ᐅ Radiators or underfloor heating: Which option is recommended in these circumstances?
Created on: 8 Mar 2018 17:29
J
jundbHello,
we are about to purchase/build a solid masonry semi-detached house of 142 sqm (1526 sq ft), KfW55 standard, from a developer. Standard/included are radiators on the first floor + second floor + attic, optionally there is underfloor heating for €5700 (plus presumably property transfer tax) only(!) on the ground floor (is that so, no need to argue about that).
I am inexperienced with underfloor heating myself, I have nothing against it, but I have not dreamed of it for decades (unlike a fireplace…) and I am used to radiators and have always managed well with them so far. Please no fundamental discussions about underfloor heating or radiators, medically, swollen feet, dust, “thermal comfort,” it “shouldn’t” be more expensive, etc., I fear there would only be back and forth here. I want to know your opinion on whether underfloor heating under these(!) circumstances makes sense, that is a real approx. €6000 (about $6500) extra cost, only on the ground floor (so only for the living room, kitchen, hallway, guest toilet (and these 4 areas would be controlled separately)) and in addition (regardless of financial or energy benefits or not, it is an old dream) a fireplace in the living room.
What I have read so far, I think:
- In terms of energy consumption, there is not much difference, more efficient due to low temperature operation, fine, but radiators are not that bad in a well-insulated new KfW55 house either. Somewhere on a professional sanitary trade association page I read about 10% less energy with underfloor heating in a new build, but since it is only one of three floors, maybe 5%, that is max about €50 (about $55) per year.
- My wife prefers underfloor heating so far, but without rational reasons or much experience, simply out of curiosity for something new and supposedly better. She often feels cold like many women, even when the room is warm, and I could imagine that in such phases she would prefer a radiating radiator that warms noticeably rather than a rather constant and slow to heat up underfloor heating. On the other hand, the fireplace would help with that.
- Since we generally prefer it rather cool/use little heating, I even imagine in the summer half of the year it could be better without underfloor heating if we want to cool down faster during a sudden weather change or, conversely, heat the living room within 1-2 hours during a sudden temperature drop.
- Another possible point against underfloor heating: the build quality and coordination of many subcontractors with this developer is not always great. Radiators, as far as I know (or am I mistaken?), are not as sensitive; not much can go wrong there, but a poorly installed underfloor heating system would, I believe, be unpleasant.
- The only real bigger argument for underfloor heating on the ground floor for me personally is the space gain from removing the radiators. We need to take a closer look at where they would be and how much they would be in the way; we do not yet have detailed plans. In the guest toilet and hallway, I don’t really care (since they would be used little anyway), leaving the one in the kitchen (I’ve also often heard that people simply left it out in open kitchen concepts like ours are planned). Then only the one in the living room remains.
Without the extra cost, I would take underfloor heating, but as it is and only to save 1-2 radiators on the ground floor, it does not seem worthwhile for us (under the described circumstances!).
Now it's your turn...
Thanks & regards
Jo
we are about to purchase/build a solid masonry semi-detached house of 142 sqm (1526 sq ft), KfW55 standard, from a developer. Standard/included are radiators on the first floor + second floor + attic, optionally there is underfloor heating for €5700 (plus presumably property transfer tax) only(!) on the ground floor (is that so, no need to argue about that).
I am inexperienced with underfloor heating myself, I have nothing against it, but I have not dreamed of it for decades (unlike a fireplace…) and I am used to radiators and have always managed well with them so far. Please no fundamental discussions about underfloor heating or radiators, medically, swollen feet, dust, “thermal comfort,” it “shouldn’t” be more expensive, etc., I fear there would only be back and forth here. I want to know your opinion on whether underfloor heating under these(!) circumstances makes sense, that is a real approx. €6000 (about $6500) extra cost, only on the ground floor (so only for the living room, kitchen, hallway, guest toilet (and these 4 areas would be controlled separately)) and in addition (regardless of financial or energy benefits or not, it is an old dream) a fireplace in the living room.
What I have read so far, I think:
- In terms of energy consumption, there is not much difference, more efficient due to low temperature operation, fine, but radiators are not that bad in a well-insulated new KfW55 house either. Somewhere on a professional sanitary trade association page I read about 10% less energy with underfloor heating in a new build, but since it is only one of three floors, maybe 5%, that is max about €50 (about $55) per year.
- My wife prefers underfloor heating so far, but without rational reasons or much experience, simply out of curiosity for something new and supposedly better. She often feels cold like many women, even when the room is warm, and I could imagine that in such phases she would prefer a radiating radiator that warms noticeably rather than a rather constant and slow to heat up underfloor heating. On the other hand, the fireplace would help with that.
- Since we generally prefer it rather cool/use little heating, I even imagine in the summer half of the year it could be better without underfloor heating if we want to cool down faster during a sudden weather change or, conversely, heat the living room within 1-2 hours during a sudden temperature drop.
- Another possible point against underfloor heating: the build quality and coordination of many subcontractors with this developer is not always great. Radiators, as far as I know (or am I mistaken?), are not as sensitive; not much can go wrong there, but a poorly installed underfloor heating system would, I believe, be unpleasant.
- The only real bigger argument for underfloor heating on the ground floor for me personally is the space gain from removing the radiators. We need to take a closer look at where they would be and how much they would be in the way; we do not yet have detailed plans. In the guest toilet and hallway, I don’t really care (since they would be used little anyway), leaving the one in the kitchen (I’ve also often heard that people simply left it out in open kitchen concepts like ours are planned). Then only the one in the living room remains.
Without the extra cost, I would take underfloor heating, but as it is and only to save 1-2 radiators on the ground floor, it does not seem worthwhile for us (under the described circumstances!).
Now it's your turn...
Thanks & regards
Jo
1. Here’s something to consider: For most buyers of recently built used houses, radiators are a deal-breaker. They suggest that cost-cutting was done at all costs, and that everything else was reduced to the bare minimum as well.
2. Personally, I would never, ever choose radiators in a new build. They are unattractive and outdated, and they waste the best space by the window.
3. I don’t know a single person who switched from underfloor heating to radiators.
4. The only disadvantage is the slow response time, but it’s not nearly as pronounced as you described. Your room will be warm within an hour even with underfloor heating (although this refers to a gas boiler with the appropriate flow temperature; I have no practical experience with heat pumps).
The additional cost is significant, but there’s no need to debate that. It’s just the well-known pattern with building teams.
2. Personally, I would never, ever choose radiators in a new build. They are unattractive and outdated, and they waste the best space by the window.
3. I don’t know a single person who switched from underfloor heating to radiators.
4. The only disadvantage is the slow response time, but it’s not nearly as pronounced as you described. Your room will be warm within an hour even with underfloor heating (although this refers to a gas boiler with the appropriate flow temperature; I have no practical experience with heat pumps).
The additional cost is significant, but there’s no need to debate that. It’s just the well-known pattern with building teams.
For most buyers of newer used houses, radiators are a deal-breaker. They suggest that savings were made at all costs, meaning everything else was likely reduced to the bare minimum as well.
As mentioned, underfloor heating is not possible in the upper floor and attic, no matter what I want or prefer.
For me, this means that from now on, I will always look at properties with underfloor heating very critically—maybe the builder only installed it to distract from other poor workmanship... ;-)
I don’t know a single person who switched from underfloor heating to radiators.
That’s not really the topic here. And among the new neighbors, even more prefer to stick with radiators.
The only downside is the slow response time, but it’s nowhere near as bad as you described. Within an hour, your room with underfloor heating is warm as well.
Okay, I didn’t expect that—I thought underfloor heating would be significantly slower from everything I’ve read so far.
(It should be noted that this refers to a gas boiler with the appropriate flow temperature. I have no practical experience with heat pumps.)
Units 12 and 17, which are semi-detached houses, will have district heating supplied by a central pellet heating system.
The additional cost is steep, but that’s not up for discussion. It’s just the usual tactic with turnkey builds.
Yes, unfortunately. Still, the house/project has its advantages.
If gas is planned, radiators are manageable. For heat pumps, radiators are an absolute no-go for me.
I don’t quite understand that yet. Why are radiators acceptable with gas but not with heat pumps (even though we won’t have one)?
As mentioned, underfloor heating is not possible in the upper floor and attic, no matter what I want or prefer.
For me, this means that from now on, I will always look at properties with underfloor heating very critically—maybe the builder only installed it to distract from other poor workmanship... ;-)
I don’t know a single person who switched from underfloor heating to radiators.
That’s not really the topic here. And among the new neighbors, even more prefer to stick with radiators.
The only downside is the slow response time, but it’s nowhere near as bad as you described. Within an hour, your room with underfloor heating is warm as well.
Okay, I didn’t expect that—I thought underfloor heating would be significantly slower from everything I’ve read so far.
(It should be noted that this refers to a gas boiler with the appropriate flow temperature. I have no practical experience with heat pumps.)
Units 12 and 17, which are semi-detached houses, will have district heating supplied by a central pellet heating system.
The additional cost is steep, but that’s not up for discussion. It’s just the usual tactic with turnkey builds.
Yes, unfortunately. Still, the house/project has its advantages.
If gas is planned, radiators are manageable. For heat pumps, radiators are an absolute no-go for me.
I don’t quite understand that yet. Why are radiators acceptable with gas but not with heat pumps (even though we won’t have one)?
What would bother me much more is the poor workmanship, having underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators elsewhere. How are those supposed to get warm with a supply temperature of about 35°C (95°F) anyway....
Why is underfloor heating not possible on the upper floor?
Why is underfloor heating not possible on the upper floor?
Higher supply temperatures with heat pumps drastically reduce efficiency. That means energy consumption increases significantly. Radiators require considerably higher supply temperatures than underfloor heating.
Out of curiosity: what advantages does the project offer if the buyer cannot even choose the current state-of-the-art technology?
Out of curiosity: what advantages does the project offer if the buyer cannot even choose the current state-of-the-art technology?
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