What is wall heating?
Wall heating is a radiant heating system in which a wall acts as a large heat emitter running at a low temperature. Usually warm water flows through thin pipes in or on the wall, which are then plastered over. It is often used alongside underfloor heating.
How does it work?
The wall is gently warmed and gives off mainly radiant heat. Because the heated surface is large, a low flow temperature is enough, which makes wall heating a good match for a heat pump. In summer, with a suitable heat pump, the system can also cool by circulating cooler water.
Options
- Pipe registers or mats with thin plastic pipes fixed to the wall and plastered over.
- Pipes routed into sand-lime brick or concrete.
- Dry-lining panels with pre-routed pipes, fitted as a lining.
- Clay plaster: in eco-building the pipes are covered with clay plaster, which conducts and buffers heat well.
- Electric mats or infrared panels: easier to install, but more expensive per kWh of heat than a heat pump.
Tips
- Finish with plaster, not insulating boards: air gaps act as insulation and reduce output.
- Choose walls that stay clear: cupboards or sofas in front of the wall block the heat.
- Insulate external walls well behind the system, or part of the heat escapes outside.
- Pressure test before plastering.
- Record the pipe layout with photos and measurements, and keep zones free for pictures, shelves and TV brackets. A thermal camera helps find pipes later.
Related terms
- Underfloor heating
- Low-temperature heating
- Heat pump
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