Electric Underfloor Heating - users' feedback wanted

woj101

The house we've just moved into only has electric heaters. We're renovating it bit by bit and don't have the budget or inclination to install central heating. We're considering underfloor electric heating in the first room we're doing so would like to hear what other people think about, particularly from those who have experience of it.

i) Which rooms can it be relied upon as the sole source of heat?

ii) Does a tiled flooring provide a more economical option than wood or laminate because the tiles would transmit but also store the heat better? If so, how much less effective is a hard wood option?

iii) Anyone got any particular recommendations of systems? Anyone used Warmfront?

Thank you.

Biofox

My house has underfloor heating in the bathroom and while I was unsure about it at first (family telling me it was super expensive etc) I love it now!

My house is generally chilly, old heating system that could do with some love, but the bathroom is the warmest part! Ours is a Danfoss underfloor heating system, with a DeviReg thermostat.

It is easy to use and has an anti frost function so even if it isnt due to come on the thermostat will kick in if the temperature drops too low. The thermostat works well, aparently by coming on before it is due to so you set the 'stat for the temp you want it to be at that time and it will begin to warm up in order to reach the correct temp at the set time.

A friend of mine also had underfloor heating on a tiled floor throughout his whole flat and it was amazing!

If I had the money I would remove my CH in a heartbeat and install underfloor heating throughout (although not really an option as I have carpets etc). The surface area of the floor means that the room feels warmer, rather than just having a small rad in the corner of the room at a blistering temp. Plus YOU feel warmer as a result because the heat travels up through your feet.

It hasn't seemed any more expensive however don't really have a point of reference as my prev house was too different from my current house to compare!

The_Blue_Hatter

I have Heatmat in my house and its FANTASTIC! Its slightly more expensive than some other brands but the guarantees etc are superb.

Energyman2020

If you have the choice stay with wet radiators rather than UFH - it sounds great , but the response time is slower, notably when the outside temperature rises very quickly or slowly.

woj101

We don't have wet radiators. We have electrically-heated hot water for bath, shower, sinks but no water-based radiators and hence no pipework for them either. Installing any water-based heating system will be a lot of aggro and £££'s.

It's reassuring that people say they like it, but what I'd really like to know on top of that is whether it's crazy to go with with electric underfloor heating with a wooden floor instead of tiles - I would prefer a wooden floor but logic tells me heat transmission, but also retention, is likely to be better with tiles. Will it be significantly so?

Thanks all for your input.

fluffpot

Different systems are designed for different surfaces - so you just need to install the right one. Your furniture must sit off the floor though (no bean bags!) or the floor can overheat

Biofox

Like fluffpot said, you can get different UFH systems for different floor types. You can even get them for under carpet, although Im not sure how efficient these would be!

I would clarify on what fluffpot said about the furniture being off the floor- on legs or feet rather than the (good) beanbag example. Most sofa's are supplied with feet, very few are flush to the floor although some folk do use a mattress on the floor as a bed without the bed frame, so this would be a no no.