Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Water underfloor heating, also known as wet underfloor heating, is a type of underfloor or radiant heating system. Underfloor heating is an alternative to traditional types of heating such as wood, coal, gas or oil burners or wall radiators. In contrast to such types of heating, which convect heat which circulates in room air currents, usually concentrating in the highest part of a room, radiant heating brings heat into a space at floor level more evenly and efficiently. It is often cheaper to run due to the efficiency of the heat distribution and does not take up space in a room as the system is placed under the floor.

Water underfloor heating circulates heated water through a network of underfloor pipes. The entire system is regulated by an underfloor heating thermostat. The material in which the pipes are laid, which is typically concrete or wood, absorbs a great amount of the radiated heat, acting as background heat storage. Due to the relatively slow-acting nature of this heat absorption and retention, rooms have to be typically pre-heated by a number of hours to ensure the optimal and desired temperature.

In most cases, the installation of a water underfloor heating system is no more expensive than the installation of a network of radiators. Commercial operators usually market water underfloor heating on the basis that it is in the long run cheaper and more efficient than radiators.

Water underfloor systems are best suited to newly laid floors, where they can be incorporated easily during a new build.

If you are looking for a stylish addition to your bathroom, you may wish to consider a glass radiator which is sure to become a focal point as well as a talking point in your bathroom. The SGG Thermovit Elegance glass radiators are relatively new to the market in Britain. These glass bathroom radiators combine the highest possible standards with elegant style. In fact, so unique are these radiators that you can actually design them yourself, that way you can ensure that no-one else ever has the same radiator that you do. Of course, they also come in a range of standard models including clear, mirrored and even printed versions.

Another plus point of these glass radiators is that they are completely mobile, therefore they do not require connection to your existing heating system. There are no wires or cables to connect. These radiators actually plug into the electrical socket. While this would usually negate a product from use within a bathroom, these are perfectly safe as long as the recommended distances between water supply and electricity are observed. The radiators can be floor or wall mounted. In fact, if you want further options, you can choose between the controllable or non-controllable versions. The controllable radiator allows you to change the temperature complete with remote control to create your own comfortable warmth.

While these radiators should not be used to heat towels as they should not be covered, you can purchase corresponding towel rails from the same range to further enhance the practicality of this purchase.

Electric underfloor heating is a type of radiant heating. In contrast to water filled radiator heating, or older forms of heating such as wood, coal, oil or gas stoves, which convect heat into currents, underfloor heating emits the heat at floor level, which spreads heat out more efficiently and with a longer-lasting effect. This effect is due to the heat absorption of the floor as well as the objects in the room. With normally convected heat rising too far too quickly to be useful for most of the time, radiant heat rises more slowly through the material space in which it is installed, meaning that the heat is used to a fuller extent and permeates the room more effectively.

Electric underfloor heating technology typically consists of heating cables, mats or film heating elements. The former two are primarily designed for tiled, stone or concrete flooring, the latter for wooden or laminate flooring.

Under tile heating cables or mats are relatively unobtrusive forms of material, meaning that the level of the floor does not have to be raised for them to be incorporated. Heating cables can be laid in any formation by the installer. Installation can be contracted out to a professional firm or completed on a DIY basis. Underfloor heating kits can be bought which contain the material for a full DIY installation.  Final connecting up will need to be done by a registered plumber or electrician.

For wooden floors, film heating produces a relatively lower heat than that generated by cables or mats. Electric underfloor heating can be the sole source of heat in a room, which means that no unsightly radiators need take up useful wall space.

There are two methods of underfloor heating: either warm water is circulated through pipes, or electrical current is passed through cables. Many people choose water underfloor heating because it can easily be run from an existing boiler which makes it both economical and simple. Often it is run in addition to conventional heating. Modern condensing boilers are perfect for the job as floor heating requires water at a lower temperature than conventional systems. This is usually around 50 degrees rather than 60 or more for traditional radiators.

The running costs of an underfloor heating kit are usually lower than conventional heating, and it is less work to install. Electric underfloor heating is usually more economical for small areas such as a bathroom or a conservatory, and wet systems for larger areas. There are individual thermostats for each room or zone, giving great flexibility and allowing the independent heating control required by Building Regulations in conservatories. Despite the components costing a little more, they tend to be very durable and low maintenance. In a wet system, water flows through one long pipe with no joints which could leak, and all the valves and electrical components are usually hidden in a cupboard. These are all strong reasons for choosing water or electric underfloor heating.

As well as being efficient, underfloor heating can be ecologically friendly too. Water underfloor heating can be run with solar panels, or even geothermal heat pumps that use underground heat.

When you use any form of pipework, like that used in water underfloor heating systems, there is a possibility that you could end up with it sustaining damage. However this is a very small risk if you follow all the installation instructions, especially regarding the distance of the pipes from the edges of the room. By ensuring the pipes are not near the edge you can reduce the risk of damage occurring when you lay the floor over the top, especially if you have chosen a wooden floor and need to nail it into place at the sides.

If there is damage that is significant enough to cause a leak, then you will know immediately, because the pressure will drop and sadly, concrete is porous, so water can escape into it. The best thing to do in this case is call an expert in, because they will stand a better chance of being able to isolate the leak and carry out repairs to that piece of pipe, while causing minimal disruption to the rest of the flooring.

Obviously, choosing an electric underfloor heating system minimises further the maintenance of the system and the number of things that can go wrong is much reduced. That said, a wet system that has been installed correctly should not cause any problems. You may still want to read case studies of underfloor heating to reassure yourself, but then properly researching any product you are thinking of buying is always advisable.

Underfloor heating is renowned for being low maintenance, which is excellent news. However, should anything go wrong with the parts that are installed in the floor, repairing and replacing them could be something of a nightmare job, so you do need to make sure the installation is of the highest quality possible. 

Obviously, if you are installing a water underfloor heating system as a DIY project, there really isn’t much of a guarantee on offer. The products, themselves, will be guaranteed, but if they are installed badly then the problem lies elsewhere and you will not be able to claim against that guarantee. However, if you have a professional system installed, you should ensure that you are provided with a valid guarantee that is valid for a reasonable period of time. It is definitely worth paying a little more to find a company that offers a long guarantee. If a company is prepared to offer five years, when others only offer two, it must be confident that there are not going to be any issues within this period. You can then rest assured that this is a robust product that you can be confident has been installed properly.

If you do a half DIY scheme and employ a plumber and/or electrician to do their part, you need to make sure you get them to provide a guarantee. Although limited to the work they have done, it could save you a headache in the future.

Controlling an underfloor heating system is simple and there are several ways to go about it. Once installed, the beauty of an underfloor heating system is that it controls itself and regulates the temperature by detecting differences between the floor surfaces and room temperature. As a result, the rooms remain at a constant temperature.

Most underfloor heating systems are regulated by a control point manifold, which is set in the floor and a pump for mixing the values. Working together, they help to create a constant temperature. For example, in a room that is empty, the heating controls will allow the room to warm to the temperature on the thermostat. When the room is occupied, people’s body heat and movements create a further element of warmth, so the level of heating provided is reduced to compensate and the overall temperature remains constant.

In most cases, the entire system is controlled from one central point, however it is possible to have individual controls for each room. Bathrooms wouldn’t really be suitable for this, but you may find it of benefit in the main living room. If this is the case, a wall unit, similar to a central heating system control enables you to increase or reduce the temperature as required. The best option is to discuss your requirements with a specialist who has experience of underfloor heating before you start, so you can be sure you get the most suitable solution for you home.

The two main floor constructions that can support underfloor heating most effectively are concrete and wood. That’s not to say other floor types cannot support an underfloor heating system, it’s just that these are the most popular two and are the ones most commonly used in the building industry. Both types can be installed by either knowledgeable DIY builders or professionals.

In the case of concrete floors there are preparations that need to be made, in terms of insulation, but because of the concrete the heat is able to diffuse really well and this is an incredibly efficient way of heating your home. There is no fear about sealing the pipes into the concrete, as the underfloor heating system is also extremely low maintenance. It is also unlikely that you will experience any problems with the components that are buried in the concrete, as long as a professional installs the system and comes with an industry standard guarantee.

Wooden floor systems are very easy to install, which is excellent, especially if you want to have a go at DIY underfloor heating. However, wooden floors do not allow the heat to permeate into the room as effectively as concrete, so the heat output is lower, meaning you may need the heating on for longer or on higher, which costs more. Although wooden floors are undoubtedly nicer to look at, it may be worth considering a concrete screed from a money saving point of view.

As environmental issues become increasingly more important, it is no wonder that people are seeking out eco friendly ways to build their new homes or extend and revamp their existing ones. One of the questions that is increasingly being asked is ‘can underfloor heating work in conjunction with solar panels that provide the electricity?’ The answer is a resounding yes.

Underfloor heating is a very green way to heat your home, as it uses a lot less power and fuel, temperatures are lower to achieve the same effect and the only resources used are water (if you have a wet underfloor heating system) and electricity. It therefore makes sense for anyone wanting to live a cleaner, greener life to choose underfloor heating as solution. Obviously they will also be seeking other ways of making their homes even greener and solar panels are an excellent choice.

The good news is that there are no issues with running an underfloor heating system off electricity generated on the premises, in fact the underfloor heating system really isn’t fussy where it gets power from. The wiring can be adapted to fit any property schematic as required. If you are in any doubt do not attempt to wire the electrics yourself, but call a qualified electrician and let him do the work; remember, electricity can and does kill. By all means look into the options, because more companies are wising up to eco friendly ways of working, so finding someone to help should be easy.

Despite the fact that it is an electric based system and everyone knows electricity and water don’t mix, the heating cable or heating mat system is the perfect solution for bathroom use and what is even better is that it is completely safe. The electricity and water just don’t get the chance to mix and this is a lovely luxury for the bathroom, as you will no longer get cold feet when you step out of the lovely warm bath.

As a bathroom tends to be in the upstairs part of the house, the first thing to be installed is a layer of insulation designed to force the heat upwards rather than down into the rooms below. The heat cabling is then laid, starting at one end of the room and winding back and forth in neatly spaced rows, before being taped into place. A thermostat control point should be added at some point and the whole floor should be uniformed, which is to say the spaces between the cables are all about the same. Once you have done this, your bathroom floor tiles can be laid straight on top of the underfloor heating system, using a flexible tile adhesive. This is also an excellent way of securing the layer of insulation at the beginning of the installation.

A downstairs bathroom could be suitable for a wet underfloor heating system, but this is not really the best solution to use upstairs, as it cannot be installed effectively and the weight would be excessive.