Is Electric Or Water Underfloor Heating Best For My Home?

Underfloor Heating

Published date: 11 August 2024 / Read time: 5 mins

Underfloor heating systems are becoming a popular choice over radiators as more homeowners look to energy-efficient and cheaper ways to heat their homes. Underfloor heating can effectively distribute heat evenly across every room while controlling individual zones. This type of heating is a more efficient heat emitter than traditional central heating radiators.

Yet, with an option of electric or water, it can be difficult to know which underfloor heating system is the most suitable system for your home. Ultimately, both heating system types can be used in almost any home. Your choice however will likely be determined by certain factors, including the installation costs, running costs, and other specific requirements

Here, the Energy Efficiency team at City Plumbing compares water and electric underfloor heating systems helping you choose the best option for your home.

Electric Underfloor Heating

You may hear electric underfloor heating referred to as dry underfloor heating. This type of underfloor heating works by producing radiant heat through electric heating wires or heating mats installed under the floor. These are connected via the mains electricity supply and when turned on, will warm the surface of the floor. This results in generating and releasing radiant heat. Electric underfloor heating systems are controlled via thermostats.

What Do I Need To Know About Electric Underfloor Heating

Best For Projects:

Electric underfloor heating is a good idea when you’re renovating rooms and retrofitting. This underfloor heating system is also one that’s becoming increasingly popular in new build projects thanks to the drive to cut carbon emissions in new builds and the ongoing aim to achieve net zero. Electric underfloor heating is also an ideal option for small single rooms, such as ensuites and family bathrooms.

Installation Process

Electric underfloor heating is considered the easier of underfloor systems to install. This is in part thanks to its rapid installation time, meaning it can take anything from a few hours to a day to complete the entire process. Alongside this benefit, the impact on floor height is minimal here with an electric underfloor heating system. So, you can further reduce any need for too much disruption or indeed extensive DIY knowledge.

Installation Costs:

Electric underfloor heating kits are the more budget-friendly of options to buy when compared to water systems. City Plumbing sells Prowarm electric underfloor heating mats that start from as little as £80 for 1.0m2 and range upwards to around £400 for 12.0m2.

Electric underfloor heating kits can be installed by homeowners as DIY projects and aren't overly difficult to do for those who have some basic DIY experience and knowledge. However, some people prefer to use professional services when installing these systems. This service cost will need to be factored in when budgeting. It’s also worth noting that for the final connection to the mains, it’s essential to acquire the services of a Part P registered electrician.

Checkatrade suggests that the average estimated cost of installing electric underfloor heating totals around £800 for 10m2.

Running Costs:

Many homeowners ask, ‘is electric underfloor heating expensive to run?’ And, with energy prices still at some of their highest, it's understandable that any heating system run on electricity is going to have some queries about its daily costs. Yet, based on a kWh cost of 29.24p, the average bathroom 2.5msq would cost £10.57 per month to run with average usage.

An electric underfloor heating system takes around just 20 to 30 minutes to reach the desired temperature and therefore fully heat a room.

Electric underfloor heating costs may well be a little higher than water underfloor heating costs. However, a huge advantage of an electric system is its speedier response time when heating a room. This means a reduction in wastage for those unused rooms where central heating systems are current.

Water Underfloor Heating

Water underfloor heating is also known as wet underfloor heating or hydronic. This type is also referred to by many as a Roman heating system with modern-day pipes. Water underfloor heating works using a network of pipes all installed beneath the floor. These pipes work to pump warm water through the pipework via a manifold and to all the rooms serviced by the underfloor heating system. With separate circuits used for different zones and connected to the central manifold, the manifold is then fed by the property’s primary heat source. Air source or ground source heat pumps are also good options for use as a heat source when increasing the system's efficiency further.

What Should I Know About Water Underfloor Heating?

Best For Projects:

Water underfloor heating is a better choice for new builds and larger spaces, as you can install this system in almost any room if the right infrastructures are in place. Water systems are ideally best suited to new builds because they require a sufficient floor height to accommodate the extensive pipework of such a heating system. For homeowners renovating, water underfloor heating systems will demand major disruption. Yet, there are those systems available on the market for retrofit projects which create minimal uplift to floor heights.

Installation Process:

As water underfloor heating is a complex process, it’s understandable that it requires a longer installation time. This is mainly because of the room size and/or the project type it's used in, as well as the plumbing connections and tests required. Therefore, a water underfloor heating system installation can take longer to complete. Another delay here though is that although competent and confident DIYers may attempt this process, it's highly recommended to use a registered plumber when installing this system as they’ll ensure all pipes and connections are completed correctly.

Installation Costs:

Water underfloor heating kits may be the costlier choice when buying compared to electric systems. However, City Plumbing offers a superb selection of water underfloor heating kits that you’ll find available from as little as £470 for 10m2 with larger projects around £4400 for 200m2.

Water underfloor heating kits should ideally be installed by those qualified and competent at plumbing. So this will need to be taken into account when considering costs. Checkatrade suggests the average estimated cost of installing water underfloor heating will total around £1200 for 10m2.

Running Costs:

Fortunately, water underfloor heating costs are undeniably better than electric underfloor heating here. Though it may be the more expensive option to install, those lower running costs offset any initial outlay. Water underfloor heating systems may take longer to heat to full temperature when compared to electric UFH systems. But when the set temperature is reached, they are able to retain the heat for longer. Offering a powerful output, water underfloor heating is the more cost-effective option when running long-term. Again, with energy prices at their highest for electric tariffs, currently electric underfloor heating systems will understandably be slightly higher than water systems.

Which One is Best? Electric Underfloor Heating or Water Underfloor Heating?

The best underfloor heating system will ultimately be the one that suits your specific needs. So, if you have a large space you want to heat or several rooms in the home, then a water based system is a good option for you.

Yet, if you just want to heat a small room or indeed require a swift installation process with little disruption, then an electric system might suit your needs better.

Ultimately, underfloor heating systems are energy-efficient and improved choices when compared to many conventional radiators. Thus, they’re a solid long-term investment that can help you create a most energy-efficient home.

If you're looking for further help on choosing the best underfloor heating system, contact our Renewables Team at City Plumbing. Experts in the latest energy-efficient technologies, we're perfectly placed to help homes and businesses make the smooth transition to renewable technology.