Best (cost efficient) way to use electric ufh?

aliasojo

We have electric under floor heating in our bathroom and have had mixed advice on the most cost efficient way to use it.

Options seem to be:

a) switch off totally when not being used (during the night or if out all day)

b) leave on but reduce heat to a lower temp during the night etc so the heating mat has a head start and never has to heat from cold

c) leave on an average temp the clock round so there will be no peaks and troughs and energy only required to maintain heat rather than increase heat

I'm not convinced the first option is worth considering simply because this type of heating isn't instant and it takes time to heat up. It will also need to run at full power for longer until it gets to the required temp so I cant see that being particularly efficient?

aylesby

I will be watching the replies to this thread with interest. We have electric under floor heating as the only heat source in our big kitchen which is fully tiled.
I wait until the thermostat hits 16 for the first time in winter then I set it permanently at 18 for the rest of winter. I tried programming four sections of the day but the floor took so long to warm up I am not sure it ever worked the way I hoped.
Overall we are pleased with the UFH because we thought the radiators took up too much wall space in the last kitchen.

House_Hunter

Very interesting question - also would love to know the answer!!

Has anyone calculated roughly how much their electric UFH systems cost them to run?

Considering using them in new planned kitchen and bathroom...

hebridean

If you have the time you could trawl through the posts in the underfloor heating section on the ebuild forum, where i'm sure you will find your answer.