Many people assume that running a whole-house electrical heating system will be costlier than their gas/oil furnace, simply because gas is currently cheaper than electricity. But it's simply not the case..
| ROOM TYPE | HEATED AREA | RUNNING TIME AM | RUNNING TIME PM | WINTER COST* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BATHROOM | 40 ft² | 2 Hrs | 2 Hrs | $20.74 |
| KITCHEN | 100 ft² | 1 Hrs | 1 Hrs | $28.74 |
| FAMILY ROOM | 250 ft² | 0 Hrs | 3 Hrs | $93.00 |
Assumptions: (National Energy Board Avg. of 9¢/kWh) - system on 6 months (183 days) per winter. System installed on 3/8” (10mm) Warmup Insulation Board.
Daily Running Costs for Electric In Floor Heating in Different Rooms
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.
| Time On/Heated Area | 3m² | 10m² | 15m² | 25m² | 50m² | 100m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hour | 0.2¢ | 0.7¢ | 1.1¢ | 1.9¢ | 3.9¢ | 7.9¢ |
| 2 Hours | 0.4¢ | 1.4¢ | 2.1¢ | 3.5¢ | 7.1¢ | 14.2¢ |
| 3 Hours | 0.6¢ | 2.0¢ | 3.0¢ | 5.1¢ | 10.2¢ | 20.4¢ |
| 4 Hours | 0.8¢ | 2.6¢ | 4.0¢ | 6.7¢ | 13.4¢ | 26.8¢ |
| 5 Hours | 0.9¢ | 3.3¢ | 4.9¢ | 8.2¢ | 16.4¢ | 32.9¢ |
| 6 Hours | 1.1¢ | 3.9¢ | 5.9¢ | 9.8¢ | 19.7¢ | 39.4¢ |
| 7 Hours | 1.3¢ | 4.5¢ | 6.8¢ | 11.3¢ | 22.7¢ | 45.5¢ |
| 8 Hours | 1.5¢ | 5.2¢ | 7.8¢ | 13.0¢ | 26.0¢ | 52.0¢ |
To calculate accurate running costs, we have made the following reasonable assumptions:
- Installation is in a house built to current building regulations
- Heaters used: 150W/sq ft mats, under 3/8" ceramic tile on 3/8" Warmup Insulation Board
- The temperature difference between "on" and "standby" is 5°C/9°F (eg. 15°C/59°F when on "standby", 20°C/68°F when "on")
- The floor coverage is consistent to property size (eg. 5 sq ft of heating for a 5 sq ft room)
- The heat-up time is included within the hours ON
- The heating is controlled by Warmup WUDG Thermostat
- Price per kWh is 9 cents (average electricity prices from the Canadian National Energy Board, 2011)
Save money by insulating properly and reducing heat-up times
During the floor heat-up period, as the floor reaches its set temperature, the heating system 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%.
Soaring fuel prices make electric heating cheaper than gas..
According to the National Energy Board, since 2003, gas prices have risen considerably, while electricity prices have only increased by 14% in the same period. A Warmup heating system for a typical Canadian bathroom can use less power than 2 light bulbs and, unlike gas, electricity is 100% efficient at the point of use, hence 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 floor heating systems have no moving parts to wear-out and come with a 30-Year Warranty. When maintenance costs are added to the equation, the annual running costs of a radiant floor system look remarkably attractive.
Take Take Control Of Your Fuel Costs With Zoning
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, as demonstrated by the diagram can be set to heat different rooms at different temperatures where and when you need it (a bathroom for an hour and a half in the morning for example). This means you can tailor your system usage according to your lifestyle and enjoy substantial savings.
Curious to know what the running cost of a Warmup floor heating system will be in your house? Complete this form and we'll give you an estimate.