The benefits of electric underfloor heating

Electric floor heating consists of two main elements: a heating element, which can be a thin mat or a cable; and a thermostat with temperature sensors. Electric heating mats or cables can be installed under any floor type, and are suitable for new builds, retro fits or renovations. It can be an energy-efficient heating option, especially when it uses energy generated by photovoltaic cells, or solar panels. And that’s just one way that electric underfloor heating can maximize energy efficiency. ​

Room- or zone-based heating control  ​
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With electric underfloor heating, users can regulate the temperature in each room independently. When no one’s using a room or zone, they can switch off heating to that specific room, which saves money, prevents wasted energy and ensures the highest level of efficiency.

Integrated timer function

The thermostats feature an integrated timer function, which means users can switch to “low-cost electricity” mode, so they only use heating when electricity costs are low. The thermostats also react to additional heat sources, such as the sun, so they can automatically adjust the room temperature to external conditions. 

The most comfort with the least energy  ​

The combination of the heat distribution from the floor and the precise temperature control with the thermostat mean users can reduce a room’s temperature by 1-2° Celsius when compared to traditional radiator heating, without reducing the room’s comfort level. For a multi-tenant building, this would amount to a 20% reduction in total energy loss. ​
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Electric underfloor heating also gives the highest possible heat efficiency, as it converts 99% of the energy the system consumes into heat. 

Beyond the energy efficiency related benefits, electric underfloor heating offers additional advantages for single- and multi-tenant building owners. For example, builders can use lighter floor construction with electric underfloor heating. While water-based floor heating typically requires a 60-100 mm concrete layer on top of the tubes, electric heating mats are from 2.5 - 4.5 mm thick and can be placed just underneath the floor covering. ​

Since electric underfloor heating only requires two elements, the heating element and the control unit, the installation process is quicker and less complex than with other heating solutions. From a resident’s perspective, an invisible, no-noise heating system gives increased flexibility in terms of saving space (no need to plan around bulky radiators) and interior design. And electric underfloor heating gives a greater peace of mind because there’s no possibility of frost, leakage and related floor damage.   ​

The heating mat’s thickness also means it can be installed in a house renovation without destroying the existing floor. And the relatively low-level of floor thickness makes electric underfloor heating an ideal solution for multi-story buildings, where low building height is an advantage, and the size of the horizontal division makes a difference.​