A Complete Guide to Underfloor Heating Systems

Imagine that you came out of a warm bed or shower on a warm floor on a cold day. Here’s what happens if you have a radiant underfloor heating installed in your house.

Radiant underfloor heating systems heat objects and people in the room directly with infrared radiation. This method of heating is much more efficient and comfortable than systems that heat the air; Thanks to the heat coming from the ground, the temperature in the room will be more stable, without cold spots or drafts.

In this article, we will look at three main water underfloor heating systems: electric, water and air underfloor heating.

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Of these three, electrical and water systems are most commonly used.

Water water underfloor heating is commonly used to heat large floor areas and entire homes and is usually built in during the construction phase.

Electric radiant underfloor heating is a great choice for small projects such as heating a kitchen floor or a cold bathroom. It is easy to install and inexpensive.

Here are our main recommendations for electric radiant underfloor heating systems, based on our experience and research:

Best in General: Heating Systems: Electric Radiant Underfloor Heating with Aube Thermostat

Best price for money invested: LuxHeat 120v Electric Radiant Floor System Full Kit

Best for small spaces: Heatwave underfloor heating system with GFCI thermostat

Now let’s dive into the history of radiant heating, how it works and what radiant underfloor heating systems are used in commercial and residential spaces.

History of radiant underfloor heating

Many people believe that radiant underfloor heating is a fairly new concept, but it’s actually one of the oldest ways to heat a home. Radiant underfloor heating systems appeared as early as 5000 BC in China and Korea.

Around the third century BC. The Romans began to refine this system by creating layers of tile, concrete, and an extra layer of tile that was raised on poles, allowing heated air to circulate more freely.

However, this system disappeared with Rome and was revived only in the 17th century in Europe, when Sir John Stone first began to use heated water circulating through pipes to heat first greenhouses and then commercial premises.

This led to an improvement in the method, as well as one of the first studies of how radiant heat transfer works.

Radiant heating first appeared in the U.S. during the Civil War, when heated air, similar to the Chinese concept, was used to heat hospital tents. In 1907, it was discovered that small pipes of hot water could be sealed in concrete or plaster, and this process began to be applied.

However, it wasn’t until Frank Lloyd Wright began to understand the benefits of the system that it became more widespread.

Concept behind underfloor heating

Image credit: Sustainability Workshop
The concept behind the system is that heat is radiated from the surface, similar to how you can sense heat from a burner on a stove a few inches to feet away.So while the system doesn’t heat the air directly, it makes you and the objects in the room feel warmer.

Advantages of radiant underfloor heating

Radiant underfloor heating systems have many benefits for the homeowner. Because you’re not heating the air, the temperature in the room will be more stable from floor to ceiling because the heat doesn’t escape from the colder areas to the ground.

You’ll feel more comfortable in a room with radiant underfloor heating, and in many cases it consumes less energy, so your heating bills can be much lower.

And because air doesn’t pass through the ductwork, fewer allergens circulate through your home. It’s also easy to run, it’s completely silent, and it’s pretty easy to install.

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