Not only is it more economical to run in comparison to other options but it’s also cleaner and more manageable.

During the colder months of the year, we tend to spend more time at home. A cosy temperature keeps the dampness at bay and is good for our physical and mental health.

Just like everything else nowadays we want to manage comfort with the flick of a switch. Electric underfloor heating is a godsend in that regard, it is clean, modern and hassle-free. You can adjust the heating via a display or through an App and the data is readily available to help save costs over the year.

Through this article, we are going to demystify the topic and provide practical advice on installation and running electric underfloor heating.

Bathroom with electric underfloor heating system by Porcelanosa

Electric Underfloor Heating system with digital control display

Better Value and Good for the Environment

It’s rare that value for money and sustainable design come together. Nevertheless, electric underfloor heating in the home means cheaper heating bills and a smaller carbon footprint. The concept has been around since Roman times. Put simply, underfloor heating turns your home’s floor into an ambient radiator that heats the room. UFH heats people and objects rather than the air. The installation is visually unobtrusive and exceptionally easy to install nowadays.

 

What are the Advantages of Underfloor Heating

If you are wondering if your home is suitable for electric underfloor heating the answer is yes. Whether it’s a new build or a refurbishment there is a workable system for your floors.

Some people have the mistaken impression that underfloor heating cannot work in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens. But that is not the case. Additionally, for larger spaces, the configuration of the mats and cables allows different zoning to meet different heat requirements.

  • Energy efficient: the average UK home will save between approximately 15% and 40% on heating bills with underfloor heating. While wall-mounted radiators reach temperatures of 65° C typically underfloor heating operates at much lower temperatures, between 29° C and 40° C.
  • Performance: underfloor heating takes slightly longer to heat up than conventional radiators, but distributes heat more effectively. It avoids the hot and cold spots in a room associated with more traditional heaters.
  • Visually cleaner: the look of underfloor heating is sleek and modern. With no wall-hung radiators, there is more freedom to arrange furniture and use wall space. The extra room is especially useful in smaller spaces.
  • Less noisy: unlike the gargling and thumping sound of old-fashioned radiators, underfloor heating is noiseless. Silence equals calm and contributes towards general well-being in the home.
  • Health & Safety: underfloor heating is recommended for young families because there are no hot radiators within the space.

 

Electric underfloor heating system by Porcelanosa

Electric Underfloor Heating Mesh Matt system

How Electric Underfloor Heating Works

There are two generic types of underfloor heating. One, hydronic, is water-based with heated water running through a network of pipes underneath the floor. The other is electrical, a circuit of wires embedded into the flooring material (or adhesive) using heating resistors to convert electricity into heat.

There are four main electrical systems that offer different properties and that are recommended for different floor finishes. They also vary in thickness which is an important consideration together with the flooring material. The most appropriate system for your home will depend on a number of factors, we recommend consulting a professional.

  • Mesh Mat. A mesh mat with sewn-in cabling at a regular spacing that is placed under the floor finish. Most commonly used for porcelain tile and stone floors. Available in different power outputs depending on the intensity of room use.
  • Heating & Decoupling System. A thin membrane of raised dimples holds the wiring in place and allows the tiled finish to move independently from the subfloor. The decoupling membrane also acts as a waterproofing making it ideal for humid environments. A recent advance.
  • In-Screed. More appropriate for intensively used rooms in the home. Takes longer to heat up and cool down. The pre-spaced profile wires are built into the screed layer of the sub-flooring. The installation is more involved than the matt-style system.
  • Foil Systems. Designed for floating floors, such as wood and carpet finishes. The heating coil is wrapped between two layers of insulation. There is no need for adhesives and the foil heats up more quickly than other systems.

 

Living room with electric underfloor heating system by Porcelanosa

 

Best Flooring for Underfloor Heating

One of the advantages of electric underfloor heating is the compatibility with different flooring finishes. From timber floors to porcelain tiles and everything in between. However, there are certain combinations of materials that will provide superior results.

Obviously, your choice of flooring depends on the room within the house, there are practical and aesthetic considerations. Nevertheless, the following combinations of materials and electric underfloor heating systems are recommendations.

  • Porcelain and stone: thanks to their high thermal conductivity both materials are the best flooring for underfloor heating. The electrical current warms the tile and stone rapidly and offers almost instantaneous heat.
  • Wood & Laminate flooring: it is possible to install underfloor heating systems beneath wood or laminate flooring by applying a compatible self-levelling compound over the heating mat. The denser and thinner the boards, the better the performance of the EUH will be.
  • Luxury Vinyl Flooring: comfortable underfoot and extremely hard-wearing vinyl is compatible with electric underfloor heating. The Foil system is recommended with vinyl given that there is a temperature limit of 27° C, to prevent heat loss.
  • Carpet: there are certain restrictions on the overall insulation properties of carpet with underfloor heating. The total tog including underlay and overlay as well as the carpet itself should not exceed 1.5 tog (Thermal Resistance).

Bedroom with electric underfloor heating system by Porcelanosa

 

Electric Underfloor Heating Throughout the Home

Electric underfloor heating transforms the comfort of your home, especially when the temperatures drop outside. Throughout the day, in different rooms, its adaptability and intuitive control provide contemporary and luxurious comfort.

On winter mornings the feel of warm floor tiles under your foot when you get out of bed is one of life’s affordable luxuries. Compatibility with UFH is one reason for the increasing popularity of tiled floors in bedrooms in the UK. Similarly, the cosy ambience of radiant heat transforms morning and evening bathroom rituals. When you add the aesthetic possibilities of ceramic, porcelain and LVF flooring the installation of electric underfloor heating is a no-brainer.

And what better welcome home from work on long winter evenings than a warm living room floor preprogrammed to just the right temperature. UFH opens up a world of attractive floor-tiling possibilities for living spaces. Floor tiles for underfloor heating are practical and decorative, with an extensive range of designs. And that also goes for kitchens as well as conservatories, the low ambient heat provided by underfloor heating adds another dimension to home comfort.

 

Installing Underfloor Heating

The great advantage of electric underfloor heating is its easy installation. Unlike the hydronic (wet) alternative, there are no moving parts. It’s no more complicated than changing the floor finish in a room of your house. With the added bonus of being highly competitive in terms of running costs. However, we would always recommend a qualified installer for electric underfloor heating. The following installation pointers for tiled floors are common to all systems and are worth including.

1. Substrate: Electrical underfloor heating can be laid over existing floor surfaces such as timber, concrete, stone or tiles.

2. Preparing the Substrate: Ground-floor installations will usually be over concrete while first-floor installations will normally be plywood or timber. Nevertheless, the subfloor must be level, free from dust and debris and thoroughly clean.

3. Include insulation: Adding a layer of insulation underneath can increase the efficiency by up to 50%. The choice of coated or uncoated insulation board depends on the subfloor. Remember to fix the perimeter insulation foam around the room before laying and fixing the insulation boards.

4. Testing: Test the electrical underfloor heating before beginning installation.

5. Floor sensors: Some finished floor materials have temperature restrictions. By fitting floor sensors, the system will run more energy efficiently.

6. Laying the flooring: Ensure that the levelling compound and or adhesive completely covers the mesh mat/cables.

7. Wiring: Only a qualified professional electrician can complete the installation because the certification is required.

 

Choose underfloor heating for your home

Home heating is the one luxury that we should all enjoy. From all points of view: the practical, the aesthetic and the value-for-money electric underfloor heating makes sense. To investigate further make an appointment with our expert team at your nearest Porcelanosa showroom. We guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover all the advantages. In the meantime, drop us a line with any questions regarding the content of this article.

 

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