Is Underfloor Heating Bad for Your Health? Underfloor Heating Myths Busted
“Is underfloor heating unhealthy”, “is underfloor heating bad for you”, “does underfloor harm your health”… This may be an unusual series of questions, yet they are in the 40 most searched UK queries for hydronic heating related topics.
It doesn’t hurt to be cautious when researching the pros and cons of the most efficient way to heat houses. To our knowledge, modern underfloor heating of good quality cannot be directly harmful to your health. In many cases, it does the opposite and helps to improve living standards in homes.
In today’s blog, we’ll explore what exactly makes some people believe underfloor heating could be bad for them, why that isn’t the case, and how underfloor heating really works to improve your living standards.
Myth #1 – Cardiovascular Problems
In the early 2000s, the idea circulated that – because of how underfloor heating works – a heated floor would unnaturally heat the legs and cause cardiovascular problems. By standing on a warm floor surface for long periods of time, you could negatively affect blood flow in the legs. Some thought it would make your legs “feel too heavy”, make you feel less likely to move, and exacerbate circulation issues.
A study in 2008 proved that a heated floor could affect blood flow, but in a positive manner. It also theorised that efficient underfloor heating could provide health benefits if used at the right temperatures. Thanks to modern technology, your heating setup can be tightly controlled to hopefully achieve this.
Myth #2 – Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic insects and part of the natural ecosystem of your home. They’re not toxic and don’t bite you. However, many people suffer dust mite allergies, so it’s important to ensure their population is kept in check.
Because dust mites thrive in warm and dusty environments, there are people out there who think heated floors would make the population grow out of control. In fact, what happens is the opposite. Radiant systems circulate and accumulate dust as they work, but hydronic systems don’t. While the dust mites may enjoy the warm floor, there will be less dust for them to thrive on.
Myth 3 – Burns
If you have put your bare foot on the pavement during a heatwave, you’d understand why this myth gets circulated. While there have been stories of underfloor heating that is too hot to walk on, this is often due to rogue installation and poor aftercare.
The most common efficient underfloor heating boiler flow working temp is 40°C, which is 2–4 degrees above a typical hot shower. This decreases slightly as the water travels from the manifold, and when it transfers through the screed and floor coverings. By the time it reaches your feet, it would barely cause discomfort, and certainly no burns.
If you are experiencing extreme discomfort, your boiler flow temperature has been set too high, or your pipes have been laid inefficiently. When EasyFlow designs the most efficient way to heat houses, we always ensure the layout of pipes is evenly spaced to prevent hot spots from forming.
Myth 4 – Damp & Mould
Does underfloor heating encourage damp and mould growth? Very poorly designed systems do. Quality systems designed by EasyFlow’s surveyors don’t. Before any floor based system is laid, the floor below needs to be prepared sufficiently to ensure moisture can’t build up or be transferred to the walls by capillary action.
When moisture build-up is prevented during installation, then thanks to how underfloor heating works, you should have reduced levels of damp. Furthermore, with more efficient heating it will be easier for moisture to evaporate, further reducing damp and mould growth.
Get Efficient Underfloor Heating That is Healthy For Your Home
The number one takeaway from these myths is that a well-installed heating system will provide more benefits to your living space. On the other hand, a poorly designed one can cause issues. It’s why we always recommend you stay clear of going DIY and trust in qualified installers.
