New Build Heating System

benichembla

I agree with Mutter, Underfloor Heating is the only way to go. We installed Underfloor Heating in our Villa in Spain, we have never looked back.
As to the system I have mixed views, on the face of it for a new build most would say a Wet system, powered by Gas or Oil and I would have agreed 100% at one time, but recently I have seen a system using Electric, I have changed my views.
Firstly I was put off by the Electric Underfloor Heating is more expensive to run by about 25% over say a Gas wet system, not sure about Oil with the Prices up and down.
Untill I did some figures, with the Electric system costing less than a 1/3 the price of a Wet system, I started to think! With the difference being so much,
A typical wet @ say £8.000 inc Boiler and fitting against a Electric being about £2,500, that's a masive £5,500 difference, that will pay for alot of 25% differences in fuel every year, Just the interest alone would cover most of it "Untill Gordon Brown reduces rates to Zero:mad: ". I worked out it would take over 20 years to breakeven.
All that is without taking into account servising costs for the boiler and possible replacement every 8 to 10years. To me it seem's a simple choice.
And on top of that, from Spring to Autum when you shut down your heating, with the Electric Underfloor Heating you still have the option of leaving the bathroom area on so you always have warm tiles.

:money:

edgex

Insulation:
put in as much as possible, roof, walls, floor, windows & doors
minimum of 270mm in the roofspace
the better the insulation, the less you need the heating on, & the lower the temperature you can use for the heating

Heating:
underfloor heating is one of the most efficient ways of heating an area, as heat rises from the floor. It is also not all concentrated in one area of a room.
ground source heat pumps are more efficient than the air version, however you do need to dig trenches for the pipes, & have a large enough ground area to cover.
Worcester Bosch do both types http://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/homeowner/products

Personally I wouldnt use electric underfloor heating, as its not the most efficient way to heat an area, & you would be always be stuck with any electricity price rises.


Overall, the thing to do is reduce the amount of heat required, & the period of time required, & then see how much of that requirement you can produce for yourself.

paceinternet

benichembla said "Electric Underfloor Heating is more expensive to run by about 10% over say a Gas wet system".
Can you show us some figures to support this.
Most people would say electricity as the source fuel is at least 2 times the cost of gas in the UK.
Oil has moved back to be much closer to gas.