Installing underfloor heating is a popular option amongst self-builders and Scandia-Hus customers.

Advantages of Underfloor Heating

• Efficiency savings – underfloor heating operates at lower temperatures than radiator systems – reduced energy consumption and lower heating costs for the building
• System uses mainly radiant heat which gives an even distribution of warmth over the whole room
• Total temperature control on a room by room basis
• Compared to radiator systems the system is virtually silent running
• Underfloor Heating is suitable for use with most energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating systems including solar power heat pumps.

We have opted for a wet (water) system. The water flow temperature is low between 40-60 degrees which means that our ground source heat pump can be used to heat the system.

At the end of update 12 the floor insulation had been laid and a protective polythene sheet fitted.

In order to fit the underfloor heating, firstly a clip rail (which is the pipe fixing system) is laid out at 90 degrees to the direction that the pipe is going to lay (see photo above).

The manifold is mounted to the wall. The photograph below shows the ground floor manifold in the early stages of installation.

The pipe is laid out from the manifold to the furthest point in the room and then returned back to the manifold in a snake like pattern. There is approximately 200mm spacing between each run of pipe.

Once the pipe has been fitted and the circuits completed back to the manifold, the plumber pressure tested the system with water. This is to ensure that there are no leaks in the manifold, joints or pipes.