This article discusses the profound differences between underfloor heating and radiators as a heating system to your home. The main differences between underfloor heating and radiators can be highlighted in the main following 5 points:
- Heat distribution
- Comfort and Air Quality
- Cost efficiency
- Aesthetics
- Zoned heating
Central Heating with radiators was introduced in the 30’s and has since been used as the standard heating system for UK homes while remaining more or less unchanged for the past 8 decades. More recently, Underfloor Heating is being used in UK houses as the heating system of choice, offering unrivalled comfort and luxury.
Below, you will find a comparison of these two systems, and an explanation of why we feel that Underfloor Heating is the best solution for heating a home.
1. Heat Distribution
Your choice of a heating system determines the way heat is distributed. Underfloor heating produces radiant heat which makes you feel warm. The term radiant heating is used as radiation is responsible for a significant proportion of the “thermal comfort” achieved by this form of heating.
Radiators work by heating the air surrounding them using convection. The air heated by a radiator rises towards the ceiling and once this warm air has cooled down, it falls down to the ground level to be heated by the convection of the radiator again. This creates a flow of hot and cold air and inevitably, hot and cold spots where areas near to the radiators are warmer than the areas elsewhere in the room.
Underfloor heating and radiators distribute heat differently. This illustration compares radiant floor heating and the uneven heat distribution from a radiator system. As some areas take much longer to heat with radiators and other areas are overheated, hot and cold spots reduce desired comfort levels.
2. Efficiency & Comfort of a System
The way the heat is distributed impacts the efficiency and comfort of the heating system. Radiant heat heats object directly and it maintains the natural humidity in a room, whereas convection of warm air tends to reduce humidity, which can make the heated area feel stuffy. If the whole floor of the room is heated then radiant heat gives a very even spread of heat, whereas conventional heating heats one area initially and then takes time to circulate to reach the required comfort levels. Rising air temperature through conventional heating can cause discomfort and overheating, which in turn can reduce oxygen levels, and ultimately breathing problems if the air is too warm.
Radiant floor heating provides heat where it is needed and reduces the risk of overheating the body and it is as close to ideal heating as possible.
3. Overheating Is Inefficient and Expensive
Radiators were introduced as a luxury in the 30’s, but they are prone to overheating which makes a heating system far less efficient. Ventilation is often eventually required, such as opening a window, causing the energy to be lost to the environment.
The way radiators produce heat creates hot and cold spots, meaning that in order to feel warm further away from the radiator, you need to turn up the room temperature. This will cause the radiators to create more heat and reduce the cold spots, but at the same time make the area near the radiator even hotter. This overheating means that the room temperature will eventually become too hot, creating the need to open windows to let fresh air in, but at the same letting the heat escape, wasting energy and money. Wasting energy is expensive as overheating by just 1% can increase fuel costs by 8% (Source: Carbon Trust) which can really push your heating bills up.
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4. Decorating Your Home
Underfloor heating is a decorator’s dream as it does not take up any floor space as the heat source is within the floor. Radiator systems are often bulky and need to be inside the room, which means that wall space must be allocated. This becomes extremely problematic especially in small areas such as bathrooms, where every inch is needed to make the most out of the space.
Underfloor heating does not restrict the placement of furniture and gives full design freedom in a home, unlike radiators which are often bulky and space hungry.
5. Zoning – Individual Temperature Control in Each Room
Heating is more efficient when it is used zone by zone. In the majority of cases, underfloor heating is used and zoned room by room, with a thermostat controlling each specific zone. Therefore, heating is only supplied to the room when it is required, reducing the amount of energy needed. Conventional radiator systems, however, tend to heat up throughout the whole house at once, based on a central thermostat. This can cause overheating and under-heating depending on the thermostat location and is less efficient that heating individual zones.
Can Underfloor Heating Replace Radiators?
Using underfloor heating instead of radiators is possible and depending on your heat loss, you can even get rid of radiators completely.
In order to decide whether underfloor heating can be used as the sole source of heat, you will need to conduct a heat loss calculation. This will tell you whether the heat output of underfloor heating meets the heating requirement of the room or area; the maximum heat output must be larger than the maximum heat loss in order to have enough heat in the room.
For existing houses with central heating, you may be wondering about installing underfloor heating or whether you should keep or update your radiators, by replacing radiators with underfloor heating, the air quality in homes is improved as convection heating with radiators moves dust and pollen around the house. Underfloor systems emit radiant heat which means everyone in a room receives an even distribution of warmth.
Underfloor heating is a modern heating system that can be installed in both existing and new homes. View our product range to find the suitable products for your next project or for more detailed information and the cost of the system, why not get a quote.
