The 10 Most Asked Questions About Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating offers an energy-saving method of heating a home, so if you’re thinking about replacing your existing heating system in just one room or your whole property, then installing one of our water or electric heating systems is a great idea. To help you decide whether floor heating is right for you, in this guide we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this innovative technology. You’ll find out everything you need to know, including: 

• How floor heating systems works 
• If you can save money with underfloor heating 
• Which system is best for your home 
• The best floor finishes to use with UFH 
• How to control a heating system 

1. How does underfloor heating work? 

Floor heating systems utilise radiant heat technology to warm a room from the ground up and directly into the objects and people in a space, as opposed to central heating systems, which simply focus on heating the air of a room. This process requires less energy to operate whilst producing the same level of warmth as a traditional heating system – making a Warmup system a more efficient way to heat your home that helps to save you money on your energy bills too. 

UFH systems are installed beneath your floor finish, offering a discreet heating solution that eradicates the need for bulky radiators and visible pipework and we offer a range of systems suitable for all room types and floor finishes. Learn more about the benefits of floor heating in our expert guide. 

2. What are the main floor heating options available? 

Warmup offer both water and electric floor heating systems. 

Electric floor heaters are composed of electric heating wires, often formed as a heating mat, which convert electric energy into heating for your home.  

Water floor heating systems, also known as hydronic systems, utilise heating pipes to distribute heated water through either the subfloor of the property itself or within a system’s panels installed directly beneath the floor covering. The water is blended from hot water from your heat source and cooler water from the pipework via a Manifold, which regulates pressure, temperature and flow.  

A hybrid heating solution is also a popular choice. Electric systems can be installed as secondary heat sources in a home which will be primarily heated by a central heating system for instance. You can also install electric and water systems to heat a home together in unison.

3. Will underfloor heating save me money? 

A Warmup system offers quicker heat-up times than central heating and runs at lower temperatures too – reducing energy usage and in turn, reducing your running costs.  

You can maximize on the efficiency of floor heating by installing a system with its recommended accompanying insulation materials, which can improve heat-up times even more and will help to prevent heat from escaping the room, and by controlling the system with a Warmup Smart Thermostat alongside our MyHeating and AutoSwitch apps too, all of which can help save you hundreds of pounds a year on your energy bills.

4. Will a system reduce my home’s carbon footprint? 

Underfloor heating is a cleaner, more sustainable way to heat a home and can help to reduce carbon emissions. 

Our range of electric floor heating solutions facilitate 100% efficient direct electric heating, with no energy wastage and you can power these systems with solar energy for a zero-carbon heating solution. Thinking about installing UFH with solar panels? Discover more in our expert article. 

Water systems are designed to use lower water temperatures than traditional heating options which conserves energy usage, and they can also be used with low-carbon heat sources such as ground and air-source heat pumps – dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of your home. 

The combined efficiency from lower operating temperatures and the radiant effect of underfloor heating can reduce energy use in a typical UK home by up to 35%.  

5. Is an UFH system suitable for my home? 

Warmup’s range of heating systems are renowned the world over for their ease of installation and we offer options suitable for every type of project. The perfect system for you is dependent on a few key things, including: 

• The space you are installing it in 
• Its size and ceiling heights 
• The floor finish you will be using it with 

As a rule of thumb, we suggest installing electric systems for smaller-scale renovations or for use in one-room projects and water systems for new-build projects or larger spaces. This is because electric floor heaters have a much lower floor build-up height than water systems and offer faster installation times. 

All heating systems should be installed by a qualified installer who has fit floor heating before and a heat-loss calculation should be undertaken to understand the heating requirements of the space. 

Read our underfloor heating buying guide to find the best option for your home.

6. Will a new system take up much space? 

Our electric floor heating systems will have little-to-no noticeable impact on floor build-up heights, making them perfect for retrofitting in existing rooms with fixed ceiling heights. The StickyMat System provides a great slimline heating solution: at just 3mm thick, it can be fitted directly within a layer of tile adhesive or levelling compound.  

Warmup’s range of water systems typically have a greater impact on raising floors so it’s best to specify a water heating system at the early stage of a new-build design process. However, the VLo line of low-profile systems have been specifically designed for use in refurbishment projects, making them a great choice if you’re worried about the impact of a water system on your floor build-up.  

7. Which type of floor finish is best? 

No matter what floor finish you are using in a project, there is a Warmup system ideal for your needs. 

Due to their natural, heat-conductive properties, stone and tiles are ideal to be heated by underfloor heating. Tiles heat up quickly and help distribute this heat evenly away from the heating system and radiantly into the room above. The DCM-PRO Heated Decoupling System is an electric heater that has been designed for use with tiled floors; its membrane features anti-fracture technology which can protect your tiles from potential cracks caused by subfloor movement. 

For wood flooring, you can use either natural or engineered timber, however we recommend thinner, denser wood for use with floor heating to allow for an optimal performance. Softer floor types like carpeting or vinyl can be heated by a wide range of our water and electric heating solutions, with the Foil Heater being a great electric choice for installing in carpeted spaces. 

8. Is floor heating safe? 

Underfloor heating is a very safe heating solution for your home. Unlike radiators, floor heating doesn’t have any hot surfaces or exposed heating elements on which you may injure yourself. There is also no risk of electric shocks with these systems. Floor heating is also beneficial to your wellbeing as it keeps the air in the space fresher by reducing the circulation of dust – a common problem in rooms with central heating. 

Our products feature globally recognised safety accreditations, including the Intertek BEAB Approved Mark, the BEAB Component Mark, the ETL Approved Mark and the CSA and CSAus Marks. 

9. Do I need a special thermostat to control a system? 

All heating systems should be controlled by a system-specific thermostat and Warmup offer a wide range of thermostats to suit your requirements. 

Smart thermostats are the perfect way to control a floor heating system. They work with your smartphone to offer remote access from wherever you are whilst also facilitating automatic heating for true peace of mind and big energy savings.  You can also connect a Smart controller with other Smart technologies in your home, allowing you to manage your heating system through a Smart speaker for instance. 

Looking for the perfect controller for your heating system? Read our thermostat buying guide to help you make the best selection. 

10. How long does UFH take to warm up a room? 

Underfloor heating provides quick heat-up times but the exact time it takes to heat up a room depends on a few variables, such as: 

• The size of the room 
• The heat-loss and the insulation of the space 
• The floor finish used 
• The type of system and its heat source 

However, you can expect an electric floor heater in a tiled bathroom to reach an optimal comfort temperature in as little as 20 minutes. Water systems take longer to initially heat up but once they are running effectively, a more constant heat is produced. 

The ideal temperature underfloor heating should operate at also varies. For wood, carpets and vinyl floor finishes we recommend a maximum heat temperature of 27 degrees and for stone and tiles, a slightly higher temperature of 29 degrees can be used.  

Ready to purchase a new heating system for your home? Get an instant quote today to discover the best Warmup system for your requirements and find out exactly how much it will cost to buy.