Some may wonder if it is a good idea to install underfloor heating in view of our rapidly warming climate. However, the reality is there will still be several months in which its benefits will be invaluable.

With the country now experiencing its third heatwave of the summer and the possibility of more to come, now may seem like a strange time to be thinking about new heating systems.

However, if your old heating system is showing its age, or you simply like the idea of having heat rise up through the floor to keep your feet warm, you should definitely consider having it installed.

Why Get Underfloor Heating Installed In Summer?

The first reason is that now is a convenient time to get it done, because:

      •  Engineers won’t be busy fixing boilers in an emergency in summer, so it is easier to book them in to do the work at a convenient time

      •  The work can be done while you don’t need the heating on

      •  The flow screed (cement) will set quicker when it is warm

These are all good reasons for having the work done in summer, but, just as importantly, choosing to get the heating installed in the first place is still worth doing despite the changing climate.

Yes, the summers are getting hotter and the winters are milder than they used to be. But do not be deceived by the current weather into forgetting how chilly it can get in winter.

For example, the latest data on frost days in London (defined as days on which the average temperature dropped below 2 degrees C for air frost, 0 C for a light frost and -2 C for a hard frost) showed that:

      •  The average latest air frost day in Spring is April 10th and the first one in autumn will be November 7th

      •  For a light frost, the relevant days are March 13th and November 26th

      •  Hard frosts can occur between December 8th and February 13th

Although these figures are based on a long-term average from 1960 to 2023 and the number of frost days will have fallen, the fact is that the typical winter temperature in the capital is still around four degrees, which is more than cold enough to get the heating on.

What Does Roman London Tell Us About The Benefits Of Underfloor Heating?

If there were any further doubts, you may also consider the situation when London’s first underfloor heating systems were installed, back when the city was founded by the Romans.

This period, when hypocaust systems were heated using hot air channelled from furnaces, was also notable for its warm weather.

This situation, known as the Roman Warm Period, lasted from 250 BC to 400 AD and is occasionally used as an argument against the evidence of anthropocentric climate change in the present day, although there is no evidence that the world as a whole was warmer.

Nonetheless, Britain was a degree hotter in summer on average than it was in the 20th century.

However, a warmer Britain didn’t mean there weren’t cold days in winter and the many hypocausts used around Britain, including London, highlighted the need for them. 

Underfloor heating won’t be needed in the summer heat, but it can provide much-needed warmth when winter returns.

If your underfloor heating performed poorly last winter and spring, summer is a convenient time to get the problem addressed. Whatever the cause of the problem, there are ways in which we can resolve it, ensuring you are warm and cosy when the cold weather returns.

Underfloor heating is an increasingly popular way to heat homes. Unlike radiators or fireplaces, it heats from the floor upwards, so no part of the home misses out, least of all your feet as you enjoy walking on warmer floors.

However, like any form of heating, things can go wrong from time to time. If you had issues with it earlier this year, now is a very convenient time to get these addressed, as engineers will be more freely available in summer with no emergency call-outs.

What Are The Signs That Your Underfloor Heating Is Not Working Properly?

The first thing to understand about underfloor heating is what can go wrong, as this may give you a clue to whether there is a problem and what sort of underfloor heating repairs are needed.

Among the problems an underfloor heating system can manifest are:

•       Cold spots, when one area of the floor stays cold while others are warm, which may have various causes
•       The actuator (which regulates the flow of water in pipe-based underfloor systems) is not working properly
•       Air pockets in pipes that stop the water from flowing properly
•       Excessive pressure in the pipes, often caused by a blockage

Causes of such problems vary. For instance, poor installation or wear and tear can lead to parts of the system failing to function. If it is an electric wire system, there may be an electrical connection problem, while damaged pipes will hamper water-based systems.

On other occasions, the whole system can stop working due to external problems, such as a tripped switch on an electric wire system or a boiler failure, which would mean no hot water for the pipes.

How Will An Engineer Deal With Underfloor Heating System Problems?

If you have had problems, the first thing to do is to report them to us and an engineer will start by inspecting the system and the energy supplies it relies on. If, for instance, the problem lies in a boiler, that will be the appliance that needs repair work or replacement.

Should the whole system have a problem, it is likely there is something preventing it from receiving energy, which means checking the sources of heat transmission for problems.

However, the issue will usually lie in the pipes or wires themselves, caused by damage, a blockage, air pockets or another problem, leading to a localised issue like a cold spot or a broader failure.

If this is the problem, the floor may have to be taken up to access the problem area. This is messy, not least as systems are commonly embedded in concrete known as flow screed.

However, this does at least mean that the engineer can get to the heart of the problem by clearing the blockage, fixing a fault or replacing a damaged or defective part.

The good news is that once this has been done and everything is back in place, you can enjoy the benefits of a fully functioning underfloor heating system. By getting it done in the summer, you can be reassured that you won’t be walking on any cold floors this autumn.

If you think the idea of getting underfloor heating fitted in a North London home is a novel idea, think again.

The first underfloor heating fitted in London dates back to the Romans, who used a system called a hypocaust, piping hot air from furnaces into a cavity below the floor. Archaeologists have found multiple examples in the capital and across England, with Billingsgate Bath House in the City of London being a case in point.

What is not recorded is exactly what time of year the work of installing the hypocausts was undertaken, but it is fair to say the residents of Roman London and other places in this island outpost of the empire will have been very glad to have them fully functioning by the time winter arrived.

If you want to get underfloor heating installed, the same will be true. Summer is the best time of year to get electrical and gas engineers doing big jobs, as they won’t be busy on emergency boiler repairs and similar tasks. Instead, you may find it much easier to find times when they are available.

Just as getting a boiler serviced or replaced in summer will ensure it is ready before you really need its hot water in winter, so it is with underfloor heating. That way, you can have everything done and dusted before you need it.

There is a common misconception that an underfloor heating system might waste energy in the summer by providing heating you don’t need under feet that aren’t cold. In reality, the system runs autonomously (no Roman blacksmiths required), so like a heating system controlled by a thermostat, it only gets going when the temperature drops.

Once you have the system in place, you will feel very glad you did it. What is more, anytime you hear the question “What did the Romans ever do for us?” you will definitely know the answer.

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