Category: Underfloor Heating Insulation

The benefits of electric underfloor heating and comfortably warm rooms and feet are now widely known.  Lesser known however, is how the advantages of floor heating can be extended even further by way of effective insulation.

Extensive research conducted by Warmup on the impact of proper insulation on energy usage has revealed some note-worthy results.  Using the Warmup insulation boards in conjunction with same-brand underfloor heaters, floor heat-up time in testing was cut from over 2 and a half hours to just 20 minutes.  This translates into a reduction of running costs by as much as 50%!

How does that work?

During the heat-up period, as the floor reaches its set temperature, the heater is running at full power.  After this period, the heater needs to run at only half-power to maintain the set temperature.  In other words, the faster the floor warms up, the cheaper the system is to run.  By properly insulating your floor with Warmup Insulation Board, you can reduce the heat-up period significantly, thereby lowering running costs by up to half.  Exact savings will be dependent on the specific conditions of your property and usage.

With electric underfloor heating, the best place to install insulation is right beneath the heating system.  The insulating material will stop the heat from spreading downwards, reflecting it back up to the floor finish instead.  This is particularly pertinent when the subfloor is concrete as a non-insulated base can dramatically delay the heating effects from being felt through the final floor finish.

Warmup currently offers two types of insulation to be used together with their products. The Warmup insulated underlay is a thin yet efficient thermal barrier that also reduces contact noise and resists moisture.  It has been specially developed to complement the Warmup Foil Heater under soft and resilient floor coverings such as carpet, vinyl and linoleum.

The Warmup Insulation Board, on the other hand, not only directs the heat to where it needs to be, but doubles up as a sturdy tile backerboard for increased heater stability.  Made of extruded polystyrene, the board is faced on both sides with fibreglass mesh embedded into a thin cement polymer mortar.  The board is tough and water-resistant and can bear impressive weight loads of 30 tonnes per square metre.  It is available in varying thicknesses and is suitable for most applications.

Both insulation products are easily installed and more related information on improving energy efficiency can be found on the Warmup underfloor heating website.  Our highly trained consultants are also on hand to provide tailored advice on 0845 345 2288 if you require further help.