Is heating the floor with electricity the best option for your house? Continue reading to learn how it operates, how it is installed, and the anticipated expenses of both .
installation and operation
A network of electrical wires or heating mats are typically laid down as part of an electric underfloor heating system. This system is installed beneath your flooring. This manual describes everything, from how the programme operates to what goes on throughout the installation process. If you want to warm up floors that you walk on in bare feet, as in a bathroom, installing electric underfloor heating can be a good way to do so. It can also be used as an alternative to radiators in other rooms. However, the installation of underfloor heating can be problematic, particularly in rooms that already have heating. One strategy for minimising the amount of trouble caused by the work is to schedule it to coincide with the completion of other renovations.
How exactly does one go about installing electric underfloor heating?
The layer of floor insulation is typically installed on top of the electric underfloor heating system in order to ensure that the heat is conducted upwards rather than downwards. In order to guarantee that the surface is perfectly level, this is initially installed on a layer of screed (which is composed of sand and cement) or suspended timber (floorboards that are supported by joists). After that, the wires for the heating system are linked to your home’s main power supply. A sensor that can assist in controlling the temperature will also be incorporated into the system. The temperature can then be controlled by a thermostat, which also allows you to pre-set the system to switch on or off at a specific time. Mats and wires for underfloor heating are available for purchase at a variety of outlets, including those specialising in home improvement such as B&Q and Wickes. In terms of power, electric underfloor heating systems can range anywhere from approximately 100W to 200W per square metre. Your choice of system and wattage will be determined by the following factors:
The proportions of the space as well as its layout
How well the room is protected from the cold. How the flooring that lies beneath it looks.
The kind of floor covering that will go on top of it.
What temperature does the heating element for the electric underfloor run at?
The temperature of electric systems, on average, ranges from about 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, depending on how warm you set them to be. It will depend, in part, on the type of floor that is underneath it as well as the sort of flooring that you wish to install on top of it, such as laminate or carpet. A thermostat is often included in the package of an underfloor heating system so that the temperature can be controlled.
Thermostats for electric heating systems
Wall-mounted thermostats for electric underfloor heating are typically installed in the same room as the underfloor heating itself. They enable you to set the temperature of your underfloor heating to the level that is most comfortable for you, which contributes to ensuring that the system operates effectively and keeping costs to a minimum. If you have underfloor heating in more than one room in your home, each room will need its own thermostat.
Different varieties of thermostats
There are a number distinct varieties of thermostat, ranging from those that are straightforward to those that are more complex. You may be able to choose the type of thermostat that is included with your system in some instances; nevertheless, the cost of a simple thermostat is likely to be less than that of a smart thermostat.
Thermostats with manual dials and traditional controls are more straightforward types that are operated manually, for instance by turning a dial.
Programmable thermostats are devices that provide you the ability to decide when you want the underfloor heating to turn on and off, as well as the temperature at which you want it to be maintained (you may want different temperatures for different times of day, for example).
Smart thermostats are thermostats that can be controlled remotely, generally by an app on a smartphone, and that may offer more complex configuration options. These thermostats allow you to manage your underfloor heating system.
They can also come in handy if, for instance, you are planning to go on vacation but realise that you forgot to turn the system off before you left. When adjusting the temperature on your thermostat, keep in mind that underfloor heating requires more time to reach the desired temperature than radiators do; consequently, if you want your toes to be warm when you first get out of bed in the morning, you should turn the system on at least half an hour in advance.
Where are some of the best places to put electric underfloor heating?
Anywhere that has access to an electrical power source is a suitable location for having electric underfloor heating installed. Because electric systems are less cumbersome than water-based underfloor heating systems, the floor may not have to be elevated in the same manner. Because of this, installing electric underfloor heating is typically easier and more cost-effective than installing systems that use water. Electric underfloor heating, on the other hand, can be more expensive to run and is typically less powerful than systems that are based on water. For this reason, it is typically more suitable for use in smaller areas, such as bathrooms. The vast majority of persons we spoke to who had electric underfloor heating had it put in just one room, the majority of the time in the bathroom (64 percent), followed by the kitchen (34 percent)*. This was the case for 65 percent of those respondents.
What are the steps involved in installing electric underfloor heating?
It is feasible to install electric underfloor heating by yourself; but, in order to connect it to your home’s power supply and install a thermostat, you will need the assistance of a licenced electrician. However, if you are not particularly comfortable with do-it-yourself projects, we advise that you hire a professional. In addition to preparing and insulating your floors and installing the wiring, they will also be able to offer advice on whether or not your rooms are suitable for electric heating and which type is the most effective. They will also be able to create a plan for where the wiring will be installed; for instance, the wires for the underfloor heating shouldn’t be installed underneath any permanent fixtures or fittings. Which? Trusted Traders is a resource that you can use to look for an underfloor heating installer in your region. We go to great lengths to investigate the histories of every single one of the merchants and businesses that we recommend so that you don’t have to.
The use of wires versus electric underfloor heating mats
There are primarily two varieties of underfloor heating:
Mats. With the help of these, a collection of wires are fastened to a mat at predetermined intervals. The mats can be trimmed to size, taking care not to cut through the wires themselves, and then set out on a surface that is both smooth and level. On top of this, the flooring will be installed. Mat-based systems can be easier to install, but because you have to work around the positioning of the wires, they might not be the best choice for rooms that are particularly tiny or have an irregular form. Loose wires. Because they can be arranged in any way that the customer desires, these are a great choice for use in spaces that have an unusual layout. If the cables are not evenly spaced, the heat will not be dispersed uniformly throughout the floor. However, you will need to confirm that this is the case.
Getting your floor ready, as well as laying down the wiring
Before you install electric underfloor heating in your home, it is essential that your floor be properly prepared and insulated in a manner that is tailored to your floor’s specific kind and its placement inside the house. After that, securing the wires should only require laying them out and taping them down. It is also possible to apply a self-leveling material (such as screed) to the top in order to keep the wires in place; however, whether or not this is required is contingent on how even the floor currently is and the type of flooring that will be installed on top of it. It is important to keep in mind that the kind of flooring that you install on top will also have an effect on the kind of wiring that you use, which will in turn affect the cost. Both the connection to your power supply and the installation of the thermostat will require the services of an experienced and trained electrician.
How much does it cost to get electric underfloor heating installed and how much does it cost to run it?
electric underfloor heating
Because it requires less disruption during installation, electric underfloor heating is typically more cost-effective than water underfloor heating. This is especially true when the system is being retrofitted. Check out our guide on the costs of installing underfloor heating to get an idea of what the usual expenses are for the various installation scenarios. This guide is based on research conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). However, the usual operating costs of such a system will be higher than those of either a water-based underfloor heating system or a standard central heating system. The operating expenses of underfloor heating systems will vary quite a bit due to the fact that they are affected by a variety of factors including:
Insulation for the home
The total square footage of the space that will be heated
How long the system is scheduled to run for Your chosen energy plan.
We estimate that the monthly electricity expenses associated with operating underfloor heating for four hours a day in a bathroom that is 2.5 square metres in size would be approximately £4-6, based on estimates provided by the manufacturers and Beama.
