There are plenty of reasons why so many people want to install underfloor heating (UFH) in their home. Not only does it keep your home warm, cosy, and comfortable, it also helps you to save money on your annual heating costs. Even better, it saves heaps of space and allows you to decorate your rooms in any configuration you wish.
In 2003, Karen Mayne installed underfloor heating in her Victorian farmhouse on the Isle of Wight.[i] She told the Independent,
“We chose underfloor heating principally for the flexibility of not having radiators, which limit your wall space and how you can arrange a room… it gives a more even heat. We have the heating under floating wooden floors, and they work really well. It’s lovely underfoot, and animals love it.”
Best of all, Karen doesn’t have to think about her radiators as she decorates her home.
There is nothing quite like stepping out of your bed in the winter and touching down on the gently warmed floor. Underfloor heating transforms your home into a cosy bolthole that you will never want to leave in the colder seasons. The warmth from the floors radiates up through your room, keeping it the perfect temperature – never too hot or too cold. It’s no wonder that underfloor heating is more popular than ever. Is it the best option for your home or investment property?
Read ahead for more information about how much underfloor heating costs to install and run.
What is the cost of underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating costs vary depending on a wide array of factors.
The price difference between electric UFH and water UFH
Your first decision is whether you want to go with an electric underfloor heating system or a water option that uses plumbing and pipes.[ii] There is no ‘one right answer’ – every building has different specs and requirements. Price is one consideration, but there are many other factors to think about, including the following.
Wet Underfloor Heating Systems
Average cost: £400 per 20sq/m (standard price for a full kit containing all components)
Here are some of the pros and cons of wet UFH systems:
- Efficient to operate
- Operate well alongside heat pumps
- Works reliably even at low temperatures
- High initial costs
- Harder to reach the pipes for repairs and maintenance
- Not always cost effective compared to radiators
- Usually around £100 per square metre to install, but cheaper to run
- A very attractive option if you are on the gas grid, or have a heat pump or solar power
Electric Underfloor Heating Systems
Average Cost: £125 per 1m2
Here are some of the pros and cons of electric underfloor heating systems
- Installation is relatively inexpensive
- No pipes to install beneath the floorboards
- Costly to run
- You need to consider the system when placing heavy appliances or furniture
- Can be as cheap as £20 per square metre, but more expensive to run
- A good option if you have affordable access to electricity
As you can see from the lists above, there are many pros and cons to both electric and wet underfloor heating. You need to assess your own structure, budget, and needs in order to decide which option is best for your home.
Factors that will affect the cost of your underfloor heating
When you are considering underfloor heating, think carefully about all aspects of your structure.
- How many rooms are you heating?
- What is the size of the room(s)?
- Does the room have unusual dimensions?
- Are you zoning your heating so that that different rooms can have different temperatures?
- How many energy-saving elements does the room have?
- What type of system are you installing? Electric or water?
- What is the age of your home or building?
- Are you retrofitting an older building, or building from scratch?
- What is the material of your flooring, and how well does it conduct heat?
Underfloor heating installation costs
The cost of installing underfloor heating will depend on whether you are retrofitting an existing building or house or planning to install it in a new building.[iii]
To install wet underfloor heating, you can expect to pay approximately £100 per square metre, so you can expect to pay approximately £5000 for a 50 square metre living room[iv], or £3000 for a 30 square metre bedroom. That’s a pretty hefty cost, but it will add a lot of value to your home when it comes time to sell and will attract a higher echelon of buyer.
Electric underfloor heating is much cheaper to install. At around £20 per square metre, it will usually only cost around £1000 for a living room, and about £400 – £600 for a master bedroom. Bathrooms, which are generally around 5 to 10 square metres in size, cost quite a lot less, around £100 – £200 for installation.
You can save even more money on your UFH installation if you go the DIY route and install the system yourself.
How much does it cost to run?
Underfloor heating systems can be a very energy-efficient way of heating your home, but you do need to consider their high installation costs.[v]
- Electric systems usually cost around 10p per square metre for a 6-hour run at full power.
- It will cost you £3.15 to run electric underfloor heating in a 3.5 square meter bathroom for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.
- Wet underfloor systems cost approximately 25% less than radiators, running from a traditional boiler. This is because they use water heated to 50°C rather than 70°- 90° C.
Note that electric prices are experiencing rapid change in the UK
Underfloor heating costs vs traditional heating methods
Have you ever wondered if underfloor heating is more efficient than using traditional radiators? If you utilise your UFH system correctly, you will enjoy the comfort and low heating bills, but it can also be easy to lose heat – and money.[vi] It is essential that you operate your UFH in a sensible, timed way, turning the heating system on for a few hours in the morning, and again in the late afternoon or evening via the underfloor heating control unit. These few hours a day will keep your home toasty warm for the entire day and night.
Yes, underfloor heating requires a large outlay, but it can save you a lot of money when compared to radiator heat, especially when you pair the system with renewable energy.
For many homeowners, any cost analysis needs to consider the environmental impact. Wet underfloor heating is easy on the environment because it requires less energy to generate heat. On average, these systems use 15 – 40% less energy than radiator heating. That’s because it necessitates a lower flow temperature to heat up a room effectively.
Radiators have a much smaller surface area, and they take a lot of time to heat up and spread the heated air through the space. UFH systems start by heating a room from the bottom up, slowing spreading efficient heat throughout the entire space. Since heat rises, no energy (and money) is lost.
Both wet and electric underfloor heating can take advantage of energy from renewable sources, such as solar energy and heat pumps. Heat pumps take the unused energy from your home and convert it back into usable heating.[vii] They are extremely environmentally friendly, easy on the environment, and good for your budget.
Could underfloor heating save you money?
By either installing your UFH system on your own, utilising renewable energy, or only running your system for a few hours a day (or better yet, all three), you can indeed save money on your heating costs. Your energy bills will be lower and lower over time, allowing you to recoup the costs of the initial outlay before long.
Of course, as a homeowner, you are always thinking of your home’s resale value. Luxury touches like underfloor heating can help set your home apart from the rest and attract serious buyers with an eye for quality. Instead of a massive kitchen renovation or adding an en suite, you can make your home more desirable with underfloor heating.
Evoking the feeling of a luxury Swiss chalet or a chic Scandinavian apartment, UFH systems are elegant, functional, and cost-effective. Are you ready to save money and get comfortable?
Reference list
Cannell, F. (2010). Underfloor heating: luxury and a sound investment. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/underfloor-heating-luxury-and-a-sound-investment-1912849.html [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
Energy Management (2014). Underfloor Heating Vs. Radiators: Everything You Need To Know – Energy Management. [online] www.connectingindustry.com. Available at: https://www.connectingindustry.com/EnergyManagement/underfloor-heating-vs-radiators-everything-you-need-to-know.aspx#:~:text=The%20average%20under%20floor%20heating [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
Ransome-Croker, L. (2018). Underfloor heating – will it increase your energy bills? [online] Which? News. Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/04/how-will-underfloor-heating-affect-your-heating-bills/ [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
Simply Switch (2019). Underfloor Heating – How much does underfloor heating cost? [online] Simply Switch. Available at: https://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/guides/underfloor-heating-is-it-right-for-you/#:~:text=Electric%20systems%20cost%20less%20than [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
The Green Age (2015). Underfloor heating – Wet vs electric underfloor heating. [online] TheGreenAge. Available at: https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/should-i-install-wet-or-dry-underfloor-heating/#:~:text=Cost%20of%20underfloor%20heating [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
Tonks, P. (2020). Room Sizes: How to Get Them Right. [online] Homebuilding & Renovating. Available at: https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/room-sizes-how-to-get-them-right#:~:text=On%20this%20basis%2C%20a%20living [Accessed 24 Jul. 2020].
Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Heat pump. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump [Accessed 25 Jul. 2020].
Sources
[i] https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/underfloor-heating-luxury-and-a-sound-investment-1912849.html
[ii] https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/should-i-install-wet-or-dry-underfloor-heating/#:~:text=Cost%20of%20underfloor%20heating,system%20is%20far%20more%20expensive.&text=Electric%20underfloor%20heating%20costs%20much,is%20a%20very%20attractive%20option.
[iii] https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/04/how-will-underfloor-heating-affect-your-heating-bills/
[iv] https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/room-sizes-how-to-get-them-right#:~:text=On%20this%20basis%2C%20a%20living,approximately%202%20x%200.9m.
[v] https://www.simplyswitch.com/energy/guides/underfloor-heating-is-it-right-for-you/#:~:text=Electric%20systems%20cost%20less%20than,3.16%20a%20month%20to%20run.
[vi] https://www.connectingindustry.com/EnergyManagement/underfloor-heating-vs-radiators-everything-you-need-to-know.aspx#:~:text=The%20average%20under%20floor%20heating,to%20its%20size%20and%20dimensions.&text=Particularly%20when%20paired%20with%20a,to%20be%20extremely%20cost%20effective.
