Underfloor Heating

Installation, Servicing & Repair

Call – 0800 234 3075

TM Hughes & Son offer a full Underfloor Heating installation, maintenance and repair service for Maldon residents and the surrounding areas.

We are a team of Gas Safe Registered engineers with over 30 years of experience.

We Fit Wet & Electric Underfloor Heating Systems

Both wet and electric systems have their advantages and disadvantages. The kind you choose will depend on several factors such as your property, type of existing central heating system, and budget.

Here are some facts about both types of system

Wet System

Wet system Underfloor Heating’s powered by a hot water pipe that runs under the floor.
A manifold’s connected to the pipe, which takes hot water from your boiler and uses a pump to circulate the hot water around the pipes
A thermostat is connected to the system so you can control the temperature.
You can have a single thermostat controlling or multiple zone systems so you can control the temperature of each room separately.

A wet system will work with all flooring, wood, carpet, tile, stone etc.
Wet Underfloor Heating’s extraordinarily versatile and can be fitted in any home on any floor.
Pipes can be set into a screed, between joists under floorboards or over existing flooring.
When pipes are used with screed, a layer of Celotex insulation’s fitted, the pipe sits on top of the Celotex held securely in place by clips.
Screeds laid over the pipes, the later of insulation below ensures no valuable heat escapes.
When low ceilings or suspended floors are present, floorboards are lifted, and pipes are run between joists.
Insulations placed between the joists to stop heat from escaping. Pipes are fitted on top of the insulation with aluminium spreader plates, so they don’t move.
The space between the joists is screeded to ensure the best possible insulation and minimal heat loss.
Floating floor panels and solid floor panels are utilised when the Underfloor heating system must be fitted over existing flooring.
The floor panels are pre-insulated with aluminium foil for maximal heat retention and feature a pre-cut groove to house the pipe.
Floating floor panels are best for laminate flooring, while solid panels are best for tiled floors (adhesive and tiles sticks to them)
Wet systems are more expensive to install than electric system Underfloor Heating.
The wet system has better energy efficiency than the electric system Underfloor Heating.
A wet system is cheaper to run the electric system Underfloor heating
Wet system Underfloor Heating’s cheaper to run than conventional gas-powered Central Heating.

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Electric System

Electric Underfloor Heating systems are available in readymade mats or as a cable.
Mats are insulated; they are rolled out over the floor and contain a ‘snaking’ wire that provides the heat.
Mats are available as standard, foil or screed system.
Standard electric Underfloor heating mats will work with most types of flooring.
Foil mats are extremely thin and are better for carpets and vinyl floors.
Screed mats are laid and screeded over (much like a wet system)
Electric Underfloor mats work better for larger areas.
Electric Underfloor cables work better for smaller or awkwardly shaped areas.
Cables are run under the floor up and down until the whole rooms covered.
Both mats and cables are wired into the mains Electricity.
All types of electric Underfloor Heating are cheaper to install than wet Underfloor Heating.
Electric Underfloor Heating is less energy efficient than wet system Underfloor Heating.
Electric Underfloor Heating costs more to run than Wet Underfloor heating and gas central heating systems.

Wet Or Electric?

If you have a boiler powered central heating system, you have the luxury of picking Gas or Electric Underfloor Heating. While a wet system is more expensive to install, it’s cheaper to run so that it will pay for itself in the long run.

Wet systems will also last 35+ years, so you have plenty of time to get your money back on saved energy.

If you only want to heat a small area of your home, then an electric system may be a better choice.

Every person’s situation’s different. If you have trouble deciding between the two, speak to one of our qualified gas engineers who’ll point you in the right direction.

Is Underfloor Heating Worth It? Yes Definitely

People often wonder if Underfloor Heating’s a good investment. Why not stick to conventional radiators?

Underfloor Heating is far superior to conventional radiators and is a good investment for a start. Systems will last 35+ years, maybe even longer. The pump may need replacing every 10-15 years, as may the washers and seals. All are above ground, easily accessed and easily changed. The pipes will remain maintenance-free.

Underfloor Heating is far more efficient at heating rooms than conventional radiators using less energy to heat the same area resulting in better energy efficiency.

Improved energy efficiency results in lower fuel bills, better for your pocket and the environment.

Heating elements are beneath the floor out of the way they don’t use wall space (unlike radiators), and they’re near impossible to damage. The entire floors heated evenly by rising heat over the whole area.

Rising heat maintains a constant temperature throughout the room while radiators only omit the heat from a single small area. A warm floor feels much nicer than a cold floor.

Removing the radiators will make any room feel bigger; you’ll also have some extra wall space.

Underfloor Heating is very desirable. A system will help you sell or rent your home while adding value to your property.

Installation

Our engineers have installed many Underfloor Heating systems in and around Maldon over the years. Rest assured, you’re dealing with professionals who have the real-world experience to build you the perfect system to a very high standard.

We can install systems in existing homes of any age and extensions and newly built properties. How we fit your system will depend on your home, existing heating system and floor type.

An Installation Example

Here’s how we would fit an Underfloor Heating system in a home with a suspended floor

The manifolds fitted in a tucked away area out of sights such as a kitchen unit or cupboard—the manifolds the go-between the boiler and the underfloor pipes. The manifold takes hot water from the boiler and distributes it under the floor with a circulation pump.
Floorboards are lifted, the joists are dusted down, so no debris interferes with the insulation.
Gaps are cut into the joists to allow the fitting of the underfloor pipe.
Celotex insulations cut to size and fitted into the gaps between joists. Edges are sealed.
Pipe clips are fitted into the Celotex.
The pipes fitted, so it runs from one end of the room to the other, covering the whole floor. It’s then clipped into place and secured.
Both ends of the pipe are connected to the manifold and tightened.
The systems pressure tested and checked for leaks.
Screeds poured into the gaps between the joists and left to set
Floorboards are relaid ready for the top flooring.
The process is repeated throughout each room where Underfloor Heatings installed

Servicing

It’s best to look after your entire heating system (underfloor & central Heating), it’s best to…

Have an annual Boiler Service
Have your central and Underfloor Heating system checked annually (when you have your boiler serviced)
Have your entire system Powerflushed every 5-6 years

Underfloor Heating Checks

Annual checks will ensure the smooth running of your system.

We’ll check the pump to ensure it’s appropriately set and running at the correct power distributing hot water at full capacity. The manifolds checked for leaks, fittings are tightened and seals and washers showing any wear are replaced.

The floors have gone over with a thermal imaging camera to make sure it’s heating all over and there are no cold spots.

Underfloor Powerflushing

Central heating systems (including Underfloor pipes, pumps and manifolds) build up with limescale, rust and oil created from the internal components. These elements break down to form sludge, silt like substance that prevents heating systems from running at their full potential. Or worse, blocking them completely.

Powerflushing your entire system with select chemicals removes the sludge and gets your system back to full working order. The systems refilled with water containing inhibitors to help prevent future issues.

Repair

Underfloor Heating systems can develop issues such as airlocks or not heating sufficiently. We offer a full Underfloor Heating repair service for the people of Maldon.

Issues are quickly singled out with a thermal imaging camera that shows us the floor’s warm and cold areas (when the Heating switched on). A cold area usually signifies an issue. It could be an airlock, a bubble of air that’s preventing the pipe from Heating entirely. Airlocks are easily removed.

If an airlock’s been ruled out, then your pump could be the cause. Pumps last for around 10-15 years. They usually drop in performance (which cause cold spots) before eventually failing (your floor won’t heat up at all). Pumps can be removed and replaced, as can old manifolds.

Our engineers are available 24/7 for Underfloor Heating emergencies such as leaks or failure.