Underfloor heating expensive to run?

[Emo76]

We have just had the most enormous electricity bill (I finally read meter for first time in six months and it is over £1k) - spoke to the electricity co who say it could be our underfloor heating in kitchen (though this was running when meters were read for bills before so seems unlikely that it could cause such a change in usage year on year, if you see what I mean) We have a 4 bed house, no industrial plant running etc!

I suspect there is something wrong as this sudden jump in usage coincides with rewiring parts of the house - electricity co is going to help investigate usage - however I just wondered if anyone else could confirm that underfloor heating really does consume absolutely tonnes of electricity (or kilowatts...or whatever!)

Yes, because of the cold snap your ele underfloor prob would of been running continually and only is supposed to work as a background heat with wall radiators. It is not rec by the professional plummers as hot water underfloor is the best option.

Also depends on how old the system is. I would assume the newer types may be more efficient.

Even leaving the TV on standby hardly uses much electricity and cant think of anything else that would zap extreme energy.

I dont think your underfloor heating would cause sucha huge jump. I have underfloor heating in my bathroom and it hasnt made any difference to our bills.

I saw this advice on a financial website once -

Check your meter and how fast it is turning. Then turn off all of your electrical applicances. The fridge, everything on standby, the lot. Then check the meter again. If the wheel is still turning, then you either have a technical problem with your meter, or someone is stealing your electricity. Either way, the electricity co. has agreed to investigate so it will get sorted out.

If you turn everything off and the wheel stops turning, then it's just down to the increased prices and the really cold winter. :(

Mrs What a great tip

Thanks for the tips and replies. I have the electricity co coming to do a check next Weds as the year on year jump (when the per unit price hasn't changed) is so high. Weirdly I am hoping we DO have a problem and it's not just the underfloor heating!!!

How big is your kitchen floor? and do you know/could you find out what power the UFH is? 150watts per m2?

Ours is horrific. We allowed ourselves the UF heating on in our bedroom (no other heating) for 3 days over Christmas as a treat . We do have it on in the kitchen, but it is freezing without. Why the previous owners didn't go for hot water system i do not know

UF heating can be expensive, but mainly because you can't turn it off as it lasts so long to heat up the floor. If it is on every winter then it can't just cause a huge jump like that, as you know your use more or less.

However... do you know if everything under the floor heating is isolated? Because, as it gets colder, your use, in case of an unisolated under floor, probably explodes, and with that cold snap this year... Because, in that case, the warmth doesn't only release itself to your room, but also to the ground, the cellar or something like that, where it is no use, but the room above doesn't get warm and so the UF heating keeps on going... For the bedroom that doesn't really matter, I don't think, because the floor heating is in the ceiling which is above a heated room, I am guessing, so the loss is not that dramatic.

Is it on 24/7 or off during the night? That also makes a difference, but I suppose it would be horrendous with it off during the night...