Advantages of underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is one of the oldest methods of heating buildings (other than burning material inside) having been invented by the Romans. The modern day forms of underfloor heating are either hot water or electricity based. For the former, a series of underfloor water pipes are laid; for the latter, electric cables or mats are used. Both water and electricity underfloor heating systems can be installed professionally or on a DIY basis. There are kits available for the DIY option.
The main advantage of an underfloor heating system is the greater efficiency when compared with standard radiator networks or room installed wood, coal and gas fires, or oil fired boilers. Placing all the equipment underneath the flooring also saves space. Underfloor heating heats a room gradually and on a widely distributed basis, in contrast with the freely circulating heat emitted by radiators and fossil fuel burners. In the long term, underfloor heating systems have often been shown to achieve the same or better level of heating at a lower cost than radiators, etc.
Further, in terms of thermal comfort, water and electric underfloor heating naturally achieves a highly desirable effect in terms of heating: warming the lower body but leaving the upper body, and especially the head, relatively cooler. This directly contrasts with radiator and burner types of heating.
As the entire floor effectively operates as a radiator by using underfloor heating, less power compared with forced air heating systems such as radiators is needed to achieve comfortable levels of heating.