Underfloor Heating Explained: Wet vs Electric
Two very different systems, suited to different projects — here's how to choose.
Underfloor heating comes in two genuinely different types, and picking the wrong one for your project is the most common mistake we see.
Wet systems
Water-fed pipework connected to your central heating, run within the floor build-up. Efficient to run and well suited to new builds or full renovations where the floor's already coming up, since installation needs floor depth to accommodate the pipework.
Electric systems
Heating mats or cables, simpler and quicker to install, and the more practical retrofit option under an existing floor without a major renovation — but generally more expensive to run than a wet system for a large area.
Which suits your project
New-build or a full renovation where floors are already being replaced: wet system, usually. A single bathroom or kitchen retrofit without wider building work: electric mats are typically the more straightforward, less disruptive choice.