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Installing underfloor heating in a new build house

Although underfloor heating can be installed in homes of any shape and size, there is a strong argument for including a heated floor system to your new build at the design phase. Underfloor heating is easy to install and its energy efficiency will reduce your energy bills considerably. Our underfloor heating kits are designed to suit any kind of floor structure to make life easy, by taking radiators out of the equation you also benefit from substantial space savings. Check out our Solid Floor Underfloor Heating Kits and our Timber Floor Heating Kits.

Is underfloor heating hard to use?

At UK Underfloor Heating we design and supply warm water or wet underfloor heating kits which are designed to be easy to use, and easy to install. With the addition of a smart thermostat, you can also control every aspect of your heating system remotely. Your heated floor system can be split into separate heating zones which can be controlled or de-activated independently meaning you only heat your home when, and where it is needed, no waste of energy.

Underfloor heating works by creating radiant heat that warms the house from the floors up, radiators use convection heating which heats the room in a very uneven manner, with a lot of the warmth settling at the top of the room. Radiant heat is much more efficient than convection heat it heats the home evenly from the ground up. Despite having a large impact on your heating bills and the warmth of your home, underfloor heating is hidden away beneath the floorboards, removing those clunky radiators, freeing up space and saving you money.

Add value and improve your new build home with underfloor heating

Those looking at new builds tend to want to ensure their new home has all of the latest technology, the latest insulation, double glazing, and energy-efficient lighting, the same goes for a heating system. Building a new home with heated floors shows the customer that you have paid attention to detail, and you are helping make their home future proof.

Efficient underfloor heating systems can reduce your energy bills and in a world where energy prices are constantly increasing, underfloor heating systems are becoming more and more popular with many customers. Have you ever thought how underfloor heating can actually improve the way your home looks? You may not think that you notice your radiators but when you have been in a home without them you will be struck by how much simpler and more striking a room can look without them – the interior design options are endless. 

Modern smart thermostats are a great way to truly get the most out of your heating system, programme each zone separately and geo-fence your system so it turns on when you are on your way home, no wasted energy heating a home you are not in, and no more going home to a cold home.

Underfloor Heating Questions?

Still got a few questions? Not sure which system is right for you? Or maybe you don’t quite get why radiant heat is so much more efficient than convection heating? No problem, pick up the phone and ask us on 0800 232 1501  

Different types of Underfloor Heating Systems

There are two main types of underfloor heating, one is powered by your homes electricity mains, the other is uses hot water from your boiler to heat your floors via a manifold. Both are great ways of heating your home but here are a few pro’s and con’s to help you make your decision.

Water Underfloor Heating Systems

Water-based underfloor heating systems are a great way to ensure you reduce your heating costs in the long term. A warm water underfloor heating system uses a thermostat and a manifold that is connected to your boiler, this helps to control the amount of heat being generated and avoid the higher running costs that an electric system may generate.

A warm water underfloor heating system is also very reliable even during the colder months, it is during these months that a water system can save you money over an electric system, power companies have been known to increase energy rates during peak hours. Underfloor heating systems are a lot easier to install with two or more people, however, one of the benefits an electric system has over a water-based underfloor heating system is that it is slightly easier to install.

A water-based underfloor system can be a little more complex due to the piping involved and any troubleshooting that may be required. Underfloor heating using water is a little more costly in the set-up phase, however, the running costs are much cheaper.

Electric Underfloor Heating Systems

Electric underfloor heating is a good option if you are looking to install it in a small space, and time is of the essence. A water-based underfloor system can take longer to install, and you are likely to require some assistance for at least part of the installation, whereas an electric underfloor heating system is relatively simple to install solo.

All this being said it is always important to ensure that you have a qualified electrician on hand to connect the installation to your mains supply. Ideally, an electric underfloor system is best suited to a small area, typically one or two rooms, this is because the running costs of an electric based system tend to be higher than that of a water-based underfloor heating system. An electric underfloor system is easier and cheaper to install, but long-term they tend to be more expensive.

If you are looking at a larger install over numerous rooms then a water-based underfloor heating system will definitely save you money over time, by using thermostats you can control the energy usage a lot easier. If you use a smart thermostat then this allows you even finer control of your underfloor heating system and reduces your energy bills even further.

Under Floor Heating Questions

If you have any questions or queries about which type of underfloor heating system is best for you, feel free to give us a call 0800 232 1501. Or if you are ready to go ahead and make a purchase click here to visit our online underfloor heating store.  

How Ground Source Heat Pumps Work

Ground source heat pumps harness solar energy captured by the ground. The heat is transferred via a network of pipes buried under the surface of your garden or by using a series of vertical boreholes up to 100m deep. This heat is then used to power a buildings heating system. The temperature below the surface remains pretty constant throughout the year meaning that the GSHP system can be used year round.

The pipe network which is often referred to as a ground loop or a ground array is laid approx. 1.2m under the surface and is filled with a mixture of antifreeze and water. This ground loop then absorbs solar energy stored in the ground heat is then extracted by using expression and contraction technology, this energy is then fed in through your heating system.

The amount of heat your GSHP generates depends on the length of your ground loop, if you have a larger home to heat then you will need a larger ground loop. If space is of a premium another option may be to drill a vertical borehole, the deeper the borehole the more heat energy will be available. Typically an 8kW ground source heat pump would require 3 vertical boreholes of depths between 70-100m. These heat pumps can be connected to your underfloor heating system and controlled by modern smart thermostats.

Air Source Heat Pumps and Government Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Air source heat pumps use renewable heat energy extracted from the air outside and use this warm air to heat your home. Although the system uses electricity it is still a very green source of renewable heat energy.

These air source pumps work exceptionally well with underfloor heating due to the low input temperature needed for underfloor heating. Some benefits of using air source heat pumps are lower energy bills, barely any maintenance and upkeep, they can heat your home and water and there is even a government scheme called the Renewable Heat Incentive which offers quarterly cash payments to homeowners who install and use this type of system. (Full details are available on the gov.uk website.)

Air source pumps are also simpler to install than ground source pumps as the installation doesn’t involve digging and laying metres of piping. If you are looking for other way to make your home more eco-friendly and energy efficient you can read more here.

How Ground Source Heat Pumps work with Underfloor Heating Systems

Ground source heat pumps and underfloor heating go hand in hand, not only are they both extremely energy efficient methods of generating heat and warmth but they also work on a similar level of heat input. Radiators have a relatively small surface area in comparison to the rooms they are required to heat, to compensate for that they need to generate a lot of heat to warm the room.

Underfloor heating systems, by contrast, have a much much larger heating surface area, the entire floor plan of the room. This combined with the use of radiant heat vs the convection heat generated by radiators means that an underfloor heating system can operate as effectively at a much lower heat level.

Benefits of a Ground Source Heat Pump based Heating System.

A ground source heat pump harnesses the heat already being generated by the earth, meaning that they do not draw down from the national grid, or gas network, so no more high heating bills. Not only is a ground source/underfloor heating system more effective at heating your home it is a much, much greener and economic method of generating heat. If you are an environmentally conscious kind of person looking to reduce your carbon footprint this could be a great option for you to consider.

Is a ground source heat pump right for me?

It is worth noting that the upfront cost of setting up a GSHP system can be quite prohibitive, with prices ranging anywhere between £10K-£18K, the commonly accepted budget figure is £1200 per kW capacity. These costs are paid back over a number of years through drastically reduced energy bill as well as potential subsidies given out by the government. It is a lot easier to incorporate a ground source heat pump into your home at the design phase which is why they are most common in new build homes. It is also important to ensure that your home is well insulated to stop heat escaping, and while the ground loop tends to come with a warranty of 2-3 years they should last you 20+ years.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this or anything else relating to underfloor heating feel free to pick up the phone and give us a call, we will be happy to help – 0800 232 1501.  

We are here to help you find the parts you need for your underfloor heating system. Any manufacturer, any age, we’ll do our best to locate what you need!

Our spares and repairs sourcing service means that if your system breaks down or requires spare parts, we will find you the exact parts you need, leaving you safe in the knowledge that you are buying the correct item and also that we will only source parts that are safe, high quality and reliable. We can help with:

• Replacement underfloor heating products
• Old underfloor systems
• Broken underfloor heating parts
• Upgrading your existing underfloor heating system
• We source for all systems, makes and models

Submit the form below and an underfloor heating expert will we be in touch as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Profix panels are formed plastic panels that fit together to form a unique low profile underfloor heating pipe retention system. The panels are simple to fix directly to the floor and the pre-formed grooves help you lay the pipe in the perfect position quickly and easily.

Profix underfloor heating systems can be laid straight down onto any existing floor type to provide a quick and hassle free underfloor heating system with a very high heat output. These warm water underfloor heating systems provides excellent response times compared to many traditional methods due to the excellent insulation value of the screed.

Low profile heating systems can add as little as 15mm to your floor, making them excellent heating options for homes that don’t allow much floor build up or homes with low ceilings. Traditional underfloor heating options raise the floor by much more which can mean they can be unsuitable for many buildings.

Find out more about about low profile underfloor heating systems here

Visit our Retro-Fit Underfloor Heating store here.

Efficient and affordable warm water underfloor heating systems

If you would like more information about the Profix panels we stock please call our experts in store on 0800 232 1501 or view Profix underfloor heating panels in our store. 

Installing a low profile underfloor heating system yourself can be very straightforward but we are always here to offer advice or support if you are unsure about any aspects of installing your own heating system.

Measuring Underfloor Heating Pipe Centres

What does the term ‘pipe centres’ mean?

‘Pipe Centres’ in context of underfloor heating is very simply the distance between two pipes. The measurement is taken from the centre of one pipe to the centre of the next. The diagram below shows the difference between 150mm pipe centres and 200mm pipe centres.

How far apart should my underfloor heating pipes be laid?

We recommend laying your pipes either 150mm or 200mm apart depending on the room. For example; If your underfloor heating pipes are 150mm apart, you will need more pipe to cover the floor than if your pipes were 200mm apart. Your pipes will be closer together and you will use more pipe to cover the area but the heat output will be much higher. This is recommended for areas and rooms with high heat loss such as conservatories. If you have a room that is well insulated or has little heat loss, having your underfloor heating pipes further apart is the most efficient way to heat the space.

Looking for more information, please visit our Help Zone where you can find, Guides, Instructions, diagrams and information to help you with any underfloor heating project, big or small.

If you are thinking about purchasing an underfloor heating system and are unsure about any details, call us on 0800 232 1501 and we will advise you of the best way to go forward. Alternatively you can get an underfloor heating quote today and we will design the perfect underfloor heating system for your specific requirements.

Two loops in a room

When installing underfloor heating in any room, please be aware that the maximum length of pipe in one loop is 120 linear metres.

Our single area packs come with a minimum of two loops.

For underfloor heating packs larger than 24sqm at 200mm centres, you will need to install two equal loops.

Install approximately 3 to 4 runs (depending on room size) of fixing rail use the insulation clips for the turns and in-between the fixing rails.

One loop in a room

Our single packs up to 24sqm at 200mm centres, can be installed as a single loop.

Install approximately 3 to 4 runs (depending on room size) of fixing rail, using the insulation clips for the turns and in-between the fixing rails.

Water based underfloor heating can be operated from many different heat sources from traditional boilers to low temperature heat pump systems. 

Any method of heating water can be used to run a water based underfloor heating system including gas boilers, oil boilers and even electric boilers. 

As heat pumps gain popularity everyone is looking at upgrading their heating system to get the greatest benefit. Water based underfloor heating and heat pumps go hand in hand and are efficient when used together as water based underfloor heating can operate at the lower input temperatures a heat pump can provide. 

Both air source and ground source heat pumps can be used with water based underfloor heating. 

If you would like a chat with our heating experts we would be happy to offer advice and suggestions. Click here to contact us.

When choosing a thermostat for your underfloor heating there are two main options, wired or wireless. 

Wired Underfloor Heating Thermostats

A wired thermostat needs a cable to be run from the thermostat location to the manifold for power and to turn the system on. 

Wireless Underfloor Heating Thermostats

A wireless thermostat does not need a cable and relies on batteries for power. The thermostat communicates to a receiver wired in at the manifold location. 

Both types of thermostats can be controlled via an app on a smartphone with the inclusion of a hub.

You can view our range of high-end thermostats by clicking here.

Or view all our Smart Hubs by clicking here.