Adam Brundell is an expert underfloor heating installer and the founder of Circa Installations. In this guest blog post, Adam shares some insider tips on how to install a Warmup hydro floor heating system. Whether you’re a professional installer or thinking about installing a new system in your home, you’re sure to find these tips useful for your upcoming project. You’ll learn more about:
- Why cleaning the subfloor is critical before installing floor heating
- Why you should ensure your chosen floor finish is suitable for UFH
- The importance of insulation
- Why you should plan your installation and test the system
- Finding the best system for your home and how to buy it
1. Clean the subfloor before installing the floor heating system
The heating pipes used in water underfloor heating systems are tough and durable. However, it’s still important to clean the subfloor thoroughly before installing a new system to get rid of any jagged edges that could damage them.
Depending on which system you choose, the floor heating pipe can either be directly attached to a layer of separate insulation material, like with the Clypso System for instance, or be fitted within the system’s accompanying panels, as with the VLo Ultra-12 Low Build System. The pipe will be held in position so that each loop is at the specified distance – generally between 200mm and 250mm apart, depending on the project. The maximum length of pipe that can be used in any one room is about 100-110m. You may also need to lay a damp-proof membrane on the subfloor before installing the insulation layer.
2. Install the manifold first
With wet systems, the manifold – the unit which connects the UFH pipework to the heat source in a particular room or zone – should be the first thing that’s installed. You’ll need to account for the weight of the unit and for the pipes that are eventually connected when choosing a mounting site. Read our expert article to find out more about installing the manifold.
3. Be mindful of maximum floor temperatures
One of the most important things to consider is the kind of finished flooring that will be laid over the system as some floor covers have a top temperature restriction. Vinyl floors have a maximum temperature limit of 27°C degrees, as do carpet, laminate and wood floors.
If the final floor covering is going to be tiles or ceramic, I would always recommend using a flexible self-levelling latex or a flexible tile adhesive to cover the system with a scratch coat as this helps the tile installation.
Find our more information about output and floor temperature here.
4. Use insulation to improve energy-efficiency
I can’t emphasise enough how important installing Warmup insulation is. A lot of people try to save money and not bother with underfloor insulation, but it has massive benefits from decreased heat-up time to energy savings and lower running costs in the long term.
5. Plan and measure
Planning is essential so measure out the area and plan for the installation carefully. My tip is to take your time with this as it will make for a much quicker installation in the long run. Make sure to consider all the fixtures and fittings that are going to be installed – for example, with a bathroom installation your toilet pans and bathtubs have to be fixed to the floor so these fixtures need to be taken into account when planning your heating system layout. Also, ensure your existing subfloor is free from dust and dirt and, if it’s a wooden subfloor, check that there are no squeaky floorboards as fixing this afterwards will not be easy.
6. Test the system
It is very important that you test the system before and after all stages of the installation. If you are unsure, just ask your installer to do this before the final floor covering goes down.
Also remember that all Warmup systems come with a SafetyNet™ Installation Guarantee which means that if the heating system is damaged during installation, it can be replaced free of charge giving you that extra peace of mind when installing the system. Warmup also offer market-leading after-sales technical support, so if you ever have any issues with your heating system, we’re here to help.
Bonus Tip: How to select the best system for your home
Underfloor heating is a more sustainable heating solution for contemporary homes. It’s a great way to lower your property’s carbon footprint whilst saving you money on your energy bills too. A The lower running costs of a Warmup hydronic system compared to more traditional heating methods could save you hundreds of pounds a year. New-build projects are well suited for wet systems as you can take the dimensions of the system into account when designing the building. However, our VLo line of low-profile wet systems have been specifically designed for retrofitting in home renovation projects – so no matter the size and scope of your project, we offer hydro systems perfect for your needs.
You can use Warmup’s online quoting tool to discover which system is most suitable for your home. Just enter a few details about your project and we’ll help choose the system and let you know exactly how much it will cost to purchase too. Our water systems can be purchased online and delivered directly to your project. You can also contact Warmup for advice on the suitability of a chosen system and to discuss any remedial works which should take place before your installation commences. You should beware of cheaper alternatives made from low-quality products and always ensure that you are buying a genuine product from an authorised Warmup reseller to ensure best value for money.