The Pro’s And Con’s Of Electric Underfloor Heating

Ahhh! Electric Underfloor Heating

It’s a bit of a hot topic at the moment, and it’s still one of the more popular heating options for modern homes. This is mainly because it’s completely invisible once it’s installed, giving you more options for decorating and cleaning your home. But despite its popularity, it might not be the magical heating solutions you’ve been looking for. This winter as the chill starts to set in, we wanted to share with you some of the pros, and the cons of electric underfloor heating. 

Pro’s

• • Space Saving –

    The main advantage of electric underfloor heating is that it is very slimline and space saving. That’s compared to both standard radiators and standard underfloor heating. The electric mesh lies under flooring completely flat, unlike traditional piped underfloor heating. This means that floors don’t need to be sunk or raised to accommodate bulky pipes, saving a huge amount of space.

• • Even-Heat –

    As the heating elements are distributed underneath the entirety of your floor, you will get a much more even heat in the room. So not only will it keep your feet warm in the winter, but it will ensure there are no cold or super hot spots in your rooms.

Unfortunately, that’s largely where the positives end for electric underfloor heating. While it is great for bathrooms if you’re prone to cold feet, the negatives tend to outweigh the positives.

Con’s

• • Long Heat Up Time –

    Unlike piped heating or electric radiators, electric underfloor heating takes a long time to heat up fully. This means that you either need to turn on your heating hours before you need it or leave it on permanently through the colder months, both of which mean higher bills.

• • Need More Insulation –

    In order for you to have electric underfloor heating installed, you will need to invest in a good base. You can’t just put it down on top of a concrete slab. Underfloor heating mats have to be installed on top of a highly insulated base. If they aren’t, they won’t provide you with much heat at all in colder weather – particularly if it’s your primary heating method.

• • Complex Installation –

    The installation of electric underfloor heating is not a simple thing. Not only do they need to be placed on properly insulated bases (see above), but they also come with a series of controls and mats, which make installation itself time-consuming, complicated, expensive and very disruptive.

• • Prone To Faults –

    As with many electronic meshes, electric underfloor heating is incredibly prone to faults, especially if they aren’t correctly installed. And because the mesh mats are laid under your flooring, when one goes wrong it isn’t an easy job to take it up and replace one. In fact, since many are installed underneath concrete screed or wood flooring, it is often impossible to replace defective panels.

In case you hadn’t noticed by now, while it is electric, we are not the biggest fans of electric underfloor heating. While it is nice to have toasty feet (no-one’s denying that), the advantages of electric underfloor heating just aren’t big enough to justify it. Instead, if you’re looking for an alternative to traditional heating that is energy efficient and clean, you are better off opting for electric radiators.

At Electric Heating Expert, we love everything about electric radiators and electric heating. Whether you’re replacing some old storage heaters or looking for an affordable alternative to gas, electric heating is an investment worth making. We pride ourselves on providing tailored advice that will help you make the best choice for you. For more information about electric radiators, or to find out if they would work for you, get in touch with us today.