Yes, it certainly does. Heated floors are a luxurious feature that not only add comfort for current homeowners but also make a strong impression on future buyers. The warmth, especially in cold climates, is an attractive selling point.
Studies have even shown that energy-efficient home improvements can raise a home's value by up to $2000, or 10% of the total value of the home's energy savings. If you're renting your property instead of selling it, reduced energy costs can improve tenant satisfaction, which reduces vacancy and tenant turnover rates.
Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn't distribute allergens like forced air systems can.
One primary disadvantage is the high installation cost, particularly in retrofitting an existing home. For new construction, radiant floor heating can be incorporated more easily, but for older homes, it requires lifting the floor to install the system, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Yes, underfloor heating has a few disadvantages, such as higher installation costs, longer warm-up time compared to radiators, and potential restrictions on furniture placement.
No one wants to be pulling a floor up to replace something that they didn't install that long ago, after all! If you choose UFH for your property, you can expect it to last for around 50 years. Compare that to the average 12-year lifespan of a radiator, and you can see why it is so popular.
The main risk of placing furniture on top of underfloor heating is that it can block the flow of heat, reducing the system's efficiency and potentially causing damage. This is particularly true for heavy, solid furniture such as sofas, bookcases, and beds, which can create a barrier between the floor and the air above.
The longevity of an underfloor heating system depends on the type of system installed. A well-installed and maintained water-based underfloor heating system can last up to 50 years. Electric systems, while having a shorter lifespan, can still last up to 25 years.
The key is to keep the underfloor heating on but operating at a lower temperature during the night and other times throughout the day when it is not needed. Leave it on low even if you are leaving the house to go to work or out for the day.
Can radiant floor heating heat an entire house? We're happy to say that it absolutely can, in the right scenario, which is an exciting prospect, especially considering radiant heat's benefits of no air blowing (which reduces indoor allergies) and soothing whole-room comfort (no cold air pockets in your room).
Advantages of turning off UFH for the summer
By using the temperature controls for UFH, users can easily switch off their system for the warmer months of the year and gain from further energy savings. Keeping radiant floor heating activated through June, July and August can be a waste of valuable resources.
The average cost for purchasing this system and installation will run around $7.1-$21.1 per square foot. This includes the costs for installation plus tubing and labour ($6 to $20 per square foot).
Energy efficient
Most electric floor heating systems use 12 watts per hour per square foot, meaning a 100-square-foot room would use 1200 watts in total every hour, or 300 watts less than the average space heater.
In the long run, you will actually save money by installing radiant heated floors. Contrary to electric systems, hydronic floor-heating systems are typically more expensive upfront because they require a boiler, a pump and gas lines to operate.
Radiant heat typically uses less electricity than conventional forced-air systems. It operates on lower temperatures and maintains consistent heating, reducing the need for frequent thermostat adjustments. Users often experience lower electric bills due to the targeted and sustained heat distribution.
Radiant-floor heating systems usually do not include a provision for cooling. The same tubing that circulates hot water in winter could potentially be used to keep people cool in the summer. But while these dual systems are entirely possible, they are, at least so far, rare in U.S. homes.
Electric radiant heating can be expensive to operate, depending on local electricity rates. Hydronic systems are expensive to install. Radiant heat is difficult to retrofit and may require major renovations.
But there is another element that can reduce moisture and humidity in your bathroom and that is a heated floor system installed underneath your floor tiles. Besides the comfort of stepping on warm tiles, heated floors will prevent the buildup of mould as it allows excess water to be dried quickly.
Perhaps the best matched heating system for any heat pump is radiant floor hydronic heating. The reason is simple – the lower the design temperature, the higher the performance of a heat pump. Radiant floors typically require between 110-120ºF supply temperature and larger systems can be as low as 80-90ºF.
Gold Heat recommends turning down the thermostat 7-10 degrees lower for sleeping at night and when you are away. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that homeowners save at least 25% a year utilizing a Smart programmable thermostat. FUN FACT: The flooring material and the subfloor are like rocks in the hot sun.
With radiant floor heating, your furniture and decor can affect the system's effectiveness. Furniture that sits directly on the floor will block the electromagnetic waves that help heat up the room, which can result in uneven heating.
Yes, as your Radiant Heating System is expensive, it deserves protecting using a fluid that that keeps the fluid in the system from freezing.
While the water-based underfloor heating is not usually impacted by rugs or carpets, you do have to be a bit more careful with electric underfloor heating. With the latter, a rug could act as an insulator, interfering with the circulation of heat which could potentially lead to a rise in electricity costs.
Floors Not Suitable to Lay Over Underfloor Heating
You can't use solid wood floors with underfloor heating because the high heat can dry them out, causing them to shrink and creating gaps in the floor.
Yes. Carpet works well with underfloor heating, as carpet naturally holds in heat, so you wouldn't have to use as much electricity or hot water in a room with carpet as it will hold the heat for much longer.