Electric underfloor heating in Montenegro: cost and running costs

Electric underfloor heating is one of the most popular ways to heat apartments and holiday homes on the Montenegrin coast. Before deciding, almost everyone asks the same two questions: how much does installation cost and how much electricity does it use. Here is what drives the price and how to estimate running costs yourself.

What the price depends on

There is no single price per square metre that fits every project. The final quote depends on:

• The system – heating mat under tiles, infrared heating film under laminate and parquet, or heating cable in a concrete screed.
• The heated area – only free floor is heated, not the area under kitchen units, wardrobes or the bath.
• Purpose – comfort heating (a warm bathroom floor) or primary heating of the whole apartment.
• Thermostat – manual, programmable or WiFi.
• Type of job – new build, renovation or retrofit.

That is why we calculate the output room by room and send a free quote. Just send us the floor area, the floor covering and the location.

How to calculate electricity use

System output is given in watts per square metre (W/m²). A bathroom heating mat is typically 150 W/m². The thermostat does not keep the system on all the time: once the floor reaches the set temperature, it switches off. On average the system runs about half of the time, so a simple formula is:

Consumption (kWh) = output (W/m²) × area (m²) ÷ 1000 × hours of heating × 0.5

Example: a 6 m² bathroom

6 m² × 150 W/m² = 900 W, or 0.9 kW. With 6 hours of heating a day and a factor of 0.5, consumption is 0.9 × 6 × 0.5 = 2.7 kWh per day. Multiply this by the price per kWh on your electricity bill to get the daily cost.

Room	Area	Output	Approx. use (6 h/day)
Bathroom	6 m²	0.9 kW	2.7 kWh
Kitchen	10 m²	1.5 kW	4.5 kWh
Living room	25 m²	3.75 kW	11.25 kWh

Real consumption can be lower or higher – it depends on insulation, the set temperature, the weather and whether the floor is the only heat source.

How to lower your bill

• Programmable or WiFi thermostat – heat only when you are at home. More in Underfloor heating thermostats.
• Off-peak tariff – cable in a thicker screed stores heat, so part of the heating can run on cheaper night electricity.
• Insulation under the system – heat goes up into the room, not down into the slab.
• Lower air temperature – with a warm floor most people feel comfortable at a degree or two less than with radiators.

Is it worth it?

Electric underfloor heating has no boiler, no pipes and no annual service, takes no wall space and is quick to install. For bathrooms, holiday apartments and coastal homes heated for part of the year it is often the simplest and most cost-effective choice. Not sure which system suits your floor? Read Heating mat, film or cable or call us on +382 68 508 873.