Kitchen - Under Floor Heating??

[tvrforever]

This is the cost capture directly off the 3 different heating zones in our utility, kitchen & conservatory. You can tell very clearly when the outside temp has been higher or lower... The WarmUp 4Ie also take weather feed from internet and combine with internal air & underfloor temps to calculate when to power - in order to maintain 21degrees during their daily schedules.

Two things to factor in as well a) the reduction in radiator heating needed & used, and b) the "warm bare feet" effect on tiled floors...

[paralla]

I installed electric under-floor heating under engineered boards in our lounge room and kitchen when we renovated our house. 140Watt/m2 and we have 30sq/m in total so its 4200W split over two rooms with two controllers.

We NEVER use it. Total waste of time and effort. We also got a new boiler and radiators which I know are cheaper to run so we use that instead. Wood floors are not particularly cold like tiles can be.

As someone else said the only advantage I can think of is being able to say that we have it when it comes time to sell the flat, it sounds dead posh in the real estate brochure.

If you do decide to go with electric I'd recommend installing it yourself if you are even a little bit handy, it's not difficult at all. Just get a sparky in to connect it up after you have done the time consuming bit of laying the insulation boards and the matt.

[herewego]

paralla said:

I installed electric under-floor heating under engineered boards in our lounge room and kitchen when we renovated our house. 140Watt/m2 and we have 30sq/m in total so its 4200W split over two rooms with two controllers.

We NEVER use it. Total waste of time and effort. We also got a new boiler and radiators which I know are cheaper to run so we use that instead. Wood floors are not particularly cold like tiles can be.

As someone else said the only advantage I can think of is being able to say that we have it when it comes time to sell the flat, it sounds dead posh in the real estate brochure.

If you do decide to go with electric I'd recommend installing it yourself if you are even a little bit handy, it's not difficult at all. Just get a sparky in to connect it up after you have done the time consuming bit of laying the insulation boards and the matt.

I expect a lot of buyers would be distinctly unimpressed especially if it's the only heating system in the kitchen.
Electric underfloor was both introduced and dumped in the 60s for obvious reason.

[Pheo]

tvrforever said:

This is the cost capture directly off the 3 different heating zones in our utility, kitchen & conservatory. You can tell very clearly when the outside temp has been higher or lower... The WarmUp 4Ie also take weather feed from internet and combine with internal air & underfloor temps to calculate when to power - in order to maintain 21degrees during their daily schedules.

Two things to factor in as well a) the reduction in radiator heating needed & used, and b) the "warm bare feet" effect on tiled floors...

Is that the warmup capturing that data?

[paralla]

There's also a big new radiator in the kitchen. Central heating controlled by Tado, underfloor heating controlled by two wifi connected Heatmiser controllers with iPhone app.

My point was that it seems impressive at first but in practice it's a bit rubbish. I think the £1600 the whole setup cost is worth it for the one line in the sales brochure when I decide to sell the house. It cost nothing in the grand scheme of things.

[paralla]

There's also a big new radiator in the kitchen. Central heating controlled by Tado, underfloor heating controlled by two wifi connected Heatmiser controllers with iPhone app.

My point was that it seems impressive at first but in practice it's a bit rubbish. I think the £1600 the whole setup cost is worth it for the one line in the sales brochure when I decide to sell the house. It cost nothing in the grand scheme of things.

[oyster]

craig1912 said:

Wouldn't be without our underfloor heating in the kitchen. Ditched two radiators and used electric matting under tiles. Slight increase in height due to insulation but no big deal. Heats up quickly (use it in the morning and then evening) and superb in the winter. Had it nine years now and certainly don't notice it on the electric bill.

You must have a mammoth electric bill for other stuff then.

Our (admittedly large-ish sized) kitchen underfloor electrics run at about 3kW. Assume an average of 3-4 hours daily use over six months of the year and you're at more than 2,000 KwH. All the rest of our stuff only consumes 3,000 a year.

So ours is permanently switched off.

[craig1912]

oyster said:

You must have a mammoth electric bill for other stuff then.

Our (admittedly large-ish sized) kitchen underfloor electrics run at about 3kW. Assume an average of 3-4 hours daily use over six months of the year and you're at more than 2,000 KwH. All the rest of our stuff only consumes 3,000 a year.

So ours is permanently switched off.

Maybe we have just got used to the elec bill. We also have it in two bathrooms and a study- they are lower power and used just to warm the tiles as they all have radiators for primary heating. The Kitchen is on for two periods a day during the week and all day at weekends.

edit- just checked and we use approx 9000kwh per annum. Total energy bill per annum (gas and electricity) is £1500

Edited by craig1912 on Friday 7th August 14:32

[tvrforever]

Pheo said:

tvrforever said:

This is the cost capture directly off the 3 different heating zones in our utility, kitchen & conservatory. You can tell very clearly when the outside temp has been higher or lower... The WarmUp 4Ie also take weather feed from internet and combine with internal air & underfloor temps to calculate when to power - in order to maintain 21degrees during their daily schedules.

Two things to factor in as well a) the reduction in radiator heating needed & used, and b) the "warm bare feet" effect on tiled floors...

Is that the warmup capturing that data?

yes it is - the 4Ie devices connect to the my.warmup.com portal which presents the data (and manages devices), lots more promised as it's only days for these devices yet but seem to be working well...

[Gtom]

Have a look at polypipe overlay. I fitted it in a bathroom I have done recently and it works a treat.

[AW10]

Andehh said:

We are looking at installing low profile wet UFH total floor build up of approx 22mm, over an area of approx 22 sqm (so not under counter tops etc etc) and are looking at around £1600 for fully supply, then £400-500 ish for full connections & electrics side of it.

edit: Just to add, this is going into a 2007 new build house, so the floor will have some degree of insulation under the screed. How much insulation is in there though, i have no idea!

Edited by Andehh on Sunday 2nd August 15:25

Which product(s) are you looking at?

[NicD]

Just bought three 10sqm packs of Warmup sticky mat from Topps and was astounded to pay almost £450 EACH. They better be good!

[Andehh]

AW10 said:

Which product(s) are you looking at?

http://www.nu-heat.co.uk/products/retrofit-ufh.html

Can't comment on it as we are yet to have it installed, but it makes sense and seemed the closest solution to what we wanted - warm floors & providing the majority of the heat to the room. Our house is a new build though, so we will have some form of insulation within the floors already.

[russell_ram]

NicD said:

Just bought three 10sqm packs of Warmup sticky mat from Topps and was astounded to pay almost £450 EACH. They better be good!

Probably should've checked the internet first?

http://www.crowntiles.co.uk/warmup-pfm10-mat-150w....

I got mine from them, seems to work well and is easy fit, very thin etc as per product guide.

Edited by russell_ram on Monday 10th August 10:44