What Are The Costs Of Running Under Floor Heating?

If you are looking for a better alternative way to heat your home, then underfloor heating might be the option for you. An increasing number of people are turning to underfloor heating as a potentially viable option for heating throughout the home, and with good reason - the results can be miraculous. Of course, as with any heating, you are going to want to do your research beforehand, and one of the most important concerns is what sorts of costs you can expect to run with underfloor heating. Let’s take a look at this question in some detail now.

Does Underfloor Heating Use A Lot Of Electricity?

One of the most common and popular types of underfloor heating is that which uses electricity. Generally this type relies upon a system of wires that are placed under the floor of the room to be heated, or with large heating mats throughout the room. But the important question for our concerns here is: does underfloor heating use a lot of electricity? As it happens, it is actually a very efficient form of heating, and you will find that the effect on the electricity is noticeable, but not extreme. Overall it is a good way to heat your home, especially compared with many traditional methods.

Is It Cheaper To Leave Underfloor Heating On All The Time?

As a general rule, it is going to be more efficient if you do leave your underfloor heating on all the time, especially during the winter months when it is colder. By leaving the system turned on at all times, you will have a more efficient service and it will heat up quicker every time you need it to. You will also find your home gets up to a comfortable temperature faster. You will probably find too that leaving it on all the time leads to savings in the long term, whilst not necessarily straight away.

What Is The Most Economical Way To Run Underfloor Heating?

However you are approaching this whole issue, above all you want to make sure that you are running your underfloor heating in the most economical way possible, which basically means that it is being run efficiently. There are a number of things you can focus on to make sure that you are doing this. One of the most important things is to make sure that your home is well insulated. You need to keep that heat in as effectively as possible, so this is hugely important.

Beyond that, you should:

• Keep on top of the underfloor heating controls. Be careful and sensible about what timings you choose for the heating to go on and off. Consider using a smart thermostat, which you can often get as an app on your phone.
• Choose an economic temperature. In general, this will mean a home that is kept at around 21C. Perhaps you will want bedrooms to be slightly cooler, at around 18C. If you just turn the thermostat down slightly from what you might be used to, you can run it much more efficiently and save yourself a lot of money over the year.
• Don’t keep it on if you are away for a long period of time.

As long as you bear these things in mind, you should find that the cost of running your underfloor heating is much reduced, and it is much more efficient for you.

Is Electric Underfloor Heating Better Than Gas?

There are two major types of underfloor heating: gas and electric. With a gas system, a series of underfloor pipes distribute heat around the home by carrying hot water around which has been heated by gas. This works in a very similar way to the central heating that most people are used to. In an electric system, electric wires fitted beneath the floor provide heat directly. Electric underfloor heating is generally easier and simpler to fit, but what about costs?

Water is generally cheaper to heat via gas than electricity, so that should be taken into consideration. However, for homes not connected to a mains gas supply, the electric option could turn out to be more economical. As you can see, it really depends on the situation.

As long as you bear these things in mind, you should be able to make the right decisions when you are thinking about getting underfloor heating installed. The most important thing of all is that you come to the experts, who are going to be able to help you get everything up and running in no time and without any fuss.