Cost of Underfloor Heating Installation — How to Calculate It?

When choosing a heating system for our home, we consider many important factors. The most crucial of these is primarily the cost of underfloor heating. In this article, we will answer the key question of how to calculate the installation price of this type of heating. Additionally, we will provide some tips on what to pay attention to when making the initial estimate.

Underfloor heating is a popular heating system, especially among single-family homeowners. Many interested parties may not realize what to consider when estimating costs on their own. First, it is essential to determine the heat source that will be available in your home.

One of the more popular types is the so-called water underfloor heating. This system consists of pipes placed beneath the floor surface, which are connected to a heat source, such as a gas boiler, heat pump, or oil furnace. A heating medium, which is a liquid heated by the aforementioned heat source, flows through the pipes. Calculating the preliminary costs of such an investment is a very complex task due to the need to consider numerous factors.

It is worth knowing that radiators and water underfloor heating directly heat the air, which becomes lighter and thus rises due to the high temperature. This way, heat remains under the ceiling. Additionally, the rising air stirs up dust and mites present even in the cleanest homes. This is particularly troublesome for allergy sufferers.

The second type of underfloor heating is films and heating mats. These devices are powered solely by electricity, which may initially seem unprofitable. However, when considering installation and operating costs, it turns out that this type of heating can successfully compete with traditional water underfloor heating powered by a solid fuel boiler. The operation of heating films is based on completely different principles than those found in classic heating systems.

Heating films emit infrared radiation, which does not heat the air but rather the water molecules present in the room. Additionally, infrared films provide heat to all objects and people in the room. This is a significant difference and thus an advantage that can be felt almost immediately after turning on the system. Therefore, it is worth considering this aspect when estimating the initial costs of underfloor heating.

What Determines the Cost of Underfloor Heating?

The cost of water underfloor heating primarily depends on the components used. Most investors opt for three-layer polyethylene pipes. You can also choose five-layer pipes with additional anti-corrosion protection, which will be more expensive. When making a preliminary estimate for water underfloor heating, it is also necessary to consider the heat source, as it affects the cost of underfloor heating. Why? A pellet boiler or other solid fuel can provide a heating medium at a higher temperature, which affects the spacing of the pipes. In the case of a heat pump, the costs of underfloor heating are much higher.

Infrared heating films feature a simple construction, which affects their reliability and cost-effectiveness, both during investment and operation. When purchasing an infrared-based heating system, proper thermal insulation of the building is also crucial. If the building is poorly insulated, the heating film must be stronger. Conversely, if the building meets the latest WT 2021 standards, the power of the film can be lower.

When investing in a heating system, it is worth paying attention to so-called thermal bridges. These are areas in the building that, due to its construction, have weaker insulation. For example, these include:

• connections between the ceiling and the external wall,
• connections between the roof and the external wall,
• areas around chimneys,
• lintels,
• connections between balconies and ceilings,
• places where windows and doors are installed;
• basement walls and foundations.

Detecting thermal bridges on your own is challenging, but a specialist conducting an energy audit can do it for you. Such a person usually has the appropriate qualifications to carry out this procedure. In many programs that subsidize heating, such as the “My Electricity” project, there is a possibility of obtaining funds for conducting such an analysis. In most local financial support programs, you can also receive a substantial amount of money for this purpose.

Underfloor Heating – Cost Analysis

A heat pump operates most efficiently when heating the heating medium to a lower temperature. Therefore, in this case, a smaller spacing of pipes is necessary. Consequently, about 10 m of pipes is used per 1 m2, while a standard furnace uses about 7.5 m.

The installation cost of water underfloor heating should also include the installation price, which is approximately 70-80 zł per 1 m2 of such heating. The final sum for this type of heating system thus amounts to 150 – 200 zł/m2, also considering the price of components. It is therefore easy to calculate the potential cost of underfloor heating. 100m2 of water underfloor heating will cost you 15,000 – 20,000 zł.

Estimating the investment in infrared heating films is simpler. These devices feature uncomplicated construction and do not require the presence of specialists during installation. Anyone with technical skills can install heating films on their own. However, in such cases, the presence of an electrician with the appropriate qualifications is necessary for the final connection of the heating films to the network.

If you cannot or simply do not want to install infrared heating yourself, qualified specialists can perform this service for you. Currently, the cost of purchasing and installing 1 m2 of infrared heating film is 120 – 130 zł. This is the price for a comprehensive service that includes the purchase of all necessary components, installation, and commissioning of the system. So, what is the final cost of underfloor heating? 100m2 of infrared underfloor heating is an investment worth only 12,000 to 13,000 zł. The advantage of this system is the speed of work, which usually lasts one day for a standard house with an area of 130 – 150 m2, and in more complicated cases – no more than two days.

Conclusions

The cost of underfloor heating installation thus depends on its type. In the case of water underfloor heating, many non-obvious factors must be considered. On the other hand, investing in infrared heating is much simpler to estimate. Regardless of the chosen heating system, when planning the costs of investment and operation, the condition of the building, including its insulation, should be taken into account.

When investing in infrared heating, it is worth considering not only the speed of installation and the possibility of doing it yourself but also the fact that it is the only heating system on the market that does not generate operating costs in the form of maintenance work or the replacement of worn or damaged components. Infrared films have a simple construction, devoid of mechanical parts. The only thing that may fail is the thermostat, which is simple enough to replace on your own without the help of specialists.

Additional information about Termofol infrared heating systems is provided by our experts, who will not only help you estimate the cost of underfloor heating but also explain in detail how the films work.