What is underfloor heating?
Underfloor heating can be used to simply warm your floor or act as a primary heat source, replacing your radiators. It comes in 2 main forms, electric systems and water systems.
Electrical systems use electrical cables to generate heat, whereas water systems use of a length of pipe set in the floor, a heat source and a pump to pump the water through the pipes to heat your floor.
Which system should you choose?
Each system type provides different benefits, making each more suitable for specific project types. Here are some of the key points to remember when choosing the right system for your needs.
Electric Based Systems
Electric systems come in 3 flavours; sticky mats, loose cable and foil mats.
Sticky Mats are great for large area applications as they're quick to install, the heating cable is fixed to a fibre glass mesh you can simply roll out.
Our loose cable system can be laid in whatever design you need, allowing installation in awkward spaces.
Our foil based mats are designed for use under laminate wood, carpet and vinyl floor types. The foil ensures an even heat distribution.
- Easy to install
- Minimum floor height
- Ideal for retro fits
- Less disruption
Electric Sticky Mats
Easy to install and great for covering large areas.
Electric Cable Systems
Perfect for those awkward areas like small bathrooms.
Electric Foil Mats
Designed to go under laminate and carpet.
Water Based Systems
Water systems can be installed for single rooms or multiple rooms and are available with standard 16mm pipe or, using our DUO system, with a smaller 12mm pipe.
There is a maximum length any single pipe circuit can be to ensure the correct pressures and temperatures are maintained. Therefore if larger areas are to be heated additional pipe circuits can be used, with all circuits terminating at a central manifold.
Each manifold valve can be controlled by a thermal actuator, which allows for multiple rooms to be connected to the main system and heated independantly.
Our low profile DUO system is ideal when retro fitting a water underfloor heating system as it minimises any increase in floor height.
- Cheap to run
- Ideal for new builds
- Suited for large areas
- Multi room options
Water Standard Output
For well insulated areas such as living rooms or kitchens.
Water High Output
For areas of high heat loss such as conservatories.
Water Multiple Rooms
Allowing you to control different rooms at different temperatures.
Water Low Profile Single Zone
Ideal when floor height is an issue.
Water Low Profile Multi Zone
Ideal when floor height is an issue.
Will Underfloor Heating Heat My Room?
Electric underfloor heating comes in different heat outputs, with a higher wattage available in order to provide enough heat for high heat loss areas such as conservatories.
Wet underfloor heating systems usually generate 40°C to 65°C degree temperatures, and the actual floor temperature will be on average 23°C to 32°C degrees, meaning that for a high heat loss area, the temperature can be adjusted to provide a sufficient level of comfort.
Wood
Max27°C
Carpet
Max27°C
Vinyl
Max27°C
Tile
Max29°C
Still Unsure? Talk to an expert
If you need any guidance or further information our highly experienced team are on hand to help.
Get in touch using our contact form or give us a call on 0800 023 4203 or 01268 744 479.
