Underfloor heating for your bathroom

Underfloor heating products are an efficient way of providing warmth throughout the home that have significant advantages over more traditional forms of heating. Indeed, the commonly used radiator is great for drying damp clothes but when it comes to heating a room to an adequate temperature it seems that it can only function effectively at luke warm or blazing hot. Whilst this may seem a little harsh, the fact remains that traditional radiators tend to heat the room most from just below head height to ceiling height, which means that a significant proportion of the energy spent on heating the elements is wasted. A further consequence is that cold draughts form at ceiling height and circulate back down into the main living areas, which produces the need for the radiators to function at a higher output. Thus, it is not unusual to find that a centrally heated home with radiators is either a little on the chilly side or a little too warm.

Underfloor heating works by allowing heat to rise slowly from beneath the overlay floor, which may comprise of tiles, stone, wood, laminate or even linoleum. The peak efficiency of underfloor heating is found between the floor height and just about head height, which not only means that sufficient warmth is provided directly to where it matters but that fewer draughts are produced at ceiling height. This results in less energy consumption over time and allows users greater control over their temperature settings.

Underfloor heating products consist of either electric or water based systems. The latter typically uses water that has been heated to around 50 degrees celsius, which is transported through pipes that reside underneath the overlay floor. Whilst water based underfloor heating installations are arguably just as effective as their electric counterparts, one drawback is that they take longer to heat up a typical floor - several hours in the case of concrete flooring, in fact. Electric underfloor heating systems have the upper hand in this respect, although they remain a little slower than radiators. Furthermore, the electric products usually comprise of heating mats of 160 watts and 200 watts, both of which can be used on any subfloor and in conjunction with just about any overlay, including carpet and amtico.

Electric underfloor heating pads can also be cut to size, so there is usually no problem with installing these in awkwardly sized rooms. Moreover, these products are perfectly suited to wet rooms and bathrooms because, unlike radiators, they are not difficult to install and can be adapted to fit irregularly shaped rooms - they will not normally steam up your mirrors, either! Installing an underfloor heating solution for the bathroom is entirely safe, although as with any type of flooring or underfloor installation, the overlay must be waterproofed to avoid damage. It is also quite normal for bathroom radiators to overheat the room - they will provide heat according to the main thermostat and a small area such as the bathroom can suffer accordingly. In contrast, underfloor heating mats will provide a gentle warmth, which is perfect for that bare foot, fresh out of bed on a cold winter morning experience!

Finally, an underfloor heating installation in the bathroom should be covered with a suitable overlay. It is important to consider what type of feel is required in the bathroom, as this will vary enormously between stone and bathroom laminate, for instance. Linoleum or tiles are excellent for the bathroom, whilst water resistance is obviously a key consideration so it is crucial to ensure that sealants are used correctly.

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