Underfloor Heating Advice on installation

[TerryUK]

Hello,



New to the forums, I don't know if anyone is able to help me or give me some advice or tips (I'm not an electrician).



Me and my partner are buying a new build home and we wanted to fit underfloor heating downstairs, we have worked out it will be approx 15sqm of matting 100w matting, I believe this will mean wen it's on it will be consuming 1500 watts? My question is this, when we hire an electrician to connect it up, will he be able to simply be able to wire a switched spur from a double socket nearby or will a new ring need to be wired in? My partner is having nightmares that loads of holes will need to be made in our new walls if a new ring needs to be installed and our builder won't change what is set on the plans. I've counted 8 double sockets in total in the lounge / kitchen area but unsure if they are one separate rings (Not sure if this is relevant).



My 2nd questions, which I know is really hard to answer but I'll ask anyway, how much would I expect to pay to have an electrician come out and do the work (Fitting a switched spur from a double socket - if possible - and connecting the underfloor heating system to it?

Any other tips or things to look our for?

Thank You!

 

[SparkyChick]

To answer your second question.. in my view it depends largely on how far you are looking at putting the SFCU away from the existing socket. If it's next door to the socket and the wall is board, then it could be as little as an hour.

If the mat is 100w per sq m, and the total load is 1500w, then this is roughly 7A, so it should be fine to run off an existing ring circuit. My personal preference would be to run a new circuit for it just to keep it separated from the sockets.

At some point in the future, it is likely to develop a fault that could trip the RCD protecting the circuit it's connected to. If thats the same circuit as say your fridge/freezer and you're away for the weekend, you may come back to a puddle. Just something to think about because they do go wrong.

 

[MJPD29]

My advice is don't get underfloor heating, when it breaks down, and it will break down it will be a nightmare to repair

 

[MDJ]

My advice is don't get underfloor heating, when it breaks down, and it will break down it will be a nightmare to repair

I don't agree with that, I have installed it before, some of it nearly 10 years old and it is still going strong, that said I don't like it.

 

[MJPD29]

I don't agree with that, I have installed it before, some of it nearly 10 years old and it is still going strong, that said I don't like it.

I've only Installed it one a couple of occasions, but I've been called out to it not working on many!

 

[suffolkspark]

I don't like warm feet

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Dont like the stuff myself. If it goes wrong then as others have said it can be a right pain to sort out.
However, one option could be to use one of the double sockets and utilising frid modules, swap out the socket for the a switch, fuse and outlet module.
Downside you loose a double socket, but benefit is that it minimises cutting into the wall for a seperate fcu.

 

[bigspark17]

I've only Installed it one a couple of occasions, but I've been called out to it not working on many!

Usually poorly installed elec ufh is the problem, installed correctly will br fine

 

[TerryUK]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't realise they went wrong so often. My parents have a small 1sqm patch on their ensuite and they have never had a problem. The only reason we wanted it was as the kitchen and lounge is all open plan, we wanted tiles, and they are freezing to stand on so just wanted something to keep them comfy to walk on, we are not looking to actually use it as a primary heating source. I like the idea of taking out a socket and using the space, I don't think we have any plans to have anything plugged into the socket we are looking to put the spur next to.

What normally goes wrong with them? Just poor quality parts / bad fitting? Or do they just go bad?

 

[westward10]

What is the current heating at the property going to be.

 

[TerryUK]

What is the current heating at the property going to be.

Gas central heating from a combi boiler.

 

[MDJ]

, I didn't realise they went wrong so often.

What makes you think they do?

 

[TerryUK]

The first few posters haha!

 

[westward10]

Gas central heating from a combi boiler.

You could put in a wet underfloor heating system from the existing system.

 

[MDJ]

Oh I see, you believe a couple of posters, okay if I tell you to jump off a bridge and 20 others say no would you? lol

 

[bigspark17]

I've only Installed it one a couple of occasions, but I've been called out to it not working on many!

Usually poorly installed elec ufh is the problem, installed correctly will br fine

 

[Midwest]

My advice is don't get underfloor heating, when it breaks down, and it will break down it will be a nightmare to repair

My advice is don't install electric UFH, as it sooooo expensive to run.

 

[MDJ]

My advice is don't install electric UFH, as it sooooo expensive to run.

this is very true

 

[Midwest]

You could put in a wet underfloor heating system from the existing system.

Tiss a new build, that ain't practicable.

 

[Octopus]

So .............. be VERY careful if you do proceed ........ make sure the spark supplies the kit, he tests the mat out of the box, when its been laid and again after its been tiled ................... miss out any of these steps and you could be rapping the floor up again and / or having an argument about how's fault it it. Many manufacturers won't honor guarantees if you don't test at all these steps

PLUS .......... how big is the area? How many mats are you planning on? and how many controllers?

Tread carefully is my advice - and then don't be alarmed when your lecky bills go up significantly...

 

[ruston]

Usually poorly installed elec ufh is the problem, installed correctly will br fine

Combined with that the floating of screed and tile laying .

 

[TerryUK]

We had originally wanted to go for a wet system but the builders won't but it in and it would raise the floor to high and require a lot of work.

The area is about 20sqm but we only want the main parts where we will be walking so Im guessing we will ned about 15sqm, I was going to just use the 1 controller and 1 mat.

I know its going to cost quite a bit to run, our hopes were that as the house is so well insulated the central heating downstairs won't come on very often and with the insulation boards installed, the warmup times will be fairy quick and the underfloor heating system won't have to work too hard to keep the chill off the tiles.

 

[telectrix]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't realise they went wrong so often. My parents have a small 1sqm patch on their ensuite and they have never had a problem. The only reason we wanted it was as the kitchen and lounge is all open plan, we wanted tiles, and they are freezing to stand on so just wanted something to keep them comfy to walk on, we are not looking to actually use it as a primary heating source. I like the idea of taking out a socket and using the space, I don't think we have any plans to have anything plugged into the socket we are looking to put the spur next to.

What normally goes wrong with them? Just poor quality parts / bad fitting? Or do they just go bad?

SOCKS.

 

[Octopus]

We had originally wanted to go for a wet system but the builders won't but it in and it would raise the floor to high and require a lot of work.

The area is about 20sqm but we only want the main parts where we will be walking so Im guessing we will ned about 15sqm, I was going to just use the 1 controller and 1 mat.

I know its going to cost quite a bit to run, our hopes were that as the house is so well insulated the central heating downstairs won't come on very often and with the insulation boards installed, the warmup times will be fairy quick and the underfloor heating system won't have to work too hard to keep the chill off the tiles.

Underfloor heating doesn’t heat up quickly .....

 

[JC Heat]

My advice is don't get underfloor heating, when it breaks down, and it will break down it will be a nightmare to repair

Underfloor Heating does'nt break down, it gets damaged when floor surfaces are lifted or during laying of floor surfaces. We are an underfloor heating company and constantly do repairs. All you need to do is find a reputable company to assist if this happens.

 

[MJPD29]

Underfloor Heating does'nt break down, it gets damaged when floor surfaces are lifted or during laying of floor surfaces. We are an underfloor heating company and constantly do repairs. All you need to do is find a reputable company to assist if this happens.

It doesnt break down? So you offer a lifetime warranty?

 

[rolyberkin]

I have only ever fitted two systems, one in my own house under a tiled floor which I never got around to actually connecting! Another for a client who had laid it themselves, when I got there and tested all the circuits one of them was duff, the underfloor company refused to honour the guarantee stating that it must have been damaged when it was put down as it was a DIY job, the client couldn't bear taking their newly laid floor up To be honest this one experience has put me off as in my view if you have a circuit go pear shaped it will in all likelihood never be repaired leaving you with a cold patch. Or in my case a warm floor as it is in a room above a wood burner and was never needed!

 

[chris gray]

You could just install a plinth heater

 

[MDJ]

I've only Installed it one a couple of occasions, but I've been called out to it not working on many!

Okay fair enough, if true then I cannot argue with that. I wonder if make of mats make a difference, what do you install? or what makes have you been called out to look at? cheers fella.

 

[mattg4321]

I mustve fitted 100 or more systems made by HeatMat in the last 10-15 years. Including a few in relatives/my own house that I know for sure still work.

I've had to replace maybe 3 or 4 programmers/thermostats in that time and only twice has the mat itself become a problem. Once someone drilled through it, and the other time the kitchen got flooded. The mat has a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects I believe.

 

[JC Heat]

It doesnt break down? So you offer a lifetime warranty?

We have been in this business for 30 years now, and no, it doesn't wear down on its own unless it gets damaged by outside factors. The confusion comes when it gets slightly damaged by tilers or other trade people, the heater works for a while and then eventually breaks causing the assumption that the heater broke down.

 

[Boing89]

I fitted it in my own bathroom around 2002, I sold that house 2 years ago this month and it was still working fine after 14 years. You’re right not to have it as a primary heat source though. I took the radiator out and tiled over the pipes and regretted it within months. It was nice to keep the feet warm but the bathroom never properly warmed up.