Electric Underfloor Heating – Facts and Myths
Electric underfloor heating can serve as the sole source of heat, but it is more commonly used as a supplementary heating system to warm floors in selected areas. Unfortunately, many misconceptions discourage investors from installing it.
Electric Underfloor Heating
When installing electric underfloor heating, the cable spacing can be adjusted according to the demand – denser under windows and sparser in the central part of the house.
Modern heating devices generate low-parameter heat, making surface heating the best fit for systems they power. The most popular form of this is underfloor heating.
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How Electric Underfloor Heating Works
Electric underfloor heating is a type of surface heating. It can be the sole heat source but is often used as a comfortable addition to another heating system with wall radiators, to heat floors in selected areas. When the heated floor is the only heat source in a room, it’s advisable to ensure the heating elements heat the screed, which acts as a thermal mass to stabilize temperature. In residential rooms with standard heights of 2.5–2.8 meters, a unit power of 80-100 W/m² is recommended, while in bathrooms, due to the need for higher temperatures, 100-120 W/m² is suggested.
It is also possible to create storage heating, which heats the floor during lower energy tariff periods (in dual-rate systems) to a degree that additional heating is not required at other times. In this case, the thermal mass needs to be larger, so the screed thickness should be increased to 10–14 cm, and a power of 160–200 W/m² is needed for adequate heating. Heating elements can also be placed directly on the underlay layer beneath the flooring, quickly warming it. This solution is better where only a warm floor effect is desired, with radiators maintaining the room temperature. In such cases, the power of the electric underfloor heating can be 60-80 W/m². However, if it is to operate periodically, such as only when using the bathroom, higher power elements – 160-200 W/m² – are better, providing shorter heating times. For wooden floors or floor panels, the power should not exceed 60 W/m².
Where to Use Electric Underfloor Heating
Electric underfloor heating is a modern way to enhance the comfort of rooms for all family members. It is most commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways – all areas with naturally cold flooring that, when not heated, causes rapid heat loss from bare feet. In children’s rooms, to ensure comfort for the youngest, additional heating is recommended for wooden and carpeted floors.
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Myth: Electric Underfloor Heating is Expensive
In practice, electric underfloor heating can be easily controlled, allowing precise temperature changes throughout the day for each room independently. This means the heating operates only during programmed times (e.g., in the morning and evening when using the bathroom) and is inactive most of the day. Electric underfloor heating consumes only the energy needed to maintain the set temperature, resulting in electricity bills that are only slightly higher than average.
Installation of Electric Underfloor Heating
There are no maintenance costs associated with annual inspections of electric underfloor heating installations, and the reliability of electric heating cables (with reputable manufacturers offering full warranties of up to 20 years) further reduces operating costs. By using modern underfloor heating systems based on self-regulating cables and proper subfloor insulation, users can save an additional 20% of energy compared to traditional systems.