Underfloor heating (heating solution) in large house renovation

MGallo

We are renovating a georgian house in Edinburgh, which will be our family home once finished. The place needs completely gutted and we're currently looking at heating solution that will work most efficiently in terms of running cost and also appeal to buyers when we sell in a few years time. So far we have had around five different views/solutions as to the optimal heating solution - ranging from air source heat pumps to complete electric underfloor heating used in combination with PV solar panels.

We have ruled out all eco solutions apart from PV solar panels as not being a cost efficient solution. The basement is perfect for a wet underfloor heating system - however we are more perplexed regarding the rest of the house. A wet underfloor heating system wouldn't be practical for ground and 1st floor as it the old floor boards/joists don't lend well to this application. Therefore we have a choice of radiators (working from condensing boiler) or electric underfloor heating. Our current thinking is that we would have radiators in the entrance hallways and ELECTRIC underfloor heating in all rooms on the ground and 1st floor. We have been informed by a couple of suppliers that electric underfloor heating would be cost efficient as long as we insulate well (which we are doing).... it would mean that we could thermostatically control each room and therefore not use at all if the room is not being used. I'm finding it hard to get my head round whether we would be better off just using radiators throughout the ground and 1st floors? We are also investigating having a PV solar panel too. There is so much conflicting information online regarding electric underfloor heating - I've been left very confused. Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Many thanks, Mary-Ann

reeac

MGallo wrote: »

We are renovating a georgian house in Edinburgh, which will be our family home once finished. The place needs completely gutted and we're currently looking at heating solution that will work most efficiently in terms of running cost and also appeal to buyers when we sell in a few years time. So far we have had around five different views/solutions as to the optimal heating solution - ranging from air source heat pumps to complete electric underfloor heating used in combination with PV solar panels.

We have ruled out all eco solutions apart from PV solar panels as not being a cost efficient solution. The basement is perfect for a wet underfloor heating system - however we are more perplexed regarding the rest of the house. A wet underfloor heating system wouldn't be practical for ground and 1st floor as it the old floor boards/joists don't lend well to this application. Therefore we have a choice of radiators (working from condensing boiler) or electric underfloor heating. Our current thinking is that we would have radiators in the entrance hallways and ELECTRIC underfloor heating in all rooms on the ground and 1st floor. We have been informed by a couple of suppliers that electric underfloor heating would be cost efficient as long as we insulate well (which we are doing).... it would mean that we could thermostatically control each room and therefore not use at all if the room is not being used. I'm finding it hard to get my head round whether we would be better off just using radiators throughout the ground and 1st floors? We are also investigating having a PV solar panel too. There is so much conflicting information online regarding electric underfloor heating - I've been left very confused. Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Many thanks, Mary-Ann

I would be wary of underfloor heating for your house. Firstly a wet system involves lots of inaccessible underfloor plumbing .. OK as long as nothing leaks but I'd be happier with radiators where most of the plumbing is accessible. Secondly, any underfloor heating of suspended wooden floors [I assume that the first floor, at least is of this construction] will dry them out, opening up gaps and maybe causing distortion.

PV panels, in my view [and we have them] is more of a financial investment/return thing .. our pay back 12% p.a. tax free .. rather than making a big contribution to the overall heating or energy needs of a house.

You need to have a look at the cost/kWh. of different energy sources [Google this] and to be cautious about hucksters' efficiency claims. Your choice needs also to include your current and future lifestyles [e.g. in or out most of the time] which will steer you towards easily controllable vs. steady output heating types.

albyota

If you have gas, go with condensing gas boiler and rads throughout. Electric underfloor heating can be very expensive on running costs, although 'Heatwise / E10/ type tariffs can bring this down a bit.
if off gas, oil or LPG are usually the next options, however, if the building is to be very well insulated, then air to water heat pump should be considered. To get this right first time, you need to calculate the heat load, get a SAP report, research this field until you are bored, get to know the U values of all building materials / insulation / glazing etc, don't let builders persuade you into doing what they find easiest. Concentrate on insulation, high quality glazing (triple), internally insulating as well as cavity, 300mm in roof. When you have all this right, your buildings heat load will be much less, then you will be better informed as to what heating system to go for.

TiredGeek

^^^^^^ What he said
If you have the option of mains gas, it's the one to go for

MGallo

All, thank you so much for the guidance.... I finally have a clearer view of what we need to do. It has been so difficult to work out what the best way forward is, with all the conflicting advice we've received from various salesmen - one of the quotes we received was for full electric underfloor heating, where it was claimed that the PV panel would cover the cost of running!

I think we will stick to efficient boiler and rads (the property has gas)- forget the PV panel, as I don't think it's a cost efficient option for a house we don't intend on living in long term. I can see how important insulation is and we have already taken steps to ensure this - loft insulation (free via grant :-)), new double glazed windows and surrounds (it's a listed building so triple not an option) and we are looking into wall insulation too.

Thank you again - Mary-Anne

reeac

MGallo wrote: »

.... all the conflicting advice we've received from various salesmen - one of the quotes we received was for full electric underfloor heating, where it was claimed that the PV panel would cover the cost of running!

Thank you again - Mary-Anne

Keep well away from whoever made that statement!