- Our company is registered as Underfloor heating HQ Limited in the UK.
- Underfloor heating HQ company number is: UK 08034979
- Our VAT registration number is: 141926124
Underfloor heating explained
Underfloor heating, whether its electric or a wet (system), can be used either to heat an otherwise cold floor, or in the correct circumstances be used as a stand a lone heating system.
The Romans invented underfloor heating figuring it to be the best way to heat a large room without having an intense heat in one area. This is as true today as it was then. When underfloor heating is being used as the primary source of heating, clients may choose to remove, space-intruding radiators.
There are two types of underfloor heating: electric and water based systems
Electric heating systems
Electric underfloor heating is usually an electric heating wire that comes in fixed sizes, either on a reel or with the wire fixed onto a mat. Electric underfloor heating comes in various specifications and we’ll go through that in more detail later.
Electric underfloor heating is mostly used in area specific heating, for examples renovations of bathrooms, kitchens and conservatories.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- The beauty of electric underfloor heating is that it’s so thin. Our heating wires are only 2mm thin, so even with a levelling compound spread on top, it only adds 4 to 5mm more depth to a floor.
- It’s easy to install – Any keen DIY enthusiast can fit the wire or the mats with only the connections requiring a qualified electrician to complete.
- Rapid response times – You can turn the heating up or down and feel a difference in the heat within an hour.
- Electric underfloor heating is a direct form of heating as it usually sits just beneath the tiles.
- Far cheaper to install than wet systems far cheaper to buy than wet systems
- Ideal for new build or more ideally refurbishment work.
- all you need is the correct sized under floor heating system, a thermostat and an R.C.D covering the electrical supply.
Weaknesses
- Electric heating is more expensive to run at approximately 2 pence per m2 per hour.
- Electric underfloor heating is not as good as a wet system under wooden floor finishes as clients cannot have rugs or mats as all of the heat has to come through wood and heat blockages must be avoided.
Electric heating systems
Water based underfloor heating systems
Water based systems are generally used in new build projects and come in pipe format, with hot water being channelled through the pipes powered by gas.
The pipes are laid under the screed, so they are an indirect heating system. Water based underfloor heating systems are installed usually beneath the screed in new build projects or large extensions. Water based systems are more complicated, less versatile, and are not really DIY products
Strengths and weaknesses
The biggest benefit of a wet system is that gas is cheaper than electricity, so the running costs are lower so it’s ideal for larger projects and new build projects..
The negative is that it is very hard to control the heat either up or down, taking some 4 to 5 hours to feel any difference in the heat.
Far more expensive to install and usually needs far more depth so not really ideal for renovation work.
With the growth in tile sales, people are experiencing the beauty of hard wearing, hygienic, easy to clean, tiles! The only downside is the fact they are cold to walk on, hence the obvious need for underfloor heating.
Our High Quality Underfloor Heating
We have been to the factory and specified exactly how we want our product made and to exacting standards. Having been in the industry for over 20 years we know exactly what is good and bad in underfloor heating. Our heating wire is made in China in a state of the art factory and we have carried out all relevant Q & A tests. No underfloor heating company in the UK make their own wire, they all import them and reassemble in the UK.
Our heating wire is only 2mm thin and is made up in the following way.
Single core flexi heating wire
We always used to have multi strand as it used to be more flexible but the new single core wire is equally as flexible and has the added advantage that is a client damages the heating element the fault will show immediately and we will replace free of charge before the tiles are installed.
- Flexi heating wire
- FEP – Fluoropolymer insulation – In our opinion this is the best insulation and we have the paperwork that documents this. Our wires can withstand temperatures of 205 degrees C
- 6 strand earth braid around the heating wire – An earth braid is far superior to cheaper alternatives like alloy sheaths. Aluminium earthing can if damaged make the mat impossible to repair. Warm Up only have 4 strands.
- Nylon outer insulation – Nylon is far superior to the cheaper fatter online products that use PVC outer layers. Our outer insulation can withstand temperatures of up to105 degrees C
All of our mat systems have our sticky backing that makes installation quick and easy.
USP’S – Our products are high quality
- made to a brilliant specification
- only 2mm thin so comparable to other high quality brands
- mats have a full sticky backing
- loose wire comes with self adhesive tape for fast installation
- lifetime and safety net guarantee
- echo Wi-Fi voice controlled thermostats
- technical helpline
- not sold online
- can’t be compared against budget 3.6mm thick cables
All of our heating products have a lifetime guarantee and an accidental damage warranty, so if you cut through the cable we’ll repair or exchange free of charge.
Poor quality products are sold even in some of the largest stores. Our mats have a consistent space between heating wires to produce a uniform heat underfoot.
Now pick the right product for your project
Underfloor Heating HQ have three main products to try and keep it simple for you
Chose from the following:
- Loose wire underfloor heating – We recommend these for smaller awkward shaped areas like bathrooms.
- Sticky backed 160 watt per m² mats – We recommend these for floor warming in larger more rectangular shaped areas like conservatories and kitchens.
- Sticky backed 200 watt per m² mats – We recommend these for maximum heat in larger more rectangular shaped areas like conservatories and kitchens.
If using any heating as the only source of heating the room has to be built to modern standards, with insulation in the floor, double glazed etc. Contact us for advice.
To make it easier for you to give the right advice just follow this easy link system below for each room.
Now you need a thermostat to control the heating
We have kept our range simple – a state of the art echo voice controlled Wi-Fi thermostat, a programmable thermostat and a manual on/off. Our heating will work with any thermostat designed for use with underfloor heating. Our programmable thermostats have an air and floor sensor. The floor sensor is used for floor warming & the air sensor for air warming.
Other considerations
Insulated tile-backer boards –
Insulation boards now can start at 4mm thin and go up to 70mm. If there is no insulation beneath the sub-floor these are an excellent alternative. If installing on a cold uninsulated concrete floor these are almost essential and should really only not be used if the height difference added is to great.
Sizes usually used are 6 & 10mm – Obviously the thicker the board the more insulation you get.
The heating will heat up quicker, hold the heat better and make the system more efficient to run – Highly recommended.
What happens if the heating goes wrong?
If the heating is damaged on installation as long as the installer checks the ohms reading (in the instructions) we’ll replace the heating product free of charge.
If the heating fails in the future the products (mats and wires) are covered by our lifetime guarantee and we’ll send an engineer to find (to one or two tiles) where the break is and repair the wire so it’s as good as new. This is very rare and if installed to the instructions this should never happen, but if it does we have it covered.
De- Coupling membranes
When installing on a wooden sub-floor de-coupling membranes are a very good way to stop movement in the tiles. Our underfloor heating will work with de-coupling mats already on the market.
