Why people want underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is considered the most comfortable heating there is, and for good reason: heat rises from below, spreads through the room by natural convection, and there is no draft, noise or dry air. The problem is everything else — the installation, the time, the cost and the maintenance.
Pannel-Heat was built for exactly this: the same principle of heat rising from below, only it comes from the panel at the base of the wall instead of under the tiles.
The comparison
| Underfloor heating | Pannel-Heat | |
|---|---|---|
| Installing in an existing home | Lifting the floor, insulation and screed, re-tiling | Replacing the skirting boards |
| Duration of work | Weeks, usually moving out | One to two days |
| Time to feel warm | Hours — heat passes through the floor first | Minutes |
| Spring and autumn use | Less flexible — has to be switched on in advance | On and off as needed |
| Energy | Part of the heat goes into the floor and its layers | Heat goes straight into the room |
| Faults | May require taking up the floor | Accessible from the wall, modular |
| Your feet | The floor itself is warm | Heat rises from the perimeter; the floor does not overheat |
What does it feel like?
In both systems heat comes from below and spreads by natural convection, so the feeling is similar: an evenly warm room with no airflow. The noticeable difference is the floor — with underfloor heating it is warm to the touch, with Pannel-Heat it stays at room temperature. Many people actually prefer that, since constant direct heat on the feet is not comfortable for everyone.
And energy use?
With underfloor heating part of the energy goes into heating the floor and its layers, which is why it is switched on long in advance. With Pannel-Heat the heat goes straight into the room and is felt within minutes, so you switch it on only when needed and only in the rooms you use. Exactly how much you save depends on your home and habits — but that control is the main reason the system is efficient.
When to choose underfloor heating anyway
If you are building from scratch, laying new floors anyway, and specifically want a floor that is warm to the touch, underfloor heating may suit you. In any other case — an existing home, flooring you do not want to rip up, a partial renovation or an apartment — Pannel-Heat delivers the same quality of heat without the renovation.
Want to know what it would cost you? Open the price calculator.