Underfloor heating - what is a good system? Perhaps PigletJohn has a thought?

[smilesandsun]

Hi,

Looking for a good quality underfloor heating system in a new bit of the house. I have no idea on how to choose and the prices do seem to vary a lot.

Anyone love their system?

Or anyone have a recommendation to make?

thx

if you are going to pour a new, insulated concrete floor, wet.

If you are going to lay a new suspended wooden floor, wet with spreader plates.

If you have more money than you know what to do with, or free electricity, electric.

Hi Piglet John, it will be a new insulated concrete floor.

Any brands I should investigate or ones I should avoid??

What should I look for in a good system?

You will need to find a good heating engineer. The pipes have to be laid after the insulation but before the final screed and must be pressure-tested before the concrete goes over.

I have no view on brands as it's not something I've done. If you were buying a new boiler, the boiler mfr might have a recommendation.

It will have a blending valve which might go in a sort of trapdoor in the floor, or in a low cupboard. There will be pipes and wires going to it and it will be more convenient if it is close to the boiler. It has to be accessible for maintenance and replacement, including remaking the connections. It connects to the radiator circuit, but preferably running its own pipes back to the boiler. It will get quite warm.

If you haven't already got one, get a sediment filter fitted to your boiler to catch any particles, and give it at least a chemical clean before adding to or changing the system.

You will probably need a separate heating zone off the boiler, as you will want it to start up earlier in the day than your radiators due to thermal lag, and probably need a separate thermostat in that room. Heating zones are quite common, they allow you e.g. to have the downstairs timed differently to the bedrooms.

We had wet underfloor heating installed in our new extension (6m x 4m). We had a beam and block suspended floor with a thick layer of insulation and damp proof membrane (can't remember the order). The heating engineer put in 3 circuits of polypipe underfloor heating in red trays and then pressure tested it. The screed floor was then poured (10cm springs to mind) and was then left for 28 days before we could switch on the U/F heating.

The heating engineer put in a separate circuit in the airing cupboard from the hot water/heating diverter valve down to a manifold in our utility cupboard (next to the extension). This means that the U/F heating runs independently from the heating. This is really useful as U/F heating comes on much earlier in the morning (4am) but reaches maximum temperature long after it's been turned off (7am).

The U/F heating has its own room thermostat and 7-day programmer which is totally separate from the main central heating. You can also adjust the temperature running trhough the manifold.

When we first switched the system on we were advised to gradually raise the temperature at the manifold by 5 degrees per week up to a maximum of 55 degrees. We found 50 degrees too warm (hot and sweaty feet) and have eventually settled on 47 degrees.

It's quite strange - the floor doesn't actually feel particularly hot (I always imagined it would) but it keeps the room at a lovely temprature when on.

We didn't specifiy any particular parts or brands from our heating engineer. We were lucky that we found a great plumber/heating engineer who used to work at the regional trainer for polypipe underfloor heating. If you live anywhere near Berkshire/Surrey I would recommend him!

thank you both. That is really helpful information!

I'm looking forward to having it installed

Smile, have you had any thoughts on the flooring over the heating?

I've been looking and looking and there is too much choice! Ive heard 10mm engineered floor or laminate floor is the best...such a big decision to make and which will make a huge difference to the look of your room.

Sorry to hijack the thread but we've just had an extension built and have had the pipes laid for UFH and the concrete slab over them. We put polyflor vinyl tiles on the concrete. In the install guidance for the vinyl tiles it says the temp is not to exceed 27 degrees but an earlier poster said they've got it at 47 degrees. I'm a bit confused, does that mean our kitchen will be cold?

Thanks, and sorry again...

there will be a difference between the temperature of the water in the pipes, and the emitting surface of the floor. I don't know how to calculate or look it up though.

Perhaps the maker of your UFH has info on their website.

Ah, makes sense. Thought it might be something like that. Will have a look and see what it says.
Thanks.

hi 321r, we are having tiles (like a mud room effect) and then an oak veneer flooring in the bedroom. I have yet to find either the exact tiles or the oak thought.......

Happy to recommend Wundafloor in Newport, South Wales, we have just laid around 350 meters of under floor, some downstairs and some up. their kit is great quality, not the cheapest but mid range, great technical support toooooo - www.wundatrade.co.uk/

Happy to recommend Marcin in London. Www.cooll.co.uk
They have done a great job in our house.

Hi any recommendations for UFH plumber in Reading area thanks