Underfloor heating

Underfloor heating (podlahové topení, colloquially podlahovka) warms a room through the floor. The hot-water type runs pipes in the floor carrying water from a heat source such as a boiler, a heat pump or a fireplace with a heat exchanger. The electric type uses heating cables or mats.

How it works and what it suits

• It heats the whole surface, so it needs a much lower water temperature than radiators. That makes it a good match for sources that work most efficiently at low temperatures, above all heat pumps.
• It responds more slowly: a cold room takes longer to warm up, and a low floor temperature cannot quickly make up a large temperature difference.
• Furniture covering much of the floor and thick rugs reduce its output.
• It works best in a well-insulated house; in an old uninsulated one it may not be enough in frosty weather.

What to watch out for

Electric underfloor heating is often only supplementary, for example in a bathroom. If it is the main heat source, running costs depend on the electricity price and the distribution tariff. A household that mainly heats with electricity can, under conditions set by the Energy Regulatory Office, get the D57d tariff with 20 hours of low tariff a day.

Changing the method of heating, cooling or hot water preparation ends the validity of the energy performance certificate (Section 7a(4) of Act No. 406/2000 Coll.). If the heat source was changed after the certificate was issued, the old certificate is no longer valid.

Frequently asked questions

What should I ask the seller?

Whether the system is hot-water or electric, which rooms it covers, where the heat comes from and how it is controlled - ideally room by room. A drawing of the pipe layout (useful before drilling into the floor) and energy bills for recent years are also helpful.

Can underfloor heating be seen in the register?

No. Since July 2024 the RÚIAN register records the heat source in more detail, such as electricity or a heat pump, but not how heat is delivered to rooms (floor or radiators). Look for it in the property description, the building documentation or the EPC report.

Is underfloor heating cheaper than radiators?

It does not produce heat, it only distributes it. Savings come mainly from letting the heat source run at a lower water temperature; overall costs depend on the source, the energy price and the insulation of the house.