Is Underfloor Heating Expensive To Run?

[scrummyyummy]

I have electric underfloor heating in the conservatory (quite a large area). The flooring is porcelain floor tiles. It takes hours to heat up so would it be better to just leave the underfloor heating constantly on at a certain temperature or to time it to come on for a few hours every day? With bills being so expensive, I'm just wondering which is more cost-effective of the two.

[espookid]

it is quite simple how much electricity does it consume 1kw/h ,as the loss from the conservatory will be a lot if you are never there but if you use it a lot then you will provide the heat as well yourself
It is all down to use

[The Builder]

Yes, it all depends on your heat losses, Scrummy.

Is the floor insulated under the heating element?
What construction is the conservatory?
Proper roof or polycarbonate (plastic)?

[scrummyyummy]

We normally use it as a dining room but it's not too pleasant without the underfloor heating. The conservatory is uPVC with a glass roof but it's quite a large conservatory (it's P shaped). Ideally I would like to just leave the flooring on from early morning so it's warm for breakfast and to leave on until evening dinner rather than have it on for a few hours then for it to go off and come back on again. I just wondered if it's more efficient to just leave it on and not have to reheat the tiles from cold again.

[The Builder]

That's not an ideal situation Scrummy. With that amount of glass, you're going to have massive heat losses. It would be costly to leave it on all the time. I don't think you have much choice but to use it intermittently in order to keep the running costs at a reasonable level.

Perhaps time it to come on maybe a half-hour earlier to get through the tiles.

[scrummyyummy]

Builder: Thanks very much for your help. I'll put it on timer then otherwise Mr Scrummy will be hit with a massive bill!

[Deetee1967]

Hi Scrummy,
It also depends on the age of the UFH.
It is not widely realised or publicised that wire UFH will degrade approx 10% year on year and will therefore become inefficient.
240v UFH is the norm, but costly to run even when new.
Normally keeping something warm with a trickle will be the best option, but if your heat loss is large ( it quite possibly is) then you are constantly heating cold air.
It may also be the case that the original installation was for floor warming only and not room warming. This is determined by the amount of coverage and type of elements used.
Unfortunately most people look at underfloor heating at cost of install 1st, without any thought to future costs and implications.
Perhaps some blinds or covers for the glass will help.
Regards