North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Underfloor Heating’ Category

Many homeowners are familiar with water underfloor heating systems as well as the more common electric underfloor heating systems used in many homes these days. But there are now also options on the market for those who are not necessarily seeking heated floors but simply a more efficient manner of insulating against sudden temperature increases and decreases to more effectively manage the electricity bill. This is where an underfloor heating insulation system comes into play, as it creates an economically safe way of maintaining the temperature of a home without relying on any actual underfloor electric heating systems.

Underfloor heating insulations are sold in a variety of forms to meet the very specific needs of each underfloor heating installation. They are not only capable of supporting tiled floors, but they can also work in conjunction with wood and laminate. They combine a unique system of high strength and low thermal conductivity that is ideal for insulating any floor of the house. They are typically designed for use over solid concrete sub-floors, but they are also manufactured in the form of tile backer boards to allow for ease of use when installing an under tile heating system. Underfloor heating insulation is generally waterproof, resistant to mould and rot, easy to handle, inexpensive to purchase, and extremely easy to install. This makes it perfect for the DIY enthusiast who is looking to install an underfloor heating kit without relying on expensive professionals to do the job for him/her. Underfloor heating insulation material and underfloor heating kits are available at most home improvement stores.

Electric underfloor heating is one of the most common types of underfloor heating systems in use today. Mostly they consist of heat mats that are sold as part of an underfloor heating kit. These underfloor heating systems come supplied with a full installation guide that instructs the consumer how to install the underfloor heating kit itself, along with the underfloor heating thermostat. The beauty of modern electric underfloor heating is that the heat mats are thin and extremely easy to install, which means the complexity of the systems used in the 20th century has gone the way of the dinosaur.

Underfloor heating is currently one of the most popular ways to heat the home. Heat rises, so it is only natural that normal heaters have never been able to completely and evenly spread heat throughout the entire home. Most underfloor heating is extremely inexpensive, quite economical, and there is little or no maintenance required. Above and beyond that, there are no radiators or heaters visible to the naked eye, which allows homeowners to customise the interior of their home without having to have an ugly heating unit marring the design space. And considering that underfloor heating kits can be installed underneath any type of flooring material, they are ideal for both home improvement projects such as renovations or for new builds as well. No matter what type of underfloor heating systems you are researching, they are available at any local improvement store for fast and simple installation.

Underfloor heating is known as having been first developed by the Romans centuries ago. It is today a water or electric technology under floor system for heating rooms.

Underfloor heating utilises radiant heat rather than convected heat, this is typically longer lasting heat and is more cost efficient to produce. In the 1960s, electric underfloor heating tended to warm floors using cheap electricity during the night for suitable room temperatures during the day. This tended to be a rather unreliable system of heating however, as heat could not be effectively regulated.

Contemporary underfloor heating controls seek to address this problem. Underfloor heating systems are nowadays designed in such a way as to be self-regulating in the environment of a fully insulated building space. Technically speaking, the heat regulation is driven by the temperature difference between the floor surface and that of the air within a room. As the temperature difference between the floor and the surrounding air can fluctuate continuously, so the underfloor heating system is continuously active to regulate its heat output.

Water or wet underfloor heating control units include a manifold, a pump, a mixing valve and of course an underfloor heating thermostat. A manifold is the centre of a water underfloor heating system. It is this unit which distributes the heated water running throughout the underfloor network of water pipes. A manifold can be a part of an underfloor heating kit, and thus be installed as part of a DIY project. The same is true for the mixing valve that regulates the hot and cold water.

Electric underfloor heating is the simplest system in that it has few components and is easy to install. It can also be the cheapest option for small areas where you want to enhance the existing central heating, by taking the chill off bathroom tiles or to keep a conservatory warm for example. Electric underfloor heating kits can be installed as a DIY project, although an electrician should connect it to the consumer unit for you.

An electric underfloor heating kit will have either a long length of unbroken cable that you must lay out evenly in loops across the floor, or a series of mats with the cables already in place. Heat insulation also needs to be placed beneath the cables, and the type depends on your floor construction, and how much depth you have to play with. Unless there is an inbuilt return, the cable will need to start and finish at the same point. It needs to be connected to the consumer unit via a fused spur. Electricity can then pass through the circuit, heating up the floor above it. Electric underfloor heating kits are also earthed and insulated to comply with safety regulations.

When several circuits are installed, covering different zones, they each have separate underfloor heating thermostats and individual fuses. Room and floor temperature sensors work with thermostats to control the level of heat. Electric underfloor heating cables can be fragile and need to be protected with a layer of screed or other material, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Step five is the final stage in fitting a DIY underfloor heating kit. By the time you reach this point you are virtually there, you just need to get connected. You should have all the pipe work plumbed in, have run your 24hr pressure and leak check. You should have established that the system is running without any leaks and that it is safe to connect the electricity supply to provide the heat to the water and install the controls for the manifold unit.

Once again, this step is dependent on your DIY knowledge and expertise and you may well want to employ a qualified electrician to carry out this work. However if you are familiar with electrics and have some experience you may want to connect it yourself. You should first familiarise yourself with the current regulations regarding the installation of electrical wiring, as it may be that you must have a qualified electrician carry out this work.

As with previous stages, there are diagrams and instructions available on the Internet and you would be well advised to follow them closely. Once you have connected the controls, you have a working underfloor heating system and can arrange for the floor to be finished with either a concrete screed or wooden flooring.

It will not be long before you find that the room has a lovely warm quality and you should be really pleased you chose an underfloor heating system for your home.

When installing your own underfloor heating system you need to follow 5 steps. Firstly you need to attach the pre-assembled manifold to the wall, then you must prepare the floor area with insulation; Marmox is an excellent product and lay the fixing rails, in uniform lines, to the base and the wall.

Step three is to lay the actual pipe work and this is where you must consider whether you have the necessary experience to carry out the work yourself. If you have pipe work skills then by all means lay it yourself, but if you have any doubts then you really need to consider employing a plumber, as the pipes need to snake in even rows from one side of the room to the other, with a break in the middle for the thermostat controller. All the bends must have watertight joints, as you certainly do not want to find that the system is leaking once you have laid the floor. You are advised to use one or more insulation clips on all bends. A plumber will weld the joints if he is concerned about leaks and the pipes need to be evenly spaced to ensure that the underfloor heating system runs to its optimum efficiency.

The pipe work should then be connected back to the manifold and finally, using the brackets supplied, fix the pipe work to the fixing rails to add stability.

There are five steps to fitting a wet underfloor heating system. Firstly you need to fit the manifold, which is supplied pre-assembled, to the wall.

Step two is insulating the floor surface and securing fixing rails to the floor. There are various options when it comes to insulation, but make sure that you get a good brand that is waterproof. The supplier that you buy your underfloor heating system from should be able to recommend a suitable product and this can be fixed to the floor with normal tile adhesive.

Once this is dry you need to consider the fixing rails, which need to be laid out in parallel lines along the floor to give the brackets that sit over the pipe work a fixing point. Remember, the pipe work will snake around the floor and rest against these fixing rails, so you must ensure they are suitable for the amount of pipe work you are going to use. There are various online sites that will give you pointers on how to set out your fixing rails, but you do need to make sure they are well fitted and that the ends are secured to the walls. They should also be fixed to the insulation with adhesive.

Make sure that the adhesive fixing all these elements dries out completely before you move onto the next stage or you could have unwanted movement, which could be detrimental to the efficiency of the completed system.

If you have decided to install your own water underfloor heating system you will need to follow the five main steps to achieve a professional result. Some of these steps you will be able to carry out yourself, while for others you may need to employ a local professional to assist you.

Step one is to fit the manifold to the wall. If you buy this from a specialist DIY underfloor heating company it will come pre-assembled, which is going to be a great time saver for you and reduce the level of knowledge you need to install it. This piece of equipment is the controller, which draws the required volume of water for the underfloor heating into the system from your main boiler and links to the thermostat sensor. This determines how much heating the water needs in order to match the system’s settings. The water passes through the heating pipes and the temperature is adjusted as necessary. From here the water enters the pipes under the floor and creates the warmth that passes up from the floor and warms the room. The temperature is set to a maximum of 65°C and cannot be increased beyond this.

The unit is fairly straightforward to fit, you simply need a drill, some rawlplugs suitable for the type of wall you are fitting it too and the correct screws to ensure that the unit is securely mounted.

Finding the best deal on underfloor heating system is no different than with any other product, it is all about research and shopping around. Start by deciding what you want, whether you are looking at having an electric underfloor heating system or a water underfloor heating system. Make sure you know the quantities you need and decide whether you are going to have the system installed from start to finish by professionals or whether you are going to do the donkey work yourself and just bring in a tradesman when necessary.

Next, you should use a search engine to find as many companies as possible that offer the service you are looking for and contact each one for a quote. Some will have a quotation system on their websites, while others will need you to call them. When the quotes start coming in, make sure you really are comparing like for like. Don’t overlook costs for items like delivery and fitting and make sure that you understand the quote.

Ask as many questions as you need, with each company, consider things like what happens if the floor takes longer to fit than their quote allows for and what will they charge; also be sure to check what guarantees do they give for the work. Sometimes it may not be the cheapest underfloor heating company that offers the best guarantee and workmanship, so it could be worth paying a little more to use that company, because in the long run, you may actually save money.

Marmox is a great example of insulation for your underfloor heating system and is specifically required in the case of electric systems. When installing an electric underfloor heating system you need to lay a layer of insulation onto the concrete floor, then lay the heating mat or wire on top, which prevents the heat being lost into the ground below and instead forces it in an upwards direction, which in turn heats the floor, giving the room a lovely warm feel.

Marmox insulation is made of waterproof polystyrene and is perfect for the job, as it is lightweight and easy to work with. Fix it to the concrete floor with the same adhesive as you use to lay the tiled floor. You will find that your cost savings will be enhanced by using the correct insulating material. Heat mats or wire systems are the simplest to install and fixing a layer of insulation board first doesn’t really add to the complexity of the project, but does make an overall improvement in the effectiveness of your underfloor heating system. 

The boards produced by Marmox are very strong and are specifically designed to be safe under the floor, so they will not cause the floor to sink or give. They are also waterproof, so can be used on walls and ceilings too, which will make heating the room very efficient. In the long run this will considerably reduce your electricity bills.