Underfloor heating is a way of distributing heat supplied by one of two sources:

1. Electricity
2. Hot water

These Systems require the laying of either electric cables or hot water pipes in a concrete floor slab. They are therefore generally appropriate for new houses only.

Electrical underfloor heating has the advantage that power can be drawn at a time of off-peak supply with consequently cheaper costs.

Hot water underfloor heating requires a heat source (boiler) and a circulating pump together with mixing and control valves.

The temperature of the water is lower than conventional hot water radiator heating, about 50C, and is comparable with that which can be produced by a solar hot water system. Both electric and hot water systems have high installation costs, particularly the latter.