Your bathroom needs some kind of heating element to stay warm and cosy, and homeowners now have two main choices: radiator or underfloor heating. Bathroom radiators are often made of chrome, with lots of bars running horizontally to create hanging space. In contrast, underfloor heating systems essentially turn the floor area into one large radiator, with hot-water pipes or electric mats concealed beneath to provide heat.
Both options are more than capable of heating your bathroom, but they each come with their own benefits and drawbacks that should be considered before you make your final choice. Here's a quick and easy overview of what each type can offer you during your bathroom renovation.
Why Should You Go for a Radiator?
Radiators are still the most widely used bathroom heating element, and one of the main reasons is cost. Flooring needs to be removed during the installation of underfloor heating, which can be expensive even during a significant renovation since new plumbing or electrical fixtures will need to be installed. However, your bathroom almost certain already has plumbing fixed up for a radiator, and the installation process isn't going to take as long.
But there are benefits to radiators beyond cost. One of the most compelling is that heat comes on a lot faster. Underfloor heating might distribute heat more evenly, but it usually takes an hour or two for the room to actually heat up, a lot longer than it will take a radiator. Finally, radiators provide hanging space for your towels, and since that hanging space is heated those towels will dry out faster – you can even dry out your clothes.
Why Should You Go for Underfloor Heated?
People generally opt for underfloor heating thanks to the comfort it provides. A radiator can heat up the room itself, but you'll still probably be stepping out of your shower onto a cool floor. Stepping out onto a warm surface is far pleasanter.
Underfloor heating is also more efficient. It can work at a much lower temperature since the heat doesn't have to circulate, and the fact that the room is heated more evenly means that no cold spots can sap away the warmth. As such, your energy bills should be lower. As an added plus, your bathroom will be more hygienic. Mould and bacteria can grow in areas that stay wet, and it's more likely for small wet areas to remain when you use a radiator instead of underfloor heating.