Electrically heating a concrete raft

[Dreadnaught]

I am a fan of flexibility, having options, and for simplicity.  

 

When I build my new house I plan to include the wiring and pipes for both an ASHP and gas boiler. To go with the ASHP, I will also include UFH piping in my reinforced concrete raft foundation. Installing all the options at the time of the build costs peanuts.

 

But how about adding one more cheap option: from a capital cost perspective, the cheapest of all. When I pour my my raft foundation, why don't I also include some electrical heating wire too embedded deep within the concrete?  From checking on eBay, the cost of loose heating wire seems to be about £150 for 2kW.

 

£150 really is peanuts! 

 

And it beats even a Willis heater for simplicity. Wet UFH after all needs a manifold, a pump, regulators, etc.

 

While I would still have all the other options available later, I could use the wire heating for the first couple of years while I learn how my new house responds.

 

What does everyone think? Bad idea?

 

 

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I doubt that ordinary UFH heating wire would survive the concrete pour, TBH.   I loose laid electric UFH wire under the tiles in our bathroom at the old house, and It's not very tough stuff.