Is the Foil Heater Suitable for My Project? 

Looking for an electric floor heating system that offers a dry installation method for floating floor finishes? The Foil Heater is the perfect option for you. In this expert guide, we’ll walk you through the many benefits of this heating mat for projects of all scopes. You’ll discover: 

• Which rooms in a property the Foil Heater is most suitable for 
• How to install the system with wooden floors 
• The best way to fit the Foil Heater with softer flooring types 
• How Smart controls can reduce the running costs of electric floor heating mats 
• The simplest way to purchase the Foil Heater for your upcoming project 

The Foil Heater is ideal for floating floor finishes in home renovations 

The Foil Heater is an ideal electric floor heating system for any project utilising floating floor finishes, such as laminate, engineered wood, vinyl and carpet. Its electric heating wires are preinstalled within a reinforced aluminium foil matting that acts as a continuous earth layer, facilitating a consistent and even heat distribution across the entire floor’s surface. The Foil Heating System provides a quick and ‘dry’ installation with no adhesive, screed or levelling compound needed – meaning its build-up is kept low, making it perfect for home refurbishments where existing floor heights must be maintained.   

Typically, this system is recommended for bringing energy-saving warmth to living areas and bedrooms; if you are interested in heated bathroom or kitchen floors, consider the DCM-PRO or StickyMat systems – both installed with a layer of self-levelling compound for waterproofing attributes. Find out more about the suitability of electric underfloor heating for your home in our informative walkthrough exploring the pros and cons of these heating systems.  

Using electric heating mats with wooden floors 

Wood flooring is a consistently popular flooring choice in contemporary homes, offering a natural, hardwearing finish that suits almost all interior design styles. The Foil Heater provides a great heating solution for natural wood, engineered wood and laminate floor types.  

All floor heaters should be installed with a layer of insulation to improve the responsiveness of the system whilst preventing excessive heat loss. Warmup’s Insulated Underlay has been specifically designed for use with the Foil Heating System; simply fit it beneath the heater to improve its heat-up time by at least 50% – producing significant long-term cost-savings. 

It’s worth nothing that certain wood flooring finishes are not recommended for use with foil heating mats. You should ensure that the thermal resistance of the selected wooden floors should not exceed 0.15m² K/W. Wooden floors that are thicker than 18mm will not conduct the radiant warmth well enough. Likewise, any floorboards that feature in-built padding will also restrict heat dispersion whilst those types of wooden floors that feature metallic details (such as metal locking clips) are also not recommended for use with the Foil Heater as these fittings may damage the system’s aluminium material.  

Top tips for installing the Foil Heater with carpets 

If you are using softer floor coverings such as carpeting, the Foil Heater must be used in conjunction with theDual Overlay System. Dual Overlay is a free-floating, stable subfloor that protects the heating system from any potential damage beneath these soft floor finishes – making it especially useful for installation in heavy-load areas, such as large cupboards or other pieces of furniture that may add excessive pressure to the system. The innovative design of the Dual Overlay System will allow the heat to smoothly pass through to the final floor finish with no interruption.  

Want to see how the Foil Heater works just as well with vinyl floor finishes? Check out this Case Study to see how this system provided precision warmth to this contemporary home fitted with luxurious vinyl flooring. 

The best way to save money with an electric floor heating mat 

Want to save even more money with underfloor heating? Warmup’s collection of Smart controls and support services can dramatically improve the performance of the Foil Heating System, assisting in reducing its long-term running costs. Learn more about the cost-savings of electric floor heating in our in-depth guide. 

The Element WiFi Thermostat is perfect to use with the Foil Heater in smaller home renovations and larger-scale projects alike. It offers zoned heating control which allows different areas of a property to be heated independently to each other whilst its SmartGeo technology ensures a space is heated to the right temperature, at the right time, automatically.  

Using a Warmup Smart thermostat to control the Foil Heater also allows you to enjoy world-class support through Smartcare by Warmup. Smartcare provides a direct line of communication to our team of experts who can deliver remote diagnostics to help resolve most issues you may experience with your heating whilst assisting in improving a home’s energy performance.   

How to order the Foil Heater for your property 

Want to find out how much the Foil Heater will cost to purchase for your upcoming project? Get an instant quote using our easy-to-use online quoting tool today. We’ll show you the best heating solutions for your needs and tell you how to buy it. The Foil Heater comes with a 15-year limited manufacturer warranty and, like all Warmup products, features our renowned Safety Net Installation Guarantee which protects the heater against any accidental damage that may occur during the installation process.