Everything You Need to Know About Underfloor Insulation 

Installing high-quality floor insulation alongside your underfloor heating system helps to increase the performance of the heater and offers even greater savings on your heating bills. In this guide we’ll answer all your questions on insulation including:

• How floor insulation works
• The key benefits of UFH insulation
• The best insulation solution for your home
• Where else in your home you should install insulation
• How to purchase Warmup insulation

What is Radiant Floor Heating Insulation?

Our range of electric and water underfloor heating systems are more energy-efficient than traditional heating systems and are easy to install, more discreet and ideal for both new-builds and renovation projects. In order to make floor heaters operate at their most effective, a layer of subfloor insulation should be used to help increase heat-up times of the system, distribute radiant warmth throughout the space more evenly and reduce heat-loss – preventing the warmth produced by the system escaping the room. We offer a range of insulation materials for both our electric and hydronic heating systems.

Benefits of Subfloor Insulation

1. Lower Running Costs

The best subfloor insulation will ensure that all the heat generated by the water or electric floor system stays inside the room and does not leak away to rooms below or into the foundation. This means that there is minimal loss of energy resulting in lower heating bills. The increased responsiveness of a floor heater when used with insulation also helps reduce energy usage and brings lower running costs.

2. More Reliable, Consistent, and Faster Heating

The heater operates by quickly bringing the floor surface to the desired temperature, then clicking off and on only as necessary to maintain that temperature. The proper subfloor insulation helps to keep the heat evenly distributed eliminating the development of cold and hot spots.

3. Noise Reduction

The Best Underfloor Heating Insulation for Your Project

Whether you’re specifying a hydro or electric system for your home, Warmup offer a range of insulation solutions perfect for your needs.

All our water underfloor heating systems come with system-specific hydronic floor heating insulation. Most of these systems require a deeper layer of subfloor insulation onto which the floor heating pipes are installed but if you’re looking for a more low-profile water underfloor heating insulation solution the VLo Ultra-12 Low Build System features an in-built layer of insulation that is perfect for refurbishment projects.

If you’re installing an electric floor heater, our Ultralight Underfloor Heating Board is an ideal choice. As well as its innovative insulation properties, Ultralight also features heat-spreading and decoupling layers whilst also featuring noise reduction properties. Ultralight provides 50% more even heating and 30% faster heat up times than standard boards and with this enhanced performance, you could save up to £16.50 / M2 per year on energy costs.

Where Else Do You Need to Install Insulation?

Good quality subfloor insulation is an integral part of your radiant heating solution, but the rest of the home needs to be properly protected from cold air infiltration as well, in order to ensure the heat stays in and does not leak out.

Walls

Installing good-quality insulation materials in the wall cavities is a great way to increase the energy performance rating of your home and help reduce your energy bills.

Windows

Most windows on the market today are energy efficient, but you can increase their performance by ensuring that the cavity around the window is well insulated. The easiest way to accomplish this is with non-expanding spray foam that is available at most hardware stores. It fills the cavities faster and fuller than fiberglass insulation and ensures the window is sealed properly.

Doorways

Like windows, doorways are best insulated with non-expanding foam which can be easily sprayed into the opening for a great seal. In some cases, the cavity may be too tight to get the spray nozzle into, and in those instances, it is best to use fiberglass insulation and press it into the opening with a putty knife.

Ceilings

Ceilings and attics are two areas that deserve the most attention in your insulation program. Since heat rises, the greatest opportunity for energy loss will be found there.

How to Get Started With Your Floor Heating Project

Warmup floor heating systems and insulation are available for use in all room types and with all floor finishes. If you’re looking to find out how much a complete insulated system will cost for your home, use our innovative online quoting tool to instantly find the perfect insulation to use with your floor heater.