Underfloor Heating Cost: What You Need to Know

Underfloor heating is an energy efficient and cost effective way to heat your living space. It is a perfect alternative to radiators or heat pumps for its lower energy consumption, which means you save on your electric billing in the long run. It is also suitable for most types of flooring material, from concrete slab to timber floors, so you don’t have to worry much about compatibility.

If you want a warmer floor but are worried about whether you can afford the overall cost of an underfloor heating system, then you’ll be surprised at how much an underfloor heating system would really cost you.

In this article, we’ll discuss the estimated running costs of underfloor or under tile heating systems. But first, let’s talk about how electric underfloor heating works to give you an idea of how its energy use impacts your monthly electrical expenses.

How Underfloor Heating Works

An electric underfloor heating system differs from radiators as it produces radiant heat that can evenly warm an entire room. Radiant heat rises from the floors and is evenly distributed across the entire floor area preventing wasted energy. Radiators, on the other hand, only heat the air around and above it, as well as nearby objects. When this warm air rises at the ceiling level, the floors are left cold.

For the underfloor heating job, ultra-thin electric cables, also known as heating coils, are laid down under the floors, spaced evenly to ensure no cold spots are left. The temperature of the heating element rises when the entire underfloor heating system is turned on, providing radiant heat to the floor surface. The electric cables are installed properly and set into place using a leveling compound. The underfloor heating can then be controlled and adjusted to one’s desired temperature using an intelligent room thermostat.

There are different types of underfloor heating, such as in slab heating and in screed heating. Meanwhile, under carpet heating uses a heating mat. Other heating options also include hydronic underfloor heating systems. Hydronic floor heating uses water that flows through pipes installed underfloor.

How Much Does Underfloor Heating Cost to Install?

First, it is essential to understand that the underfloor heating system cost varies on the size of your floor area and the fee for the installation services. Usually, your underfloor heating installer will provide you a quote factoring in the installation cost per square metre in Australia. The underfloor heating installation cost itself may be tricky to estimate, but it is often equivalent to 40-50% of the cost of installing underfloor heating systems.

Another thing to consider is if the home is a new build or renovation project. A standard screed is typically cheaper than a retrofit solution as more materials and work are needed. On the other hand, for a renovation project, all heating components with custom design (excluding installation) may cost AU $185 per square metre. This is on the higher end of the spectrum, but costs tend to be lower at around AU $22 to AU $40 per square metre.

What is the Running Cost of Underfloor Heating?

The actual running costs of underfloor heating is dependent on its maintenance and the electricity that it consumes per month. Based on standard tariffs, you can expect to pay around $25 to $100 to run an underfloor heating system.

Compared to conventional underfloor heating, a heated tile floor is more efficient, and its running costs are lower. The running cost involves: