Underfloor heating: Time to tap into the trend?

Richard Harvey, Category Director for Heating and Renewables at Wolseley, explains why underfloor heating (UFH) is fast becoming a popular choice and why installers should be tapping into the trend.

 

A blend of environmental concerns, increasing energy bills, and an appetite for all things minimal among homeowners have positioned UFH as one of the fastest-growing areas within the UK heating market.

 

Now is the perfect time for installers to expand their knowledge of UFH and to build an additional revenue stream from homeowners looking for an alternative to traditional radiators.

 

Myth busting

There has been a longstanding perception that UFH is best suited to newbuild properties. This is because traditionally, UFH required a screed floor covered only by tiles and laminate flooring. While there is certainly an upward trend in its use within modern homebuilding, it is now possible to install UFH in older homes and apartment blocks.

 

In older homes, removing walls to combine two separate rooms is becoming more popular, meaning UFH is a more suitable solution. With low-profile sheet materials such as Microboard from Myson, underfloor heating can be installed over the top of an existing floor and at a depth of just 18mm. This offers a flexible retrofit solution without the need for costly and disruptive excavation works.

 

Traditionally, UFH has always only been suited to the bottom floor of the home. Thanks to aluminium diffuser plates and plastic overlay grid systems, the energy and space-saving benefits can now be extended to apartments and the upper floors of traditional homes with joisted floors. Installed over the top of the wooden joists, the systems can even be controlled by a traditional manifold system or off an existing radiator feed pipe using an RTL (return temperature limiter) valve.

 

Space savings

Smaller rooms such as bathrooms and cloakrooms can often become even smaller by protruding radiators. To combat this invasion of space, electric underfloor heating can be a suitable alternative to traditional hydronic systems. Similar to electric blankets, these systems consist of a woven mat with electrical wires that emit heat to the room.

 

Like its hydronic counterpart, electric UFH can also be laid over existing floors and fixed into place.  Before laminate or hardwood flooring is laid over the top of it however, it is advisable to call in the help of a professional electrician to ensure the sensors and controls are working safely and correctly.

 

The best of both worlds

Many homeowners like using a combination of standing radiators and UFH systems. Within multigenerational homes where there are many different heating needs in bedrooms, this is a perfect solution. In the case of the bathroom, many will prefer to stick with a traditional radiator or ladder radiator for warming towels.

Smarter controls

Smart controls are another rapidly growing trend in the world of heating. When paired with UFH, impressive efficiency benefits can be achieved – UFH alone is considered to be 25% more efficient than water-filled radiators.

 

When smart controls are introduced, efficiency benefits can be further increased – with some statistics suggesting by as much as 20-30%.  Many manufacturers of smart controls can offer valuable training courses to heating engineers that aren’t confident with installation, but set up is usually minimal and once fitted, users will be able to control their heating wirelessly via their smartphone.

 

With the growing popularity of sustainable and greener products for the home, underfloor heating is certainly a trend that installers should be looking to promote and one that can offer considerable opportunities to increase revenues.

 

To find out more about Wolseley’s extensive range of underfloor heating or smart controls products go to www.wolseley.co.uk/heating/underfloor-heating/