If you’re looking to get the most out of underfloor heating, I’d really suggest starting with insulation—especially windows and the attic. In my experience, fixing drafts and old glazing actually made a bigger dent in heating costs than the floors did. Tackle windows first if they’re single-pane or leaky... heat escapes fast through glass. Floors can wait unless there’s a major issue. Just make sure you check for hidden gaps and seal them up tight.
That’s a solid point about insulation making the biggest difference. I’ve been on a few jobs where folks spent a ton on fancy underfloor heating, but then you’d feel a draft every time someone walked past the window... kinda defeats the point. Sealing up those sneaky gaps is underrated. Underfloor heating feels amazing, but I wouldn’t bother if the rest of the house is leaking heat everywhere. Good shout on checking windows first—way less hassle than pulling up floors anyway.
I keep hearing that too—fix the drafts first, then think about heating upgrades. But if you’ve already got decent insulation and windows, does underfloor actually save much on bills compared to regular radiators? Or is it mostly just for the comfort factor?
I’ve wondered about this too. I mean, underfloor heating sounds nice, especially for cold mornings, but if your place is already pretty well insulated, does it really make a big difference on the bills? I’ve heard some people say it’s more efficient because it runs at lower temps than radiators, but then others mention the install costs and how slow it is to heat up. Has anyone actually tracked their energy use before and after switching? Or maybe it depends on the type of flooring you’ve got... like, does carpet mess with the efficiency compared to tile or wood?
- Energy bills: If your insulation is already solid, underfloor heating won’t magically slash your bills, but it can help spread heat more evenly. It’s true that it runs at lower temps than radiators, but the system stays on longer to maintain that gentle warmth. Some folks see a small drop in energy use, others don’t notice much difference.
- Install costs: Upfront cost is no joke—especially if you’re retrofitting. If you’re already redoing floors, it makes more sense. Otherwise, it can take years to break even.
- Heat-up time: It’s definitely slower than radiators. Not ideal if you want instant heat after coming home on a freezing day. But once it’s up to temp, the comfort level is hard to beat.
- Flooring type: Carpet acts like an insulator and slows down heat transfer. Tile or stone works best—wood is decent too, as long as it’s not super thick. I’ve seen people complain about “cold spots” with thick carpets.
- Personal experience: Helped a friend switch from radiators to underfloor (wet system) in a new build with tile floors. Their bills dropped maybe 10%, but they said the main benefit was just how nice the floors felt in winter mornings.
If you’re after pure efficiency savings, might not be worth the hassle unless you’re already renovating. For comfort though... hard to beat that warm floor feeling when you step out of bed.
