Despite its relatively high upfront price, radiant heating can cost 25 to 50% less to run and maintain than other heating systems. Plus, its lifespan is 30 to 45 years, compared to traditional heating methods' 10- to 25-year life expectancy.
According to BuildPro, electric underfloor heating can last up to 25 years, while hydronic-heated floors can last up to 50 years—a long time if you're worried about how long in-floor heating lasts.
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.
Hydronic In Floor Heating
This plastic tubing can last between 30-50 years. However, since water must be heated and travel through the system, a boiler and a pump are also required. You can expect a boiler to last 15-20 years, but a pump may fail after ten years.
Electric Radiant Heating
At about $8 to $15 per square foot, this type of radiant heating installation costs: 1,000 Square Feet: $8,000 to $15,000. 1,500 Square Feet: $12,200 to $22,000.
When a leak occurs in the concealed tubing of the radiant panel, all copper tube systems are completely repairable. Because of the “closed-loop” environment there is absolutely no electrolytic degradation of the copper tubing.
You can save a lot of money on your energy bills because radiant heat doesn't require ventilation like forced air systems do. You won't have to worry about drafts or uncomfortable spots in the room because radiant heat distributes evenly across the entire surface area of your floors.
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.
Flushing a wet underfloor heating system
It is not a task that needs to be carried out regularly with every 3-5 years being the recommended intervals. This type of underfloor heating servicing involves draining the water and then connecting an external pump to pump fresh water into the system.
Most heated tile floors and 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 (potentially up to 300 watts less than the average space heater).
Any of the options we listed above could serve you well, but most experts agree that the best choice for underfloor heating is ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone tile. The right tile floor can even increase the resale value of your home.
You can rest assured that leaving an underfloor heating system on all day long without causing any unwanted problems or damage to the system. In fact, when the weather is especially cold, it could even be a good idea to leave the system switched on.
Radiant floor heat is a fantastic way to add warmth and comfort to your home during the colder months. Not only does it provide effective heating, but it also enhances your family's comfort. So, does radiant floor heat add value to your home? The answer is a resounding yes.
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.
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.
In most cases, PEX is extremely durable and lasts up to 50 years or more. PEX piping is also less likely to crack or break than metal pipe because it does not expand and contract as much when heated and cooled.
The most efficient way to run underfloor heating is to leave it switched on for 24 hours a day, but to increase and decrease the temperatures to suit your requirements.
The one thing to be aware of is that any furniture used on top of underfloor heating should have a small air gap beneath it (around 30mm minimum) to allow the heat to escape. If your furniture doesn't have a suitable air gap beneath it then we suggest not installing underfloor heating in that area.
There are many reasons why your underfloor heating could be causing you problems – it could be due to setup, a faulty controller, the flooring or even air that has become trapped in the pipes.
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.
Basically, your home will heat up to a comfortable temperature faster. So, whilst it won't necessarily be cheaper to leave your underfloor heating on for a sustained period initially, it could lead to long-term savings.
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.
Radiant floor heating cost will range from $6 - $12 per square foot— or about $600 for a typical bathroom remodeling project. This price per square foot for electric floor heating elements can go up to $30 for custom underfloor heating mats or down to $5 for large projects using floor heating cables and fixing strips.
While the 30 to 50-year lifespan is impressive, the true value of radiant heating's longevity lies in its ripple effects: Cost-effectiveness: Lower maintenance needs and a long lifespan translate to long-term savings compared to frequently replaced systems.