ALTERNATIVE EMITTERS

Depending on the size and style of your project, and your budget, there are a few more emitter options worth considering for extensions, including:

Trench heating This solution has been around for a while but never quite captured homeowners’ imaginations. The basic idea is something of a halfway house between UFH and radiators, with special convection emitters dug into the floor and topped with a grille. One potential downside is that it doesn’t offer the flexibility of UFH in terms of furniture positioning, as it’s important not to block the vents.

Skirting heating This operates on a similar principle to trenches, but is even easier to install, with the pipework embedded into the back of the skirting boards running around the perimeter of the room. Discrete Heat is one of the originators in the market, but some UFH suppliers are now offering skirting solutions to complement underfloor heating in zones where you want a quickresponse system (such as bedrooms).

Electric systems Whether UFH or radiators, electric options remain popular in specific circumstances, such as for small bathrooms (for their fast response times) or where it’s vital to keep up-front costs low (as they’re quick and cheap to install). But running costs and carbon emissions will be higher than water-based systems.

Infrared radiators An up-and-coming tech in this market. Rather than heating the air in the room (which creates cyclical draughts) these electrically-powered panels work through radiation – directly and nearinstantly warming the surfaces and people in a room to the desired temperature. They’re simple to install, slimmer, sleeker and more efficient than radiators, and are even available with customised artwork or mirrored finishes (although there will be a price tag to match).