Tips on Maximising the Energy Efficiency of Electric Underfloor Heating Systems

Underfloor heating has become an extensively popular choice among modern homes to combine comfort with energy efficiency. Among various heating systems, electric underfloor heating always stands out for its easy installation and maintenance.

How underfloor heating works? 

Talking about its functioning, it consists of mats or a web of electric cables that are installed under the floor surface. When these cables get energised they produce heat, which in turn warms the room and the floor covering. Therefore, this method has proved to be effective because it not only eliminates cold spots by distributing the heat in an even manner, but also reduces the need for other heating sources.

In addition to this, if you are thinking of repairing or replacing underfloor heating systems, then hiring an expert for this purpose will probably be the best choice, as this can be done via Urban Gaffa - which is a distinguished platform where you will be connected with vetted and local underfloor heating specialists. Moreover, they can also give you some advice for lowering your utility bills by enhancing the energy-efficiency of these heating systems.

In this blog, we’ll discuss some tips advised by professionals for lowering your utility bills by enhancing the energy-efficiency of these heating systems to the next level through using insulation, and thermostats.

Proper Insulation: 

• Insulation is the foundation of any underfloor heating system. The right insulation and perfect floor build up can enhance the 50% of the efficiency by ensuring that the heat produced by your underfloor heating is heating the floor. 

• Another thing you need to ensure that the floors in your home are well-insulated, as this will help in preventing heat loss, and ensure that maximum of the produced heat should stay inside the room. 

• In addition to this, insulated flooring provides faster comfort by heating up much quicker, and reducing the time. This will lower the cost savings and energy consumption. Therefore, it is very important to invest in high-quality insulation.

Zonal Heating: Zoning is one of the greatest advantages of an underfloor heating system. It divides your entire home into different heating zones, and targets only those areas which require the most heat such as living rooms or bedrooms that are each controlled by their own thermostat. For example, you can install programmable thermostats that allow you to set different temperatures for different areas, thus reducing the significant amount of energy waste.

Optimising the Settings of Your Thermostat: A thermostat allows you to control the temperature of the room and the floor, and ensures that the heating system should operate only when needed. For example, you can use smart thermostats and set the lower temperature to allow it to work automatically and efficiently rather than frequently adjusting it repetitively. This will help in optimising energy.

Schedule Heating Times: You can efficiently preheat your home rather than raising the temperature of the heat and overloading the system suddenly when you arrive at home. Therefore, you can schedule your heating system to start heating slightly at lower temperature before you arrive. This will make your home warm when you need it.

Maintain Your System Regularly: 

• It is very crucial to notice any system issues while maintaining your underfloor heating system as it can prevent the occurrence of small issues from becoming major ones in the future. Therefore, it is paramount that all components of the heating system and the thermostat should function accurately.

• It is necessary to ensure that your heating system should not be overloaded by heavy carpets, and too much furniture, as it can block the distribution of heat.

Combining Heating System with Renewable Energy Sources: If it is possible for the electricians, then ask them to integrate your electric underfloor heating system with solar panels. Because the electricity produced via solar power will neutralise the energy being used by the heating system, which helps in reducing your utility bills, thus making your home more sustainable.

Prefer Floor Covering: 

• For covering the floor always consider Energy-efficient Flooring Materials which have higher thermal conductivity such as tile and stone. These floor coverings are more effective while transferring the heat much faster from the heating system to the floor surface.

• Alternatively, you can also use thin rugs and carpets which have a low thermal resistance instead of using thick carpets that can reduce the system efficiency. Hence, always remember the flooring material type you are using with the underfloor heating system will surely impact its efficiency. 

Monitoring the Energy Utilisation: It is necessary to monitor regularly how much power your heating system is using on a daily basis. For example, you can track the consumption of the energy by installing smart thermostats and helping you to make informed adjustments.

Therefore, by implementing these above-mentioned tips, you can ensure that your electric underfloor heating system operates to provide a comfortable and warm home while keeping the energy costs under full-control. Remember, the key to maximising efficiency lies in careful planning, using smart technologies with its regular maintenance.

In addition, we always suggest you to hire an electrician from Urban Gaffa providing expert underfloor heating services such as installing the heating system as they will benefit you in giving you advice about the best and affordable brands of heating systems which enhances energy-efficiency by reducing your home utility bills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q: What does electric underfloor heating cost?

A: The installation cost of an electric underfloor heating system can range anywhere between £60–£90 per m2. The average price for a 10 m2 area is approximately around £800. Nonetheless, its cost can vary based upon the type of heating system installed and its complexity.

Q: Which electric underfloor heating is best?

A: Out of all other brands, two types - TrueHeat and eZheat, are the most reliable and affordable ones in the market. These brands offer electric underfloor heating kits designed for an easy installation, including a  heating mat, thermostat, and installation manual

Q: Which underfloor heating is best for tiles?

A: DCM-PRO system is a latest innovative electric underfloor heating system that protects floor tiles from cracking. The DCM-PRO consists of a decoupling membrane including a heating cable that makes the electric underfloor heating installation much easier and quicker.

Q: Who repairs and installs underfloor heating system?

A: The underfloor heating systems are installed or repaired by several professionals, such as heating engineers, plumbers, or electricians.