Choosing between ducted heating vs underfloor heating is a question more Australian homeowners are asking right now.
Ducted gas systems have been the go-to choice for decades. But rising gas prices, new state restrictions on gas connections, and the growing availability of underfloor heating systems are changing the conversation fast.
This guide breaks down the real differences in cost, comfort, air quality, maintenance, and long-term value so you can make the right decision for your home.
Table of Contents
- How Each System Works
- Comfort and Heat Quality Compared
- Air Quality and Health
- Running Costs: Ducted Heating vs Underfloor Heating
- Installation Costs and Disruption
- Maintenance Requirements
- Australia's Gas Phase-Out: What It Means for Your Heating
- Decision Matrix: Ducted vs Underfloor Heating
- Which System Is Right for Your Australian Home?
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Each System Works
When comparing ducted heating vs underfloor heating in Australia, it helps to start with how each system actually delivers warmth into your home.
Ducted heating uses a central furnace or air handling unit to heat air. That heated air is pushed through a network of ducts (usually in the ceiling cavity or under the subfloor) and delivered through vents in each room.
Most ducted systems in Australian homes run on natural gas, though reverse-cycle electric ducted systems are also used. The system heats the air, which circulates until the target temperature is reached. When it cycles off, the room begins to cool again, and the cycle repeats.
Underfloor heating works in a completely different way. Instead of heating the air, it heats the floor surface itself. Warmth radiates upward from the floor and rises evenly through the room. There are no ducts, no forced air, and no noise.
Comfort Heat offers two types of underfloor heating for Australian homes:
- Electric underfloor heating — heating cables or mats installed beneath the floor; best for individual rooms, renovations, and apartments
- Hydronic underfloor heating — warm water circulated through pipes beneath the floor, powered by an air-to-water heat pump; designed for whole-home heating in new builds and larger renovations
The result is a room that is warm from the ground up. No cold zones near windows, no hot air pooling at the ceiling, no draughts from vents. The warmth is even, quiet, and completely invisible.
Comfort and Heat-Quality Compared
This is where underfloor heating holds a clear advantage over ducted systems, and it comes down to basic physics.
Hot air rises. Ducted heating pushes warm air into a room from ceiling vents, which means the warmest air collects near the ceiling, not at floor level where people actually live.
Near the floor, the air is noticeably cooler. The system cycles on and off to maintain the target temperature, creating noticeable swings in comfort. Vents can also create uneven distribution, with some areas of a room warmer than others.
Underfloor heating works with physics. The floor surface heats up and that warmth rises gently and evenly through the entire room. The temperature is consistent from floor to ceiling. There are no draughts, no cycling, no noise.
You feel warm because the surfaces around you are warm, not just the air above you.
Underfloor heating creates full-body warmth. Ducted heating mostly heats the air above where you are sitting.
For families with young children, underfloor heating is also the safest heating option. There are no hot vents, no exposed elements, and no contact risk. Children can play freely on warm floors.
Air Quality and Health
One of the most important and least talked about differences between ducted heating and underfloor heating is what each system does to the air inside your home.
Ducted systems move air. Every time the system runs, it draws air through a return duct, passes it over a heat exchanger, and pushes it back through the vents. Any dust, pollen, mould spores, or pet dander in the duct network travels with it.
Poorly maintained ducts can circulate allergens through every room in the home each time the heating runs. People with asthma, hay fever, or respiratory conditions often notice their symptoms worsen when ducted heating starts up after a period of non-use.
Gas ducted systems carry an additional risk. Research from UNSW published in 2024 found that any heater burning fuel indoors releases nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particles into the indoor air.
Even well-maintained ducted gas systems can expose residents to low levels of harmful combustion by-products over time.
Underfloor heating produces none of these issues. There is no air movement, no duct network, and no combustion. The system heats silently through the floor. The air in the room stays still, stays clean, and holds its natural humidity level.
This makes underfloor heating the healthier choice for households with allergy sufferers, young children, or anyone with a respiratory condition.
Comfort Heat tip: If anyone in your household suffers from asthma, allergies, or dust sensitivity, underfloor heating reduces heating-related triggers. No ducts means no dust circulation.
Running Costs: Ducted Heating vs Underfloor Heating
Running costs depend on your home size, usage habits, energy tariff, and which system you are comparing. Here is an honest breakdown for a typical Australian home.
Ducted Gas Heating Running Costs
A ducted gas heating system in a medium-sized Australian home (around 160 square metres) costs roughly $1,500 to $1,600 per year to run, based on estimates from Sustainability Victoria. That figure assumes a well-programmed thermostat and regular use across the June to August winter period. As domestic gas supply tightens and wholesale prices climb, this figure is expected to increase further.
Electric Underfloor Heating Running Costs
Electric underfloor heating is very affordable for individual rooms — around 2 to 5 cents per square metre per hour to run. For whole-home coverage, running costs are higher than ducted gas, which is why Comfort Heat recommends electric systems for targeted room heating.
Bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms are ideal. You can read the full cost breakdown in our bathroom underfloor heating guide.
Hydronic Underfloor Heating Running Costs
Hydronic underfloor heating paired with the Intaflo Series 3 air-to-water heat pump is the most cost-effective whole-home option for larger Australian homes.
A well-zoned system costs around $1,200 to $1,500 per year for a medium-sized home . This is comparable with ducted gas today but with a major long-term advantage: it runs entirely on electricity and can draw on rooftop solar to pre-heat the slab during the day.
As gas prices rise and solar becomes more widespread, the cost gap between hydronic and ducted gas will continue to widen.
| System | Approx. Annual Running Cost | Fuel Source | Solar Compatible |
| Ducted gas heating | $1,500–$1,600 | Natural gas | No |
| Ducted reverse-cycle | $1,400–$1,600 | Electricity | Partially |
| Electric underfloor (whole home) | Higher for large areas | Electricity | Yes, with smart scheduling |
| Hydronic underfloor + heat pump | $1,200–$1,500 | Electricity (heat pump) | Excellent with PV solar |
Figures are approximate and based on a medium-sized Australian home of around 160 square metres. Actual costs vary with energy tariffs, insulation, floor covering, climate zone, and usage patterns.
Want to see indicative running costs for your project? Use our Floor Heating Cost Calculator to see your estimated running costs.
Installation Costs and Disruption
Ducted Heating Installation
A ducted heating system requires a furnace or air handling unit, a network of ducts through ceiling cavities or sub-floors, and vents in each room. In new builds this is built in from the start.
Retrofitting ducted heating into an existing home is expensive and disruptive. It often involves access to ceiling cavities, new ductwork runs throughout the home, and significant construction work. Installation typically costs $3,000 to $7,000 or more depending on the home size and duct layout.
Electric Underfloor Heating Installation
Electric underfloor heating is the most straightforward system to install. Thin Heating Mats sit within the tile adhesive layer and add minimal floor height, ideal for bathrooms and kitchens where clearance is limited. Screed Cable systems are embedded in a sand and cement screed and work under all floor coverings.
Both systems are best installed during a renovation when the floor is already being opened up. For confident owner-builders, DIY Electric Kits are available with a custom design layout and full technical support from the Comfort Heat team.
Installation typically costs $100 to $200 per square metre, including thermostat and electrical connection.
Comfort Heat is the only heating company in Australia that provides a custom design layout for every single project, regardless of size or scope. This is included at no extra cost with every job.
Hydronic Underfloor Heating Installation
Hydronic installation involves laying pipe loops across the floor before the screed or slab is poured. All loops connect to a central manifold, and a heat source (typically the Intaflo Series 3 heat pump) is connected to the circuit. This is best specified at the design stage of a new build or major renovation.
Hydronic is recommended for areas of 80 square metres and above, with an absolute minimum of 40 square metres. DIY Hydronic Kits are available for licensed tradespeople and experienced owner-builders.
Installation typically costs $150 to $300 per square metre, plus the heat source.
Not sure which system suits your renovation or new build? Use the Comfort Heat Product Finder for a personalised recommendation in minutes.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance is one of the clearest practical differences between the systems, and it is an area where underfloor heating holds a significant long-term advantage.
| System | Ongoing Maintenance Required |
| Ducted gas heating | Annual furnace service; filter cleaning every 1–3 months; duct inspection every few years; gas safety checks |
| Ducted reverse-cycle | Filter cleaning every 1–3 months; annual outdoor unit service recommended |
| Electric underfloor heating | Zero. No moving parts, no filters, no fluids. Nothing to service. |
| Hydronic underfloor heating | Annual heat pump or boiler service; periodic water quality and pressure checks for the closed circuit |
Electric underfloor heating has the lowest maintenance requirement of any heating system available in Australia.
Once installed, it runs quietly under your floor for decades with nothing to clean, service, or replace. The REHAU PEX pipe used in Comfort Heat hydronic systems is currently certified to 50 years, with all joins guaranteed leak-free.
Australia's Gas Phase-Out: What It Means for Your Heating
If you have a ducted gas heating system, or are considering one, this is the most important consideration.
Australia is actively phasing out gas in new residential construction. Victoria has already banned new gas connections in most new homes from 2024. The ACT has implemented similar restrictions. Other states are at various stages of introducing comparable policies.
Ducted gas heating is becoming a technology with a limited future in Australian residential construction.
If you install a ducted gas system today, you face three likely outcomes within the next 10 to 15 years: rising gas prices as domestic supply tightens; reduced resale appeal as buyers seek electrified homes; and possible loss of gas infrastructure if your area transitions fully to electricity.
Our blog post on rethinking gas in your new home covers this transition in detail and explains why heat pumps are becoming the standard choice for new builds across Australia.
Underfloor heating, particularly hydronic with the Intaflo heat pump, runs entirely on electricity. It produces no indoor combustion, works seamlessly with rooftop solar, and is fully future-proof against any gas phase-out policy.
Comfort Heat recommends the Intaflo Series 3 heat pump as the standard heat source for all new hydronic installations. It is fully electric, uses R32 refrigerant for high efficiency, and works directly with solar PV systems. For anyone building or renovating now, the Intaflo is the only heat source that will still make sense in 10 years.
Decision Matrix: Ducted Heating vs Underfloor Heating Australia
Use this table to match the right system to your situation.
| Factor | Ducted Gas Heating | Electric Underfloor Heating | Hydronic Underfloor Heating |
| Heat quality | Warm air, uneven distribution | Even radiant warmth from the floor | Even radiant warmth from the floor |
| Air quality | Circulates dust and allergens; indoor combustion risk | No air movement, no combustion | No air movement, no combustion |
| Annual running cost | ~$1,500–$1,600 | Low for rooms; higher whole-home | ~$1,200–$1,500 with heat pump |
| Installation cost | $3,000–$7,000+ | $100–$200/m² | $150–$300/m² + heat source |
| Best project type | New build or existing ducted home | Renovation, single rooms, apartments | New build or major whole-home renovation |
| Minimum area | Whole home | No minimum | 40m² min; 80m²+ recommended |
| Maintenance | Annual + filter cleaning | Zero | Annual heat source service |
| Gas phase-out risk | High | None — fully electric | None — heat pump is fully electric |
| Solar compatible | No | Yes, with smart thermostat | Excellent with Intaflo + PV solar |
| Allergy and child safe | Moderate — vents circulate dust | Excellent | Excellent |
| Noise | Fan and duct noise | Silent | Silent |
| DIY option | No | Yes — DIY Electric Kit | Yes — DIY Hydronic Kit (licensed trades) |
Which System Is Right for Your Australian Home?
The right answer depends on your project type, home size, and where in Australia you live.
If you are adding heating to a single room during a renovation, electric underfloor heating is the right answer. It is cost-effective to install, delivers exceptional comfort, requires zero maintenance, and is far healthier than a ducted system in a bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom.
Our bathroom underfloor heating guide walks through the full installation process for the most popular renovation room in Australia.
If you are building a new home or undertaking a major renovation and want whole-home heating, hydronic underfloor heating paired with the Intaflo heat pump is the best long-term investment. Better comfort, lower long-term running costs, no gas dependency, and full compatibility with rooftop solar.
Our guide to electric vs hydronic underfloor heating covers the full comparison between the two underfloor systems if you want to go deeper.
If you already have ducted heating and it is working well, there is no urgent need to replace it. But if your system is ageing, your gas bills are climbing, or you are planning a renovation, it is worth adding underfloor heating to the rooms being opened up.
Comfort Heat also offers zone-controlled underfloor heating, so you heat individual rooms independently and only pay for the warmth you actually use.
Whatever your situation, we are here to give you honest advice. If underfloor heating is not the right fit for your project, we will tell you. That honesty is the foundation our business has been built on.
Use the Comfort Heat Product Finder to get a personalised system recommendation based on your home, floor covering, and project type.
Want to talk it through? Book a free consultation with the Comfort Heat team today.
Ready to explore your options? Use the Comfort Heat Product Finder to find the right system for your renovation.
Or contact us to speak to one of our heating specialists or get a free quote today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is underfloor heating better than ducted heating in Australia?
For comfort and air quality, underfloor heating is the better option. It delivers even radiant warmth from the floor up, produces no dust or allergens, and is completely silent. For whole-home running costs, hydronic underfloor heating with a heat pump is comparable to ducted gas today and will become more economical as gas prices continue to rise.
Can I replace my ducted heating with underfloor heating?
Yes. The best time to make the switch is during a renovation when floors are being opened up. Electric underfloor heating can be added to individual rooms at any time with minimal disruption. A full hydronic system is best planned as part of a new build or major renovation.
Is ducted gas heating being phased out in Australia?
Yes, in new residential builds. Victoria banned new gas connections in most new homes from 2024. The ACT has similar restrictions in place. Existing ducted gas systems can still be used and serviced, but new gas connections in new builds are becoming restricted across multiple states.
How much cheaper is underfloor heating to run than ducted heating?
For whole-home heating, hydronic underfloor heating with a heat pump costs around $1,200 to $1,500 per year, compared to $1,500 to $1,600 for ducted gas. The difference grows as gas prices rise. Combine hydronic with rooftop solar and running costs reduce further.
Does underfloor heating work in cold Australian climates?
Yes. Hydronic underfloor heating is particularly suited to cold climates like Victoria, the ACT, Tasmania, and alpine regions. The thermal mass of the slab holds heat for hours and maintains a consistent temperature all day without cycling on and off like a ducted system.
Is underfloor heating healthier than ducted heating?
Yes. Underfloor heating produces no air movement and no combustion, so there are no dust, allergens, or combustion pollutants circulated through the home. Research from UNSW confirms that ducted gas systems release nitrogen dioxide and fine particles indoors. Underfloor heating is strongly recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Ready to find out more?
Every great project starts with a conversation. Talk to the team here at Comfort Heat today for honest, expert advice on heating your bathroom.
