I have an apartment from the 80s in Madrid and I'm thinking about changing the heating system. I've been offered underfloor heating but I'm not sure if it's worth it given all the work involved. Has anyone done this in an older place? How much does the electricity bill go up roughly?
What heating system do you have now? The thing is, radiant floor heating in an 80s apartment is tricky: you need to lift the entire screed, which means serious and expensive work, losing usable height, and possibly messing with existing installations. Plus, if your thermal insulation isn't great (which is typical for that era), you'll just be heating the street. Your electricity bill goes up, but it really depends on whether you're using a heat pump or a gas boiler, your insulation quality, and how you use it - any number I'd give you would be made up. What actually works better in older places is improving the insulation first, replacing old windows, and then reassessing. Some people skip the work and go with efficient radiators or reversible air conditioning systems instead, which give you more flexibility.
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