Running Costs

Many people assume that running a whole-house electrical heating system will be costlier than their gas boiler system, simply because gas is currently cheaper than electricity.  This, however, is just not the case...

Annual cost of using a Warmup® Underfloor Heating System as sole-source heating in different rooms in your home

With proper insulation and use of zoning, a house fitted with Warmup® Underfloor Heating is surprisingly  affordable to run. 

 

*Assumptions: 0.10€/kWh - system on for 30 days.  System installed on 10mm Warmup® Insulation Board.  **Average running cost after initial heat-up period.

How much will it cost to heat my room?

Running costs will always depend on the room size and the running time, as well as how well the room is insulated.  To get an accurate idea of typical running costs, see the table and notes below:

 

Daily cost (in euros) of running a
Warmup® Heating System as sole-source heating:


Heated area in square metres

Hours	2m2	4m2	5m2	10m2	15m2	25m2
1	0.02	0.04	0.05	0.11	0.16	0.27
2	0.04	0.08	0.10	0.20	0.30	0.50
3	0.05	0.11	0.14	0.28	0.43	0.72
4	0.07	0.14	0.18	0.37	0.55	0.93
5	0.09	0.18	0.23	0.46	0.69	1.15
6	0.11	0.22	0.27	0.55	0.82	1.37
7	0.12	0.25	0.31	0.63	0.95	1.59
8	0.14	0.28	0.36	0.72	1.08	1.80

 

Save money by insulating properly and reducing heat-up times:

During the heat-up period, as the floor reaches its set temperature, the heater is running at full power.  After this period, the heater needs to run at only half-power to maintain the set temperature.  Simply put, the faster the floor heats-up, the cheaper the system is to run.

By properly insulating your floor with Warmup® Insulation Board, you can reduce the heat-up period significantly thereby reducing running costs by as much as 50%.

 

Accuracy of running costs:

Warmup tested its heaters, running under normal oper ating conditions, in a special room built to EN442-2 specifications.  The data collected from this extensive testing allows to state with certainty, exactly what our operating costs are.
Please note that these tests were performed using Warmup® heaters and that this data is accurate for Warmup® heaters only.

 

Assumptions and variables:
To calculate accurate running costs, we have made the following reasonable assumptions:
1. Installation is in a house built to current regulations
2. Heaters used: 150W/m² mats, under 8-10mm ceramic tile on 10mm Warmup® Insulation Board
3. The temperature difference between "on" and "standby" is 5°C (eg. 16°C when on "standby", 21°C when "on")
4. The floor coverage is consistent to property size (eg. 5m² of heating for a 5m² room)
5. The heat-up time is included within the hours ON
6. The heating is controlled by Warmup® XSTAT
7. Price per kWh is 0.10€ 

 

Soaring fuel prices make electric heating cheaper than gas According to independent energy watchdog Energywatch, since 2003, gas prices have risen by as much as 92%, while electricity prices have only increased by just 54% in the same period. As electricity is almost 100% efficient at the point of use, whereas gas boilers waste energy by way of the flue and transport throughout the walls, gas users will soon be paying much more and receiving much less.

 Fuel Costs vs Ownership Costs

The typical lifespan of a gas boiler system is 10 years, according to industry estimates.  Our undertile heaters have no moving parts to wear-out and come with a LIFETIME Warranty*.  When maintenance costs are added to the equation, the annual running costs of a radiant floor system look remarkably attractive.

 

*Sources and Assumptions: 1. Fuel costs (heating and hot water) based on BRE GPG34 - updated with 2007 figures from Ofgen.  2. British Gas contracted service prices and maintenance costs from National Landlords Association  3. Cost of 6 radiators with Gas Boiler versus Cost of Installing Warmup® Underfloor Heating for 65m².  4. Lifetimes used are industry averages - 10 years for gas boiler / 15 years for underfloor heating. Note: Warmup® systems are tested for 60 years using accelerated testing procedures

 

Better Control of Fuel Costs - Zoning Your House

Adding a zone to a house that uses electric heating is as simple as adding a thermostat.  Gas systems tend to run all the rooms of your house at once, whether you are using them or not.  Electric systems, however, can be set to heat an individual room where and when you need it (a bathroom for an hour and a half in the morning for example).  By tailoring your system usage according to your lifestyle, you can enjoy substantial savings.

Operating Cost Information A further breakdown on running costs can be seen here.

Operating Cost Calculation Request Curious to know what it will cost to run a Warmup system in your house? Complete the form and we'll let you know.