Winter is here and, at this time of the year, heated flooring is a really tempting addition to make to your home. Thoughts of running into the kitchen in the morning to make a cup of tea only to be met with toasty warm tiles sounds very appealing. Similarly, when you step out of the shower onto the tiles there will be no more unpleasant, whimperingly cold surprises. Is it as good as it sounds though or is there a downside to having heated flooring? This blog looks into the pros and cons of heated flooring and decides whether it actually is as good as it sounds.
One of the biggest drawbacks with stone or tile floors is that they do not give the same warmth like a carpet or cork floor. Many homes use thick rugs and slippers to avoid their toes freezing during the winter. It wasn’t going to be long before someone came up with a solution and heated flooring has become quite a fad amongst homeowners over the last few years.
Types of heated flooring:
There are two types of heated flooring: electric coil heating and heat pump heating (through tubes of heated water). Both types of flooring have their pros and cons and it is important that you understand both so you know you have made the right decision for your home if you decide to install heated floors.
The PROS:
Durable: The good thing about heated flooring systems is that they rarely break so long as they are well maintained and cared for properly. Heating flooring systems can outlast your home boiler, sometimes going for up to 35 years.
Cost Effective: Some homeowners would rather use their heated flooring to heat their home than the central heating. This saves you money on your bills, particularly if you have the heat pump style heated flooring. The room also heats from the ground up giving each room an overall cosier feel.
Retain heat: Even after the heating has turned off, floors can hold heat for a long time so you can benefit from the heating for long after.
Quiet: You wouldn’t even know heated flooring was there. It is a completely silent source of heat and it doesn’t blast dust, dirt or pollen around your house like air vent heating. It is ideal for those who suffer badly with hayfever or other allergies.
Freedom: You don’t have to worry about radiators or air vents when you have heated flooring giving you much more freedom with interior design. No unsightly heating devices.
Installation: Installing a heated floor system is relatively easy even if you only want it in certain areas of your home.
The CONS:
Upfront costs: Installing heated flooring can be very expensive upfront and the heat pumps are more expensive than the electric option. It is cheaper to get a new boiler and many people opt for this based on the price. There may also be some tile work necessary and adjustments needed for the thermostat.
Malfunction: If there is a problem with your heated floor, it can be very difficult to determine where the problem lies so repairs may be very expensive.
Slow-build: Heated flooring systems can be very slow to heat up the home. This is more evident with the hydronic system that can take a few hours to make an impact. Flooring does, however, retain heat well, so homeowners can benefit from the warmer floor even when the system isn’t on. Some people also claim that flooring heating doesn’t heat the room, more just the floor to touch.
Is it appropriate for any home?
Heated flooring can be used in any home. You wouldn’t want to heat and entire floor space with electric flooring as this will not be cost-effective. If you want your whole home to have heated floors, then the hydronic system is best. The hydronic system is a little more complex than electric as you are putting tubing with hot water underneath your floors. In most cases, you don’t need heated floors through your whole home.
Our verdict:
Heated flooring sounds heavenly but we think it is only really necessary in rooms with tile or stone, so the kitchen or the bathroom. It doesn’t sound like a reliable, central source of heat, so it is more of a luxury. From the perspective of energy saving, the hydronic system sounds much more promising as it will use less electricity. We would certainly put it on a timer so it isn’t on all day long too.
Do you have heated floors? How good are they? Do you feel warm in your home or could they do more?
