Underfloor heating: main advantages and disadvantages

Underfloor heating: here are the main advantages and disadvantages of this heating system. Underfloor heating is a valid alternative to the classic radiators: a type of system that is definitely coming back into fashion, especially in new buildings.

This heating system is certainly not new, since this system is already known and in vogue since the 50s and throughout the 60s and 70s. In the past, however, doubts were raised about its efficiency and healthiness: these doubts are now totally overcome thanks to the advent of new technologies.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about underfloor heating and radiant panels.

Underfloor heating: is it worth it?

The underfloor heating system is a system of pipes (electrical resistances or closed circuit water system) installed below the floor and combined with insulating panels. This piping system will emit heat from the bottom to the top in a totally uniform way. This is the main feature of radiant floor panels, regardless of whether they are water or electric resistance systems.

Modern underfloor heating systems are able to transmit heat evenly to all rooms in the house, spreading heat from the ground to the ceiling. Due to its properties, modern radiant floor panels are able to outperform traditional siphon heating systems. The main disadvantage of the latter is in fact the tendency to concentrate heat near the source itself.

Underfloor heating systems, on the other hand, are able to heat the house evenly, significantly increasing the conditions of well-being inside the home.

Another really interesting aspect of underfloor heating systems is their eco-sustainability: radiant panels are in fact able to operate guaranteeing high performance, even at low water temperatures, if compared to those that characterize traditional radiators. The temperature of hot water inside the pipes of an underfloor heating system is respectively between 30 and 40 degrees centigrade. It should be noted instead that the water temperature of traditional siphons is about 70 degrees centigrade. With regard to underfloor heating systems, even in the presence of electrical resistances, the temperatures are still not high.

Underfloor heating system: main features

Due to its characteristics, an underfloor heating system must necessarily be installed by a technician specialized in this type of intervention. The quality of the installation is essential to ensure high performance of the system and low consumption, as well as long life of the system itself (which in some cases can last up to 50 years).

Here is a brief outline of the main elements and components that make up a modern underfloor heating system:

• pipes: one of the most complex and at the same time most critical components of the whole system, since they must be able to boast some important properties (resistance to corrosion and crushing). Without these important properties there could be serious problems with the replacement of these components. The pipes are installed on top of special insulating panels and are configured in the form of coils, arranged uniformly on the floor
• insulating panels: positioned above the floor slab and characterized by a defined shape, so as to facilitate the installation of the pipes. The insulating panels are usually made with the help of shaped polystyrene. In some cases these components are instead made of cork, because of the high performance of acoustic insulation that characterize this material.
• boiler: essential for bringing water to the piping system at a temperature of between 30 and 40 degrees centigrade
• rigid PVC sheet: to be combined with the insulating panels to ensure maximum compactness and impermeability. This component is also very important to protect the insulating panel from humidity.
• manifolds: valves with which it is possible to regulate the inflow and outflow of hot water in the pipes.
• screed: layer of concrete (heating element).

Underfloor heating: pros and cons

Having examined the main features and components of a modern underfloor heating system, we come to the main advantages and disadvantages of these systems.

Among the main points in favor in a modern underfloor heating system is, first of all, the great economic and environmental advantage. The initial expense to be incurred for the installation of this type of system is large: the estimated amount is 50 percent higher than the cost of installing a traditional heating system. The importance of the installation expenses is justified by the cost of the materials and by the necessity of requesting qualified manpower for the installation of the system. The positive fact is represented by the fact that the large initial expense will be amortized in a short time thanks to an important saving on energy consumption that characterizes the floor heating systems. The saving on energy consumption can be calculated in a 25 percent per year, in the overall life cycle of these systems (with the incentives of the law you can get up to 35 percent).

The second advantage of underfloor heating systems is represented by the fact that these systems are able to operate also for cooling: thanks to the emission of cold water (with a temperature between 15 and 17 degrees centigrade) it will be possible to obtain the result of space cooling, without the disadvantages that characterize air conditioning systems.

Another advantage is also represented by a more homogeneous diffusion of heat in the domestic spaces, unlike traditional siphon heating systems.

And again, underfloor heating systems offer the possibility of using renewable energy sources, associated precisely with a radiant system. For a normal radiator, the use of renewable energy sources is nowadays almost impossible, since for a traditional heating system it is necessary to bring the water to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius and for this purpose you cannot do without a gas or oil system.

Lastly, a very important advantage of radiant heating is the significant reduction in the presence of dust, mites and mould. In this regard it is important to emphasize how the traditional radiators produce harmful dust that we will inevitably find ourselves breathing. With an underfloor heating system this problem does not exist at all, since the air is not heated, preserving the natural rate of humidity, which is essential to precipitate the harmful particles in the air. All this translates into a considerable benefit for our health.

Additional advantages of an underfloor heating system

In addition to the greatest advantages that characterize the underfloor heating systems, there are also advantages that we could define minor:

• with a modern underfloor heating system is now possible to choose the floor that you want: in fact, in these systems there are no particular differences in thermal output, depending on the type of coating that you will decide to prepare in your spaces. The only aspect to which it will be important to pay attention is represented by the choice of laying a parquet floor: in this case it is absolutely necessary that the laying of the floor is carried out by a qualified parquet specialist with great experience in the laying of this covering. A parquet floor must in fact be particularly stable in this case, in order to prevent the possibility that the wood tends to rise over time.
• A further advantage is represented by the scarce maintenance interventions that a floor heating system usually requires. However, it is good to point out that for radiant panels it is necessary to make a periodic maintenance of the system, which will include a complete washing. It is also important to add water to the pipes so that it cleans them of limescale and sludge.
• The last secondary advantage of these systems is represented by the possibility to benefit of each room of the house with its own ideal and homogeneous temperature: this will happen thanks to the presence of a thermostat that will allow the constant control of the temperature. In this way we can further reduce the energy consumption of our underfloor heating system.

Underfloor heating: problems and negative opinions

One of the main problems and disadvantages of an underfloor heating system is represented by the above-mentioned significant costs of installation and installation, compared to traditional radiators: we have said in previous paragraphs that the costs increase by about 30 percent compared to the installation of a normal heating system. In some cases the costs can rise even up to 50 percent more.

The second disadvantage is that in the event of damage to the pipes, it will be necessary to remove at least part of the floor. In some cases, if it will not be possible to find the same coverage to be restored in the removed portion, it will be necessary to rebuild the entire coverage of your space.

Another disadvantage is represented by the choice of a parquet floor: if it is not installed properly, this cover can create problems by lifting.

An underfloor heating system will also force us to raise the floor at least 5 cm. This intervention can sometimes be a problem in the renovation of a space (custom furniture or particularly low ceilings).

The last negative aspect of a radiant floor is represented by the fact that this system cannot be turned off and on intermittently. In fact, the system must remain on for at least one whole day and kept active so that it is able to properly heat the room in which it is installed. It must be said that despite this, a radiant system still allows for significant energy savings.

Underfloor heating: medical opinion

According to the opinion of some doctors, heating systems installed in the past could negatively affect blood circulation. However, it should be pointed out that modern technology now allows underfloor heating systems to distribute heat evenly throughout the home. For this reason we can safely say that modern radiant systems do not create any type of problem to the circulation and generally promote our daily well-being, since they prevent the spread of dust and mold.

Underfloor heating yes or no?

Finished our journey to discover the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of an underfloor heating system, we can say that the choice to install a radiant system, can not ignore some factors, and in particular:

• characteristics of the space in which you intend to prepare this type of system
• use of quality materials
• evaluation of the effectiveness of the thermal insulation

To conclude, we can say that despite the expenditure of significant resources for its installation, a radiant floor system is definitely convenient after a careful examination of costs and benefits: for this reason our advice is to carefully evaluate this opportunity during the renovation of a property. Remember also that an underfloor heating system is environmentally friendly and sustainable, due to its low consumption.

What is very important is to remember to always request at the end of the installation of a radiant floor heating system the relative declaration of conformity of the system, which will ensure its proper installation and efficiency.