The majority of underfloor heating uses either dry systems or wet systems. In wet hot water systems, underfloor pipes heat the floor above as hot water flows through the piping. Because the whole area of the floor is warm, it heats the room more evenly. One of the biggest benefits of underfloor heating is the fact that they operate at much lower temperatures.

Compared to your radiators, which concentrate heat across their relatively small surface area, your flooring allows the heat to emanate over a large surface area. As such, UFH systems do not need to operate at such high temperatures. As a guide, the average radiator heating system requires temperatures of 80'C, UFH operates at 45 to 65'C. Underfloor heating should warm your floor to a temperature of 25-28'C.

In electric, or dry, systems, instead of pipes passing water under your home, underfloor electric heating elements are used to warm your floors.

Is my house suitable for underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating can be used in partnership with a combination boiler, as well as other gas and solid fuel boilers. Powering the system from a combination boiler is the most preferable method as it means that your boiler and heating system will be running with optimum efficency. UFH can be installed below a variety of properties, not just new builds. Refurbished properties and their extensions can benefit from the system too.

If you're considering the part-underfloor heating option, the good news is that the system works easily in conjunction with any radiator system. Some people prefer to have a radiator fitted in their bathrooms for example. So if your home's main heating system is underfloor, this flexible heating system allows you to add an extra radiator too.

I'm not sure how to arrange my UFH elements/piping underground

This all depends on the floor under which you hope to operate your system.

You'll notice that with timber flooring your options are restricted due to the floor joists. The direction of your pipes or elements will be determined by the direction of the joists.

The final system layout can be planned for, but the reality can often differ from these plans once work has started, for various reasons. Should plans need to be changed, it's a screed floor that will give the biggest number of alternatives. This is because, in a solid floor, before it's been screed, pipes can be set out in loops and coils or both, giving you more flexibility.

Finally, underfloor heating is not 100% consistent, and you'll find that water returning to the manifold is colder than the water leaving the manifold. This can actually help you to plan your underfloor layout as you can choose which parts of your house you wish to receive the most heat and concentrate the early part of the pipework under the coldest part of your home.