For better results, the underfloor heating settings should be adjusted to maintain a floor temperature typically between 21°C and 25°C depending on personal comfort levels and the specific requirements of the space.
The most efficient way to run underfloor heating involves maintaining a consistent temperature tailored to time-of-day needs. In the morning, setting your thermostat to around 21 degrees Celsius provides a warm start to the day.
Running your system from 9am to 11 pm will def cost you more. Besides the obvious ie house size, desired temp, insulation, glazing etc. etc. that influence the heating costs, the amount of time you run the system will have a significant impact on costs.
You can rest assured that leaving an underfloor heating system on all day long without causing any unwanted problems or damage to the system.
80 to 85 degrees will provide enough heat to warm your entire home, without causing damage to your floors or furniture.
The best way is to run your heating system continuously through the winter months, using the thermostats in the room to maintain the temperature. This might sound illogical and seem like you would use more energy, but this will actually use less energy than switching the system on and off!
What is the most efficient setting for underfloor heating? The most efficient setting for underfloor heating is typically between 18°C and 22°C (64°F and 72°F).
Electric underfloor heating systems can reach higher temperatures than hydronic (wet) systems but for both types of systems, a thermostat setting of between 21°C and 25°C is usually ideal. To achieve these temperatures, the actual heat output from the underfloor heating system will be approximately twice that number.
It is a good idea to leave underfloor heating switched on constantly during the colder winter months in particular. By leaving the underfloor heating system turned on, better levels of efficiency and faster warm up times will result. Basically, your home will heat up to a comfortable temperature faster.
It's generally not necessary to turn off underfloor heating at night if you have a programmable thermostat. Lowering the temperature during inactivity or sleep can save energy.
The key is to keep the underfloor heating on but operating at a lower temperature during the night and other times throughout the day when it is not needed. Leave it on low even if you are leaving the house to go to work or out for the day.
Yes, underfloor heating has a few disadvantages, such as higher installation costs, longer warm-up time compared to radiators, and potential restrictions on furniture placement.
Set your thermostat to use the floor sensor and set it on manual mode. Set the temperature to 25°C and wait for the floor to heat up. After a couple of hours go back to the room and feel whether it is comfortable for you or not. If it's too hot, turn it down, or if it's too cold, turn it up.
Basically, your home will heat up to a comfortable temperature faster. So, whilst it won't necessarily be cheaper to leave your underfloor heating on for a sustained period initially, it could lead to long-term savings.
Benefits of Turning Off Underfloor Heating in the Summer
Moreover, operating your UFH system continuously during the summer may incur higher maintenance costs and strain the system, reducing its lifespan.
Get your system serviced. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensuring the efficiency of your underfloor heating system. A well-maintained system operates optimally, using less energy to provide the same level of comfort. Schedule professional servicing at least once a year to clean, inspect, and balance your system.
Correctly setting up your underfloor heating temperatures
The best idea to maximise the results of your heating system is to have 2 “ON” times with a comfort temperature and 2 “OFF” times with setback temperatures which is normally 4°c lower than your comfort temperature.
The ideal flow rate for an underfloor heating system typically ranges between 2 to 3 liters per minute (l/min) per circuit. However, the specific flow rate can vary based on the size of the room, the type of underfloor heating system installed, and the heat output required.
Generally, it's useful to have your heating come on around half an hour before you get up in the morning. Then, have turn it off again around half an hour before you go to bed. If you're planning on being out of the house, you can turn the heating off while nobody's in.
The floor temperature can reach 75 - 97ºF (24 - 36ºC) depending on the type of sub-floor and floor covering, but the normal comfortable range is 77 - 84ºF (25 - 29ºC).
The pump speed should be set to speed 3. The mixing valve is normally set to 45°c for concrete floors and 55°c for timber suspended floors. If for some reason the rooms aren't heating up, the flow temperature on the mixing valve can be increased.
During the warmer months the system is completely off because the rooms are warm enough even if the floor feels a little cold under bare feet. In the colder months I usually set the rooms to about 19 to 20 degrees when they are occupied and set them to 14 degrees when they are not.
You can rest assured that leaving an underfloor heating system on all day long without causing any unwanted problems or damage to the system. In fact, when the weather is especially cold, it could even be a good idea to leave the system switched on.
Underfloor heating covers a greater surface area and can therefore run at lower temperatures – between 35-55°C rather than 75°C. The demand underfloor heating places on energy sources is therefore significantly less, making them ideal for use with heat pumps.
It can take a while to get used to the difference, so don't worry if things feel a little strange at first. As a general rule of thumb, your heated floor shouldn't feel hot - it should just not feel cold.