The use of underfloor heating in North London goes back a long way. Indeed, the very first years of London’s history saw the Roman hypocaust system in action. But modern systems are very different from that, so you may ask whether they are your best bet now.
While the hypocaust channelled hot air from a furnace down a flue into a cavity below the floors, from which it would rise, modern systems heat the floor itself. There are two kinds: wet systems that use hot water, which flows into pipes under the floor, while dry systems use electrical heating mats or cables embedded under the floor.
Wet systems are cheaper to run, but this can be offset by the higher installation cost. It is worth noting, however, that getting underfloor heating installed can raise your home’s value.
How Do I Know If My Home Suits Underfloor Heating?
There are several practical considerations to take into account when assessing the possibility of installing underfloor heating:
- It may not be suited to some types of flooring, so you must decide if you want to change it. Unsuitable types include solid wood or thicker vinyl and laminate, which reduce heat transfer, while stone, engineered wood and carpet are fine.
- The size of the room matters. Underfloor heating is more effective the smaller the room is.
- How good your insulation is, with poor insulation making it less cost-effective.
- Whether you have fitted furniture like wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, as these can block heat and cause the system to overheat.
If these factors do not pose any problems, then you can certainly benefit from the system, which tends to be more cost-effective than using radiators. You can also benefit from freeing up wall space by not having radiators there, which means you can place furniture in locations where they would otherwise block their heat.
Underfloor heating has come a long way since the days of Roman London. Could it be ideal for your home today?
