Underfloor Heating

Radiant heating is becoming a popular way to convert the personal bathroom into a luxurious spa. However, it's not only luxurious, it's also power-saving and may be more economical than you think.

What is radiant heating?

This system is composed of electrical cables or tubes of hot water placed under the flooring. Instead of heating entire rooms or buildings and circulating the heat, radiant heating warms objects, such as floors, furniture and even people. Thus, less energy is needed to directly heat things than is needed to heat entire rooms or buildings. The floor is heated and then the heat rises throughout the rest of the space.

What are the benefits of radiant heating?

There are numerous reasons why many homeowners prefer radiant heating to forced-air systems. The primary reason is because heat is evenly distributed throughout the house or room. There aren't chilly spots like there are with conventional heating systems. What's more, the room is warmed from the feet up. Imagine getting out of the bath or shower and placing your bare feet on warmed tile.

Radiant heat systems are significantly quieter than air-forced systems. They also are much cleaner since they do not circulate the dust and allergens that the air-forced systems expel throughout the home.

Perhaps the biggest perk is that these systems are energy efficient. Most people find that they continuously set their thermostat at six to eight degrees lower than with air-forced heating systems and that their energy savings are at around 15 to 20 percent.

What are the drawbacks?

Radiant heat systems can be costly, up to 40 or 50 percent more than conventional heating systems. WarmlyYours estimates that it will cost £200 to £500 to install an electric radiant heating system in a medium-sized bathroom. A hydronic system will cost more like £2,000 to £4,000.

What is the difference between hydronic systems and electrical systems?

In the hydronic system, hot water is pushed through tubing beneath the floor. The temperature is regulated with thermostats and zoning valves, as well as by controlling the amount of water that is distributed through the tubing. This is preferable for large spaces, such as an entire home.

Electric cables can be installed in a cement floor or in the mastic beneath tile floors. There are also mats available that work similar to an electric blanket. This is possibly the best option for bathrooms because of its affordability. A typical mat will cost around £200. The installation, excluding the flooring, will run around £800. Do your research and you may find even better deals.

If you would like to add a bit of luxury to your bathroom while also saving energy, it may be worth your while to consider radiant heating systems.