Electric underfloor heating insufficient for new extension

melb

hi there we have just had a 25 sq metre extension done at the back of the house with engineered wood flooring and Ambient electric underfloor heating.

We didn't have a central heating radiator put in there as our boiler struggles with the ones we have already.

It is really a garden room/second sitting room but it just isn't warm enough in my opinion.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether ufh alone should be sufficient? The electrician who connected it said that we could have managed with putting the matting on only half the flooring so I am wondering if the ufh itself is faulty.

We have it under tiles in the kitchen (a different manufacturer) and the tiles feel quite warm when the stat is reading 18 degrees but the wooden flooring in the extension is only at best aired when the stat is showing 24 degrees.

Assuming the ufh is working ok I'm considering getting some sort of electric heater but want something sleek so it doesn't ruin the look of the room if anyone has any recommendations of websites I can look at.

ComicGeek

The Ambient heating mats have a 140 W/m2 heat output so should be sufficient for most spaces. Is it a proper extension with insulated walls and roof, or a glazed conservatory?

Did someone undertake heat loss calculations for the extensions to determine whether 140 W/m2 was sufficient?

If they did, and 140 W/m2 was sufficient, then did they install the insulation mats beneath?

Failing that it's probably something faulty with it - it's easily damaged during installation of the mats or flooring above.

fezster

It's unlikely to be damaged if it is functioning - damage would normally occur due to a breakage in the wire and result in an error on the thermostat with no heat at all.

Was the system laid down as a mat or as a loose wire? If mat, how many W/m2 was it and what was the heat loss of the room calculated at? If loose wire, the spacing will determine the wattage per sqm.

Wood flooring is less thermally conductive than tiles so there will be less transfer of heat than in your kitchen. You are also limited to the max temp by the type of flooring.

abssorb

melb wrote: »

We have it under tiles in the kitchen (a different manufacturer) and the tiles feel quite warm when the stat is reading 18 degrees but the wooden flooring in the extension is only at best aired when the stat is showing 24 degrees.

Some underfloor heating systems use a surface temperature reading on the thermostat, not room temperature. This is because the temperature sensor is buried in the floor.
Imagine your boiler powered radiators, their surface temp will probably be 50DegC to achieve a room temp of 18DegC.

The last electric underfloor system we had (in a conservatory) needed to be set at 35DegC to give a room temp of 18degC.

Maybe something to check? But we were also advised that UFH was background heating and couldn't heat the room on its own.

melb

hanks for all the replies. I will try and find out answers to your questions and respond tomorrow

crazyvish

melb wrote: »

hi there we have just had a 25 sq metre extension done at the back of the house with engineered wood flooring and Ambient electric underfloor heating.

We didn't have a central heating radiator put in there as our boiler struggles with the ones we have already.

It is really a garden room/second sitting room but it just isn't warm enough in my opinion.

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether ufh alone should be sufficient? The electrician who connected it said that we could have managed with putting the matting on only half the flooring so I am wondering if the ufh itself is faulty.

We have it under tiles in the kitchen (a different manufacturer) and the tiles feel quite warm when the stat is reading 18 degrees but the wooden flooring in the extension is only at best aired when the stat is showing 24 degrees.

Assuming the ufh is working ok I'm considering getting some sort of electric heater but want something sleek so it doesn't ruin the look of the room if anyone has any recommendations of websites I can look at.

I am looking to install underfloor heating in my living under engineered wood and stumbled across your thread. Do you have any update on this?

My research shows that electric foil mats are best for wood, not the mesh ones - which one did you use? Also, how thick are the planks? Ideal thickness to get the best use of electric heating is to keep it under 15mm. How thick is yours?