Underfloor Heating

Joto_2

Hi
We are considering underfloor heating in the kitchen and utility room, has anyone any suggestions or views
I have a couple of questions in particular regarding how costly it is to run, is it as easy to install as it looks ( were looking at the mat type that you lay onto the floor and then tile ontop)and will it heat the room as efficiently as a plinth heater, which is my other option.
The underfloor heating we are looking at is electric and the plinth heater can be installed with the central heating or just electric. Can anyone advise?

Stylust

We have just installed WarmUp UFH in our kitchen, under slate tiles, it's brilliant, feels great, I can't go in without taking my socks off!

Very easy to install, seal the sub floor, stick the wire down & tile over, leave for a week!

The electrical side is no more difficult than adding a fused spur socket, but get a sparks to check it.

Not sure on the running costs, it's so good we're going to have it and a stone floor in the bathroom after xmas.

Good luck

vansboy

Wish someone had told us how cold our tiled kitchen floor would be - we'd have done it!!

There's even a demonstration tile on the counter in Wickes - didn't see it till AFTER we'd done the (nasty, still think of the cuts to my hands from the tile adhesive) job

VB

JayneH_3

We had electric underfloor heating put under travertine flooring in a kitchen and conservertory type extension. It's absolutely wonderful. Can't tell you about running costs, because we've only been running it for two weeks. However, we didnt put it in the utility room, and the tiles are toe curlingly cold - enough to give you cramp! We used Travis and Perkins, although they sub contracted to another company - and they fitted and supplied.

totalguitar

I fitted a Devimat system to my bathroom last year. Easy enough to fit if your DIY skills are upto it. I also bought the intelligent control system, monitors external temperatures etc, well worth the extra. If your sensible, i.e dont run it 24/7 then it won't cost alot to run. Mine is timed for 6am - 9am then 8pm - 11pm, more at weekends. Pointless having it on when it won't be used.

Joto_2

Hi Everyone, thanks for the feedback. It sounds great, do you find it heats the room sufficiently or will we need a radiator/plinth heater as well?

JayneH_3

It is the only heating source in our kitchen, and it is plenty sufficient. Our kitchen is fairly large, so I would be surprised if you need additional heating. There are two types of electrical matting, one is for rooms within the house - and one is suitable for conservatories where there is obviously less insulation. Ours is the former.

gromituk

Underfloor heating has a long warm-up time - you'll have to switch it on a long time before the room warms up to a usable temperature, and you're likely to waste a lot of energy if the house isn't occupied all day.

Those who have only just installed it might get a nasty shock when they get their electricity bills - not only are you heating with the most expensive form of energy, but you are unable to take advantage of Economy 7, unlike with a storage heater.

BenL

There are the devimat sets on e-bay.

I saw one a few mins ago whilst scouting out for kitchens.

Ben

Lady_E

gromituk wrote:

Underfloor heating has a long warm-up time - you'll have to switch it on a long time before the room warms up to a usable temperature, and you're likely to waste a lot of energy if the house isn't occupied all day.

Those who have only just installed it might get a nasty shock when they get their electricity bills - not only are you heating with the most expensive form of energy, but you are unable to take advantage of Economy 7, unlike with a storage heater.

Have to take issue with the above comments . In my experience the warm up times depends on the sub floor i.e if it is a solid concrete floor , it can take some time to heat up , however this also retains the heat. If you have a concrete floor you should install an insulation board on top of the concrete, then you could expect heat up times to be approx 30 mins or so. An average estimate on electricity use is 1/2p per sq metre per hour . My brother is an electrician and does this type of installation on a regular basis and swears by Warm Up . hth x :xmastree:

gromituk

I don't understand why you say you are taking exception to my comment about warm-up time when you are then endorsing it!

I agree that heat retention is a consequence of warm-up time - it has to be. This confirms my assertion that these systems are not a very good idea if the house isn't occupied a lot of the time. Concrete is not the only material responsible for this - the tiles are, too, and as far as I can tell, tiles are a given in the installations we are discussing here.

A consequence of installing insulation is that you will raise the floor level - how much depends on the effectiveness of the insulation. I'm all for insulation as it conserves energy, but it has consequences.

Half an hour is still a long warm-up time: my radiators are hot 10 minutes after the boiler starts.

The cost figure you give means nothing. You are trying to warm the room, not the floor. You will need the same power being pumped into the room from whatever means of heating you have. If you get this power from gas (radiators) or off-peak electricity (storage heaters), it's going to cost you a lot less than from peak-rate electricity.

Of course your brother swears by them - that's how he makes his living