Underfloor heating comfort: your burning questions answered
February 25, 2025
What emits radiant heat wherever it flows and warms your toes although out of sight? You guessed it right, it’s underfloor heating (UFH). Once considered an indulgent option to add underfoot comfort to bathrooms and kitchens, UFH has become a home improvement must-have for heating larger spaces and even the whole house.
With growing interest in energy-efficient home heating, many Cube customers are choosing underfloor heating. Offering even heat distribution, more usable floor space and potential energy savings of up to a staggering 40% (compared to radiators), UFH can be a very smart choice. Cube has put together some FAQs to benefit everyone who is warm to the idea of installing UFH and keen to learn a bit more.
How does UFH work?
Your floor basically turns into an underfoot radiator. Rooms are heated up from the ground either by circulating warm water (wet system) through plastic pipes or through thin wiring or matting (dry system) embedded within the floor.
What are the key benefits of each system?
Warm water UFH
- Traditionally installed in new builds or extensions;
- Higher heat output than electric systems;
- Ideal for larger or poorly insulated homes;
- Offers greater energy efficiency than radiator systems and the possibility of a radiator-free home;
- Retains heat longer than electric UFH;
- Compatible with various heat sources, including renewable options like air and ground source heat pumps;
- Pipes are designed and tested to have a 50-year life expectancy;
- Cheaper to run than electric UFH.
Electric UFH
- Highly versatile, it’s perfect for smaller areas and can be used as either a standalone system or in addition to a larger warm water setup;
- Heats up quicker than warm water UFH;
- Lower installation costs than warm water UFH;
- Ideal for smaller areas such as guest bathrooms as it heats up quickly;
- More versatile usage, for example on walls and seating in shower or wet room;
- Installation is cheaper than warmer water UFH;
- Integrates well with existing solar photovoltaic or wind energy systems.
Which flooring works best?
Choosing flooring based on its ability to readily transfer heat to the surface is key to getting the most from your UFH. Insulating beneath the UFH system is crucial to minimise heat loss and reducing energy bills. Keep in mind that thicker flooring takes longer to respond to temperature changes. Here’s a ranking of common floor coverings based on heat transfer efficiency:
1. Stone or tiles
2. Vinyl
3. Wood
4. Carpet (<2.5 TOG)
How much does it cost to install UFH?
Installation costs will depend on a number of factors such as your choice of system, insulation and piping types, the size of the space you want to heat, the desired heat output, how often you run the heating, the overall insulation of your home and the floor covering. Cube can maximise the potential of your home and lay underfloor heating as part of any wider renovation project.
Are UFH systems expensive to run?
Electric UFH can be costlier to run than warm water UFH but it offers a great advantage as it allows you to heat specific areas without warming the whole house. Programmable timers can also help optimise its performance further.
Wet UFH, integrated with your main heating system, will generally be more economical. While some recommend keeping it on low continuously to avoid long warm-up times, heating unused rooms wastes energy, especially with traditional gas boilers. Whereas boilers heat water to around 65°C, the UFH mixer valve reduces this temperature, which can be inefficient. For greater efficiency, pair wet UFH with a heat pump, as it operates at lower input water temperatures.
Does UFH reduce my energy bills?
Warm water UFH can offer significant savings compared to traditional radiators. When paired with a modern condensing boiler, it’s approximately 25% more efficient, and even 40% when used with a heat pump. This translates into lower running costs, typically a third of the cost of an equivalent electric UFH system.
Does UFH take long to warn up?
Because UFH warms the floor surface, it’s not as responsive to temperature changes as radiators or infrared heating, so it can take longer to heat a room initially.
Your flooring type also plays a role. Materials such as stone, porcelain, slate and ceramic tiles work well with UFH and efficiently transfer heat. However, thicker stone floors will naturally take longer to warm up.
On the plus side, UFH retains heat longer than radiators, continuing to warm the room even after the system is switched off. This may make temperature control a bit different at first: for instance, cooking in a kitchen with UFH can cause the room to overheat as the floor won’t cool down instantly. Just like everything new in your home, it takes a little time to get used to how UFH works and managing temperatures to suit you.
Is UFH compatible with heat pumps?
UFH and heat pumps are a perfect match. Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures, ideally suited for underfloor heating, resulting in greater energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. In fact, heat pumps can be cheaper to run than gas boilers without compromising the performance of your UFH.
Are smart thermostats and UFC a good combination?
Absolutely. Smart thermostats work seamlessly with both wet and electric UFH. Wet systems can be controlled with a standard smart thermostat through the boiler, however zoning requires specialised smart heating systems with smart manifolds or single-zone controllers.
Smart controls take underfloor heating to the next level, offering precise temperature management and intelligent features like anticipatory heating, which learns how quickly your home warms up to prevent it from overheating. Electric UFH systems require a specialised smart thermostat which can handle electric circuits. While some third-party thermostats might be compatible, it’s advisable to use the controls recommended by the UFH manufacturer for optimal performance.
Are my pets safe sleeping on underfloor heating?
Yes, it’s safe! We predict that your dogs, cats or even toddlers will be very happy and cosy. You may have trouble moving them though…
Ready to turn up the heat?
Underfloor heating really is a game changer and if you’re already planning a home makeover, tackling it all at once is a great idea.
Our East Sheen customer loved the idea of zoned UFH in their new rear extension, whilst another embraced the cosy warmth in their open-plan kitchen extension. Even a terraced Victorian cottage in Teddington received a 21st century upgrade with UFH.
With over 14 years of experience in delivering end-to-end services for loft conversions, extensions and refurbishments, Cube continues to be a leader in its field. We have received many 5-star Google reviews and brilliant customer testimonials which are worth considering if you are searching for a full service build contractor.
We’re ready to help you unlock your home’s full potential and invite you to a free initial consultation: