Underfloor Home Heating Options

Hydronic

• Hydronic-based underfloor heating systems consist of a set of flexible piping connected to a standard boiler. Contractors run these pipes below the floor, where they may be suspended from wood floors or embedded in concrete. Hot water from the boiler passes through the pipe, bringing heat energy into the floor, where it radiates up to heat the room. These systems represent the most common type of underfloor heating according to the Oregon Department of Energy. They not only provide a high degree of energy efficiency, but are also fairly easy to install and can be modified to fit almost any structure.

Electric

• Electric underfloor heating systems consist of electric cables or wires connected in a mat or grid pattern. They rely on electricity to produce heat, which then heats the floor or the entire room. These systems are very easy to install, and can often be put in place by handy homeowners. These mats simply unroll over the subfloor and can be covered by tile, hardwood or laminate. According to the Oregon Department of Energy, electric underfloor heating tends to operate fairly inefficiently. They work best in applications where the floor above consists of a solid mass, like thick concrete, which can absorb heat energy and release it slowly throughout the day or night.

Air-Based

• Air-based systems represent one of the oldest forms of underfloor heating. Builders in ancient Asia would pipe hot air up beneath the floor to heat the room before exhausting it to a chimney or flue. Modern systems tend to be too costly for residential applications and are more commonly found on commercial structures.

Solar

• A solar-based underfloor heating system replaces the standard furnace or boiler with a solar collector. These systems often incorporate water-filled pipes below the floor, but the water is heated by solar energy rather than gas or electric-powered devices. Solar underfloor heating takes advantage of the natural ability of water to retain heat energy, unlike air, which allows heat to dissipate fairly quickly. These systems often incorporate large insulated storage tanks, which keep water warm until it is needed, allowing the system to heat the home even when the sun is down.