Underfloor heating: The warm bathroom

There is nothing more snug than a warm bathroom, and few things less appealing than a cold one. The Romans may well be able to lay claim to the first underfloor heating system. They ran steam in ducts under their bathrooms to heat the floor tiles. Today people all over the world still enjoy having a warm bathroom, but the technology has advanced a little! Consider making your bathroom a place of comfort by installing under floor heating in your renovation.

What is underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating is a relatively simple idea. Electric cables are run under the floor and provide heat which can be controlled by a thermostat. Consider some aspects before installing this style of heating.

• Be aware that the power requirements will be different to heating a hall or normal room. Generally a bathroom takes up more power, because tiles are slightly harder to heat. A golden rule to observe is that whilst you can always use less power from a system that is slightly more powerful than required, you can't get more from a system that is less powerful than you need. It is best to err on the side of having more, at least with bathrooms
• Because of the complex nature of the electrical work involved it is imperative that you have a licensed electrician do all the installation work.
• There may be some preparatory things you can do, such as prepare the floor space and finish off the surfacing, but the electrical installation involves health and safety issues and must be done professionally
• Concrete, chipboard and wood are all suitable surfaces for underfloor heating. These can then be finished with tiling, but bear in mind that they will take different amounts of time to heat up. Concrete will take longer, but it will also retain the heat longer
• It is impossible to give exact times, but in general underfloor heating can take about 30 minutes to heat up a bathroom floor. You don't have to worry about it getting too hot because a thermostat automatically regulates the temperature, turning the heat on and off as required to keep it constant.
• Underfloor heating is far safer than an electric heater in the bathroom, which should be avoided

The installation of an underfloor heating system should make your bathroom experiences far more pleasant, particularly in winter when a warming shower can be ruined by the shock of entering a cold bathroom. Perhaps you will even save water and electricity, as it is easier to turn off the shower sooner if your next step is comfortable! Have your heating installed correctly and enjoy the luxury.