Everything You Need to Know about Heat Pumps and Underfloor Heating

Heat pumps are a more sustainable heat source for your home’s heating compared to traditional gas-fed boilers. In this expert guide we’ll explore the energy-efficiency of heat pumps and discover why underfloor heating is the perfect heating system to use with them. You’ll find out: 

• How heat pumps work more efficiently than other heat sources 
• Why floor heating is ideal for use with heat pumps  
• The difference between ground and air-source heat pumps 
• Which type of floor heating is best to use 
• How heat pumps and UFH can save you money  

How does a heat pump work? 

Put simply, heat pumps draw renewable heat from either the air (in the case of air-source heat pumps) or the ground (for ground-source heat pumps) and converts this into energy that can heat your home and provide you with hot water. Air-source pumps absorb the warmth from the air outside your home and uses electricity to heat its liquid refrigerant which acts as the heat source for your heating system. Ground-source heat pumps operate much like underfloor heating systems with pipes laid in the ground outside your home which circulate water that gently absorbs natural geothermal energy from the earth. 

They are a much more energy-efficient way to heat a home compared to traditional heating sources and work best with water-based heating systems, such as underfloor heating. If you’re thinking about improving the energy rating of your home, our range of water floor heaters are the ideal heating system to use in conjunction with a heat pump.  

What are the benefits of using UFH with a heat pump? 

As a cleaner, more sustainable heat source, heat pumps can reduce the carbon footprint of your home and are considered the future of domestic heating as we look towards reducing global carbon emissions. Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures than a traditional oil or gas boiler which means they work much more efficiently with radiant floor heating systems than standard radiators – floor heaters are designed to run at these lower temperatures whilst still producing the same level of warmth as radiators. This advanced technology means water underfloor heating systems are up to 40% more efficient and offer lower running-costs than a central heating system.  

Heat pumps also emit much more energy than they use so installing a heat pump alongside an energy-efficient UFH system can help save you significant money on your heating bills. In many cases, the cost of installing a heat pump and a water floor heating system can be offset in the long-term by the savings it will produce.  

Is a ground-source or air-source heat pump better for me? 

If you’re considering installing a water floor heating system (also known as a hydronic or wet heating system) throughout your home, then a heat pump is the ideal heat source to utilise. Air-source heat pumps are great for home renovation projects as they offer a relatively straightforward installation and take up little space. These pumps are fitted to the outside wall of your property and are around the same size as a typical boiler or air-conditioning unit.  

Ground-source heat pumps are most commonly installed in new-build projects as they require a significant installation process. The subsurface pipes can be installed in the ground outside your home as either a horizontal ‘array’ – whereby the pipes are installed as a horizontal loop a few metres below your garden – or a vertical array, where the pipe is installed vertically through a much deeper bore hole.  

To make the most of the energy-efficiency of heat pumps, you should make sure the rest of your home is running at its most efficient too. Alongside a hydronic heating solution, having insulation installed throughout your home will help you conserve as much energy as possible, keeping the warmth inside your home and the cold air out.  

Which floor heating system is best to use? 

All our hydronic floor heating systems can be used with heat pumps. Hydro systems pump heated water through pipes installed as part of your home’s subfloor to provide the perfect comfort temperature for your needs. Whilst hydro systems are frequently recommended for use in new-build projects due to their greater installation requirements, we offer a range of systems that are perfect to fit in home renovation projects too. The VLo line of low-profile water floor heating solutions have been specifically designed for installation in home renovation projects.  

Discover the best UFH system to use with your new heat pump in our expert article.  

Will using a heat pump with underfloor heating save me money? 

While heat pumps can be expensive to purchase, their enhanced performance means this initial purchase cost can be outweighed by the long-term cost-savings they offer. The energy-efficient technology of underfloor heating installed with a low-carbon heat pump could substantially reduce the cost of your outgoing energy bills – you could expect to save hundreds of pounds a year.  

To learn more information about how much money you could save with UFH and heat pumps, read our informative guide.  

Get a free online quote today to find the perfect floor heating solution for your home and discover the precise cost of purchasing a new system. All Warmup system