Carbon Film Underfloor Heating - Running Cost?

mifengmi

Hi all, The house I just bought doesn't have gas fired central heating system, and I think this is a good excuse to install UFH system. After doing some research, I find Carbon Film is cheaper/easier to install compare to other forms of UFH. However, I couldn't find any user reviews on how efficent they are, e.g. how long does it take to actually warm the floor up? How much does it cost to run the system? Is the house warm enough with only such UFH, or should normal gas fired central heating also be installed? Would you recommend Carbon Film to others?
I just wonder if anyone here who have Carbon film UFH installed can share their experiences? Many thanks!

Mankysteve

Do you have access to gas supply?

All electrically heating systems are near enough 100% efficient its just different types give out there heat in different ways a 1000 watt panel heater will give out the same amount of heat as 1000w underfloor heating system for the same cost(economy seven neglected) dont believe any marketing spiel to otherwise.

Whats your current flooring substrate? To make full use of under flooring heat you need a good few inches of insulation on the ground floor. What you can do with electric underfloor heating is use it like a storage heater warm the floor up at night on cheap rate eleci but you'll need a fare bit of thermal mass for that.

Personally i would look at heat pump of some description would be less costly to run than any kind of electric heating.

mifengmi

Thank you very much for your advices, Mankysteve!
I do have access to gas supply, but to buy a new combi boiler plus 10 radiators and to pay plumber to install them will cost a lot of money. So I thought I could use that money on Carbon film UFH, where I can diy and save the labour cost.
However I'm really concerned that the running cost would be too high compared to gas central heating. I couldn't find any data on running cost from those UFH websites. :-(
My ground floor is concrete, and first floor is with wooden floor boards. I think I need thicker underlay/insulation for ground floor.
As you mentioned heat pump, do you know the initial installation cost associated with it? And should it be used with UF water pipes? How much cheaper to run compare with carbon film UFH? - Sorry, I think some of my questions are impossible to be answered, but still think it's worth asking, just in case. :-)

Mankysteve

A combi boiler will be the cheapest in long term costs.

Gas is 3-4pish a kilowatt hour of heat at around 70-80% efficiency so you loose some heat though your flu.
Electric is 11-14 a kilowatt with around 100% efficiency

You can can get cheaper elci rates with economy seven but you'll need some way to store that heat which would be easy downstairs with a concrete slab but upstairs would be difficult.

On the bottom floor for maximum efficiency you'll need a thick layer of insulation would would require lifting the current floor boards to install.

There are two types of heat pump ground and air source. Ground source are more expensive to install you need to dig down a meterish to install piping/ have bore dug. They are usually connected to a hot water tank for conventional central heating.

Air to air source heat pumps are much easier to install they are pretty much exactly the same as air-conditioning units very simple drill hole though wall pass pipe though, but you do end up with a unit outside and inside.

There is also air to water heat pumps that can output there heat to a hot water tank.

The effiancy of heat pumps is in the 3COP area so for every unit of electric used they provide 3 units of heat so gives you a costing of around 4-6p a kilowatt of heat produced. The advantage of ground source over heat source is that as outside temp drops the COP drops ground source don't suffer from this effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_heating#Electric_systems
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump

There is the possibility of the government introducing a renewable heat Incentive similar to the current FIts scheme for renewable heat source that pumps may be able to apply for but I wouldn't bet on it.

Get as many people opinions regarding heat sources speak to couple of proper heating engineers My advice just comes from someone with some rough knowledge. Just don't listen to anyone who claims one form electrical heating more efficient than other there lieing to you all electrical heating sources are 100% efficient there about it just different methods of heat output.

Homersimpson

Bear in mind that co-efficent of performance (COP) of a heatpump gets worse as it gets colder outside so they arn't as good as the manufacturers claim. You need to factor this into any lifecycle costing.

With underfloor heating, the one disadvantage is that the response times are much slower than conventional radiators. When we put these systems into commercial buildings you have to start the heating earlier and switch it off earlier than for conventional radiators. This is fine when you have optimisation and weather compensation on your controls but might be a bit of a pain in a house where it might be -5 out side today and 2 outside next monday but the times on the heating system remain unchanged.

hotpot1000

a relative of mine did a new build with underfloor cabling for heat, not sure what's the name, there is like a reflective/thermal backing to hold the heat and direct it upwards.
The house is sooooo hot, heating has to come on a couple of hours before you want it but they switch off early evening and have enough warmth.
even if heating is only on in the morning, by the time the lounge is used in the afternoon, as the door is opened you can feel the heat.
Its very economical too, dunno how much. you wouldnt need other heating with it.

our dogs dont really like it as its too warm on the carpet,