Electric Underfloor Heating
Electric Underfloor Heating FAQ
Tel: 01932 78 48 48
Fax: 01932 78 48 49
E-mail: info@rayotec.com
We make every effort to answer your questions. Below is a list of questions we are frequently asked. Please check these before contacting us.
- How much does it cost to run?
- Should I use insulation?
- What is Palziv Insulation?
- What is Insomax Insulation?
- Is it safe to use in wet areas?
- How easy is it to install?
- What is the difference between the Digital and Dial Thermostat?
- What mat sizes are available?
- In which situation should I use the 150W mats instead of the 120W mats?
- What happens if the space of the floor is not rectangle & the mat will not exactly fit?
- Will the system fully heat the room?
- What is the ribbon made out of?
- How strong are the ribbons and how easy is it to repair?
- How safe are the electric underfloor heating mats?
- What is the warranty of the electric ribbon underfloor heating mats?
How much does it cost to run?
Consider an average room size of 10m2
The heated area is approximately 80%, or 8m2
In the case of the 120W mats, when the heater is ON, the hourly consumption is 120W times 8m2, or 960 Watts per hour.
A properly insulated room, controlled by the AHT recommended energy efficient thermostats, will operate at a duty cycle of 20% to 25% (meaning 20% to 25% of the time the heater will be ON, and the rest of the time OFF).
In this circumstance the average electricity consumption for heating the room will be 192 - 240 Watts per hour. Approximate electricity consumption equal to that of two regular 100-Watts light bulbs!
The actual hourly cost depends on your local electricity rates.
Should I use insulation?
We strongly advise to the use of insulation when installing the electric underfloor heating system. By using insulation you can reduce warm-up time of the floor from over an hour to only a few minutes. This will provide you with a greater level of comfort and result in reduction of electricity cost.
| Floor Type | |
|---|---|
| Tile | Insomax or Marmox (min 6mm) |
| Timber | Palziv (6mm uncompressed) or Softboard (6mm) |
| Hessian backed Carpet | Palziv (6mm uncompressed) or Softboard (6mm) |
What is Palziv Insulation?
Palziv is an insulating material designed for under laminate/ engineered wood. It is manufactured from cross-linked closed celled polyethylene foam. Palziv has excellent thermal insulating properties due to its low U-value. Palziv is water repellent - does not rot or go mouldy. Furthermore, it has a sound insulating effect, creating a "quieter" floor to walk on. Palziv is easy to install and are supplied from Rayotec in rolls of 10m2 and 20m2 with a depth of 6mm.
What is Insomax Insulation?
Insomax insulation board has been developed for use with Rayotecs' electric ribbon underfloor heating mats under tiles.
Insomax insulation boards are made up of extruded polystyrene foam, produced environmentally friendly, without the use of CFC or HCFC blowing agents, have zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and are fully recyclable.
Insomax insulation boards have high thermal insulation properties, high compressive strength (30 tonnes per m2) capable of supporting long term static loading, waterproof, rot resistant, light weight/easy to handle, easily cut with a sharp knife and available in a variety of depths (Please contact the office for depth requirements of over 50mm)
Insomax insulation has the same thermal conductivity (0.027W/mK) and compressive strength (300kPa) as Marmox and Aquapanel, but at a much more competitive price.
Is it safe to use in wet areas?
Yes, so long as a grounding net is used with the system.
How easy is it to install?
The ribbon electric underfloor heating mats are extremely easy to install.
Under tiles, the installer simply lays the ribbon electric underfloor heating mats directly between the sub floor/insulation and tiles. The same materials used for laying the tiles are used for bonding the heating mats to the sub floor/ insulation.
Under laminate or engineered wooden floors, the installer lays the heating mats on the insulating foam. The wooden flooring is then laid directly onto the mats in the usual manner.
A qualified electrician can complete the connection between the heating mats and the electrical circuit. No time-consuming calculations, labour or additional materials are required.
What is the difference between the Digital and Dial Thermostat?
We have two models of thermostats, the simple dial thermostat and the digital thermostat. The simple dial thermostat sets only the temperature and is set manually where the digital thermostat offers 7 days a week clock and digital temperature settings.
Both thermostats come supplied with a floor sensor that has a maximum temperature limiter, allowing for floor coverings of wood and carpet to be also used. A floor sensor is not needed on tiled floors, yet what is necessary is an air temperature sensor. Air temperature sensors are normally encased in the thermostat itself and will control the room temperature as if it is the primary source of heating.
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What mat sizes are available?
| Width (m) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Length (m) | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 5 |
| Mat area (m2) | 0.6 150 W/m2 Only |
0.75 150 W/m2 Only |
1 | 1.25 150 W/m2 Only |
1.5 | 1.75 150 W/m2 Only |
2 | 2.5 |
| Width (m) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Length (m) | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 4 | 3.5 | |
| Mat area (m2) | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 4 120 W/m2 Only |
3.5 150 W/m2 Only |
In which situation should I use the 150W/m2 mats instead of the 120W/m2 mats
Both electric underfloor heating mats can achieve primary heating, however the 120W/m2 are popular with clients who have a limited power supply.
What happens if the space of the floor is not rectangular & the mats will not exactly fit?
The electric underfloor heating mats come in 15 different sizes (refer to the table above), with these sizes, we try cover as much floor space as possible.
Will the system fully heat the room?
The ribbon electric underfloor heating mats can fully heat most rooms (depending on heat loss, area of floor covered by mats and level of floor insulation used), but additional heating will be needed in bathrooms.
What is the ribbon made out of?
The ribbon electric underfloor heating mat is constructed from an amorphous metallic alloy ribbon. These are also referred to as metallic glasses and are relatively a new material. The leading feature of this material is the absence of the crystalline structure. The crystalline solids are typically built from small crystallites with grain boundaries between them causing most of the material faults. Amorphous metallic alloys have homogeneous structure providing high physical, mechanical, anticorrosion, wear resistant and magnetic properties making them superior in many aspects with respect to crystalline metals
How strong are the ribbons and how easy is it to repair?
The ribbons are very strong and in case of a short circuit, the system can be repaired with a hand crimping tool and a heat gun.
How safe are the electric underfloor heating mats?
The ribbon electric underfloor heating mats are designed and manufactured to the highest safety standards.
The heating mats meet class 2 appliance requirements, they are constructed with double insulation and have passed successfully the applicable tests of IEC safety standards: IEC 60335-1 (Household and similar electrical appliances - safety, general requirements) and IEC 60335-2-96 (particular requirements for flexible sheet heating elements for room heating).
As such the products proudly carry the CE mark, have a CB certification and also the Nemko N mark.
AHT products have been tested and proved to have negligible electromagnetic radiation, far below the minimum requirements of the applicable standards.
When installed according to the installation instructions and manual, the products are of the highest quality and perfectly safe.
What is the warranty of the electric ribbon underfloor heating mats?
The electric ribbon heating mats have a 15 year manufacturer's warranty