How Efficient is Underfloor Heating in New Build Homes?

If you're building a new home in the UK and wondering about heating options, underfloor heating is a popular choice. It's a system that warms your home from the floor up, making rooms feel cosy without visible radiators on the walls. But is it efficient – meaning does it use less energy and save money on bills compared to traditional radiators? This beginner-friendly guide explains everything in simple terms, using reliable UK information.

What is Underfloor Heating and Why is it Popular in New Homes?

There are two main types:

• Wet systems (most common in new builds): Warm water flows through plastic pipes hidden under the floor. These pipes are connected to your boiler or a heat pump.

• Electric systems: Heating wires or mats under the floor, powered by electricity (better for small rooms like bathrooms).

  
  

  In new-built homes, wet underfloor heating – especially screed-based systems – is especially popular because it's easier and cheaper to install during construction. Screed is a layer of material (like sand/cement or flowing liquid types) that covers the pipes, providing excellent heat distribution. New homes are built with thick insulation and airtight designs to keep heat in, following strict UK building rules. These rules push for low-carbon heating to help reach the UK's goal of net zero emissions (producing no harmful gases overall).

  Underfloor heating works well here because it only needs water at a low temperature – around 30-45°C – compared to radiators, which need hotter water (60-75°C). This makes it ideal for modern, energy-efficient homes.

  How Does it Compare to Traditional Radiators?

  Radiators heat the air quickly from one spot, which can create hot areas near the radiator and colder spots elsewhere. This often leads to draughts (cold air moving around) and uneven warmth.

  Underfloor heating spreads gentle, radiant heat evenly from the whole floor. It warms people and furniture directly, so rooms feel comfortable at a slightly lower overall temperature. This even distribution means no cold spots and a more consistent warmth throughout the home.

  Experts highlight that underfloor heating offers outstanding energy efficiency and significant savings compared to radiators in well-insulated new builds, especially due to its lower operating temperatures. To find out more about the comparison between underfloor heating and radiators, visit our infographic “Transforming your home with underfloor heating”

The Big Efficiency Win: Pairing with Heat Pumps

Many newly built homes now use heat pumps (devices that pull heat from the air or ground, even in cold weather, and warm water for your heating). These include air-source heat pumps (which take heat from outside air) and ground-source heat pumps (which use heat from the ground). They are eco-friendly and becoming standard to meet rules like the Future Homes Standard (now in place from 2025, requiring homes to have much lower emissions).

Heat pumps are super efficient when the water doesn't need to be very hot. Underfloor heating is perfect for this – it lets the heat pump work at its best, producing more heat energy than the electricity it uses. It's fully compatible with these modern heat sources, leading to lower running costs and better overall efficiency.

What About Running Costs and Real Savings?

In a typical new 3-4 bedroom home with good insulation, underfloor heating provides significant energy savings. Running costs are lower because the system operates efficiently at reduced temperatures, especially when connected to a heat pump or modern boiler.

These savings add up over time, especially with rising energy prices. Well-designed systems in new builds, which meet or exceed building regulations, give the best results. Plus, with a full 10-year warranty on professionally installed systems, you get peace of mind for long-term performance.

Things That Affect How Efficient It Is

To get the most efficiency:

• Good insulation: New homes have this built-in to stop heat escaping.

• Floor type: It's suitable for all common finishes like ceramic tiles, stone, engineered wood, laminate, vinyl/LVT, and carpet (as long as the carpet has the right thickness rating to allow heat through).

• Smart controls: Individual room zoning, programmable thermostats with Wi-Fi, and even app control help avoid wasting energy by heating only where needed. These are compatible with leading smart home platforms.

• Professional installation: Done right during the build – including proper pipe layout, embedding in screed, pressure testing, and final setup – ensures even heat and top efficiency. Early planning with heat-loss calculations is key.

Poor installation can reduce efficiency, but following guidelines avoids this.

Conclusion

Underfloor heating is very efficient in modern new build homes, offering significant energy savings compared to radiators, superior comfort with even warmth, and perfect compatibility with heat pumps for lower bills and a greener home. It fits seamlessly with UK rules for energy-efficient, low-carbon new builds, provides design freedom by eliminating radiators, and can even increase your property's value.

If you're planning a new home, getting expert advice on underfloor heating systems can help you get the best setup. For professional supply and installation tailored to new builds, including free design and quotation services, visit Comfort Floors' new build underfloor heating page.