Frequently Asked Questions
Does the subsurface heating system extend beneath the kitchen cabinets or is it limited to the plinth?
Avoid installing electric underfloor heating cables beneath flat-floored kitchen units or baths/shower enclosures, as radiant heat can become confined and cause the cables to overheat. We do not recommend installing it beneath American refrigerator-freezers or wardrobes with floor-level panels; however, wardrobes with raised plinths or legs are acceptable.How much does it cost to operate underfloor heating?
All heating systems can be a highly efficient and effective method of heating your home or project if they are installed correctly and in rooms with adequate insulation. Warm water underfloor heating systems from UFH Group are more cost-effective to operate than electric underfloor heating. Warm water systems are typically supplied by a gas boiler or oil fired boiler or an air source heat pump, which are more cost-effective per kilowatt-hour to operate.Should I install insulation beneath my underfloor heating system?
We strongly advise installing insulation sheets below all underfloor heating systems. Installation of insulation boards not only reduces preheat time but also reduces operating costs. The thicker the insulation, the better the underfloor heating system will be able to maximise heat output.
Which underfloor heating system, electric or water, is ideal for my project?
Both underfloor heating systems offer their own distinct benefits. Electric underfloor heating systems from UFH Group are suitable for isolated zones such as kitchens, bathrooms, and conservatories. They are also appropriate when a minimal increase in floor height is required, as well as in areas that are being renovated or re-tiled and require minimal subfloor disruption. Water systems are suitable for a new extension or conservatory, a complete renovation, or a new home. Warm water systems from UFH Group are ideal for properties that currently use a boiler or an air or ground source heat pump to heat the water. Warm water systems are also more cost-effective to operate than electric systems. Please contact us to speak with a technical sales advisor for more information on which system is ideal for your project.Is it possible to remove my radiators and replace them with underfloor heating?
UFH Group underfloor heating systems are capable of being utilised as a major source of heating provided that the rooms are adequately insulated in accordance with the most recent building standards and that at least 80 percent of the total floor area in each room is heated. When implementing electric underfloor heating in small galley kitchens or bathrooms, if 80% of the floor can't be covered, then it will only be utilised for floor warming, and we advised a supplementary heat source such as a towel rail.
Can I put underfloor heating beneath laminate or engineered flooring?
UFH Group offers underfloor heating systems that may be powered by electricity or water, making them suitable for installation beneath engineered and laminate flooring. For electric underfloor heating, we propose our electric underwood heating mat kits. This system must be placed immediately on top of either UFH Group XPS or UFH Group classic underlay, and after that has been done, a laminate or engineered floor may be laid right on top of it.Should I always leave my underfloor heating system on?
This is dependent upon the type of UFH Group underfloor heating installed and the type of heating source. Typically, electric underfloor heating systems are installed closer to the floor's finish, such as directly beneath tiles or laminate. This means that electric systems warm up much faster than water systems, so leaving it on all the time would be inefficient. Electric systems are best used with a 7-day thermostat with four cycles, so that it turns on an hour before you wish to enter or use the room and is turned off or set back to a very low temperature in between the room's use.Despite having underfloor heating, why does my floor not always stay warm?
The floor heats up in cycles depending on how the thermostat is set. In general, the floor will be warm the majority of the time; however, once the thermostat reaches its desired temperature, the system will cycle off until the temperature drops below. It is possible, therefore, that the floor will not always be warm.Are there any potential drawbacks to installing heating in the floor?
The only time that underfloor heating shouldn't be used is when there is no insulation in the building or when the sections that need to be heated have more than half of the floor space covered with units or furniture. This is the only situation in which underfloor heating shouldn't be utilised. Tiles, laminate, or engineered wood floors are the greatest types of floor finishes to utilise, followed by vinyl flooring and carpeting. The UFH Group's water underfloor heating system is versatile and may be used for a variety of additional applications, such as heating walls and concrete.What exactly is heating the floor with water?
The idea of heating floors with water dates back more than two thousand years; however, it is only relatively recently that the use of modern pipes and modern insulation has made underfloor heating widely available to homeowners. Additionally, the invention of various installation methods has helped most homes adapt to accommodate this type of heating. A sort of ambient warmth that is more uniformly distributed may be achieved via the utilisation of water underfloor heating, which can also help you save money on your rising fuel bills. This is accomplished by simulating a radiator that is located beneath your floor, although at a lower temperature at which it operates, all while maintaining an even degree of warmth across the space.In order to install water underfloor heating, what kind of boiler do I need to use?
Underfloor heating may be achieved with any variety of boiler, provided that the boiler is of a enough capacity to meet any additional heating needs, such as those posed by existing radiators on the upper level and an underfloor heating system on the lower level.What are the advantages of utilising a water underfloor heating system as opposed to a typical radiator one?
When compared to a traditional radiator system, underfloor heating offers a number of distinct benefits, including the following: It is possible to achieve reduced operating expenses by maintaining a lower water temperature while the plant is in operation. It is possible to arrange furniture in locations that are often obstructed by radiators, which results in an increase in the amount of accessible floor space. When compared to radiators, which heat primarily the area around the unit's fixed location and then throw heat into the roof void, underfloor heating works by gradually heating the floor and providing a constant even heat throughout the room. On the other hand, radiators can cause dust allergies from air circulation, which can be harmful to people who are allergic to dust. Underfloor heating is beneficial to those who suffer from allergies.How does the water-based underfloor heating system function?
In the same way as radiators get their heat from a heat source, water underfloor heating gets its heat from a heat source such as a boiler or an air source heat pump. This is done via a thermostat that demands heat and then calls for warm water. When heating more than one room, it is highly advised to add a thermostat for each zone so the user may manage areas individually. The warm water from the heat source makes its way to the underfloor heating manifold and is distributed to whatever room wants heat. When a thermostat in a room detects a need for heating, it sends a signal to the manifold, which instructs it to reduce the blended temperature of the warm water that is circulating through the network of pipes that is designated exclusively for that room. I am in the process of building an extension, and I'm wondering if it's feasible to install a UFH Group Water underfloor heating system in just this one room of the extension. Yes, UFH Group offers single loop kits with a variety coverage area of to suit your specific needs and a pipe diameter of 16 millimetres. These kits may be connected to an existing radiator system with the help of a single circuit pump and mixing valve unit. In order to follow the requirements of Part L of the new building standards, you will need to install controls that enable you to turn off the underfloor heating when it is not needed.What kinds of floor constructions are suitable for installing the UFH Group's water underfloor heating systems?
Yes, we have an extensive selection of underfloor heating systems that are suitable for installation in any kind of space and on any floor level, including the basement, ground, first, and lofts levels, amongst others. It is possible to install water underfloor heating in a screed, in the space between floor joists, or by using one of our many varieties of renovation systems/ panels. These panels may offer a water system on top of an existing subfloor with just a 1822mm height build up before a floor finish is applied on top of them. Any type of water heat source, such as boilers, air source or ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, log burners with back boilers, and thermal storage, can be used to supply water to an underfloor heating system that uses heated water.Should I divide my under-floor water heating system into zones?
A heating zone is a group of rooms, each of which has its own thermostat and pipe system. Depending on the pipe spacing, a single 16mm pipe circuit can span anywhere from 15m2 to 25m2. A manifold, which is used when more than one circuit/loop of pipe is being used, is typically placed in a central location under a staircase or cupboard but can also be placed in a kitchen/utility unit or a garage if necessary. I was wondering if it's feasible to heat the downstairs of my house with radiant floor heating while keeping the radiators in the upstairs rooms. Yes, this is something that can be done; by placing a zone valve on each floor, it will be achievable for one system to operate independently or in conjunction with the other. I've read that engineered and laminate wood flooring may both have an underlay installed, but I want to make sure this information is accurate. Yes, this is something that may be done with UFH Group Warm Water Underfloor Heating. However, we do propose that a low tog plus breathable underlay be used since it not only offers comfort and cushioning for foot traffic but also ensures that the heat output is not obstructed. The value of the tog should be less than 0.75, and the thickness should be between 2 and 5 millimetres.Should I have a motorised valve instead?
This will depend upon whether you have additional sources of warmth in the house as well as the kind of heating source you have available to you. If the home has a combi boiler, and you are only using underfloor heating, then you do not need a motorised valve; however, if you have a combination of underfloor heating and radiators, then you will need to use 2 x separate motorised valves in order to control the heating systems independently via their own thermostats. This is the case even if you are only using underfloor heating. If you have a system boiler and already have radiators and a hot water cylinder, each of which has its own two-port motorised valve, then you will need to install one more of these valves in order to have underfloor heating.I have an excess of cable, is it possible to trim part of it off the heating mat or cable system?
As the heating wires and cables are made up of specifically engineered series resistive wires, it is not possible to cut them in any way. When one of the heating wires is shortened, it causes the rest of the load to be carried by a circuit that is smaller. It will ultimately break down as a result of reaching an unsafe temperature. Each heating mat and cable comes with its own one-of-a-kind resistance rating, which can also be found in the installation instruction booklet. This particular resistance can also be found on the product itself.
