Sustainable Heating Solutions

Underfloor heating versus radiators

For most of us with central heating systems, radiators are probably the most visible and familiar part of the system. They also play an essential part in the system; in order to get the heat produced by our boilers to heat the air in our homes and offices we need the large surface area a radiator provides as a heat transfer point. The hot water from the boiler enters the radiator, whereupon it gives up its heat to the surrounding air, then returns to the boiler where it is reheated, and the cycle repeats.

Radiators have served us well as a heat transfer mechanism for many years, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a better way to distribute heat.

Radiators are usually relatively small in comparison to the area they are heating – which is fine if they are being fed with very hot water from a traditional boiler, but makes them unsuitable for use with heat pumps – which currently do not generate water at a temperature higher than around 60-65°C.

Like most space heaters, radiators are also very wasteful. Because heat rises they have to heat the airspace at the top of the room first, only then does the heat begin to warm the habitable area of the room. Depending on ceiling heights, this can mean a huge amount of wasted heat.

Underfloor heating (UFH) offers the advantage that it turns the floor into a giant radiator. With such a large surface area radiating heat a UFH system can be run at significantly lower temperatures than a radiator system. This means that underfloor heating is ideal for use in properties where a heat pump is providing the heat source.

UFH is also a much more efficient way to heat a room. Because heat is rising from the floor throughout the room, the temperature gradient works in our favour – providing the greatest heat at floor level and cooling as it rises – this means that by the time you get above 2m from the floor, most of the heat has dissipated and rather than overheating your ceilings, very little heat actually reaches them. This provides a much more comfortable, uniform spread of heat throughout the room and also helps to minimise cold draughts.

There are a variety of different UFH systems available, with an array of different control systems, buffer tanks, etc. If you are interested in underfloor heating for your property please contact us to discuss what system will work best for you.