Plumbed Underfloor Heating - how & which?

[darrenh]

Hello - I wondered if you could help me.

I am looking at installing central heating base dunderfloor heating through my kitchen and (new) conservatory - given the expense I was looking to do it myself (I have some basic plumbing experience).

I have a few questions:
1) I am looking to maintain the current floor height in the kitchen - it looks like the ufh kits require insultation board then the piping which will raise this - would I need to did out the floor or can channels be cut etc?
2) I sort of hopeed it was simply a case of connected the pipining to the existing radiator main - the examples on the web I have seen require their own pumps and rings etc - is this the case for all of the products on offer?
3) Given the kitchen area is quite far away from the boiler, does this cause any issues (or can the new system be ajoined to the heating system at the existing, and to be removed, kitchen radiator?
4) Any advcie on which to go for?

thanks in advance

Darrenh

 

[Softus]

1) I am looking to maintain the current floor height in the kitchen - it looks like the ufh kits require insultation board then the piping which will raise this - would I need to did out the floor or can channels be cut etc?

There's another topic on which the same question was asked. Click here.

2) I sort of hopeed it was simply a case of connected the pipining to the existing radiator main

That's not hope; that's wishful thinking.

the examples on the web I have seen require their own pumps and rings etc - is this the case for all of the products on offer?

Yes.

3) Given the kitchen area is quite far away from the boiler, does this cause any issues

Yes. You need to zone off the underfloor heating segment of pipework.

(or can the new system be ajoined to the heating system at the existing, and to be removed, kitchen radiator?

No.

4) Any advcie on which to go for?

Any one that's been designed. No offence intended, but so far yours hasn't been.

 

[billy bob]

You can run UFH off your radiator system, but the capability of the boiler would need to be checked, have a look at http://www.jupiter-system.com/PDF/MR2AManifoldInstallationGuide.PDF I would recommend the use of a competent installer and from the litreature so does the manufacturer.

 

[Softus]

You can run UFH off your radiator system

You're misleading the OP by saying that.

but the capability of the boiler would need to be checked

Why? Checked for what?

have a look at http://www.jupiter-system.com/PDF/MR2AManifoldInstallationGuide.PDF

...which says:

The MR2A is a mini mixing valve and pump system connected to a split circuit manifold.

So it isn't just "run off your radiator system".

 

[keycare]

Nu-heat do a ONEZONE system that can be easily integrated into an existing central heating system. It uses it's own pump and blending valves to get the correct temp for the UFH.

 

[Softus]

Is this now just a site for promoting other people's products?

There are scores of companies who are tripping over their neighbours cocker spaniels to sell you underfloor heating systems that will integrate into an existing heating system (the alternative to which I suppose is that it won't integrate and you have to buy an entirely new and separate heating system).

The point about this topic, and similar ones, is that the OP is barking up the wrong tree in attempting to do it on the cheap. u/f systems aren't prohibitively expensive when you do it properly, so the best thing is to do it properly.

 

[kevplumb]

Is this now just a site for promoting other people's products?

good point

however we would charge upwards of £2000 and only use top quaility parts and skilled technicans

 

[htgeng]

however we would charge upwards of £2000 and only use top quaility parts and skilled technicans

Hey good to see you back Kev. You've been away for a while?!

 

[billy bob]

You can run UFH off your radiator system

You're misleading the OP by saying that.

but the capability of the boiler would need to be checked

Why? Checked for what?

have a look at http://www.jupiter-system.com/PDF/MR2AManifoldInstallationGuide.PDF

...which says:

The MR2A is a mini mixing valve and pump system connected to a split circuit manifold.

So it isn't just "run off your radiator system".

Try reading the whole PDF, the MR2A is designed to be connected to an existing heating circuit
The MR2A unit can simply be considered as a radiator
I said to check the boiler purely because if the OP is adding this as an extention to his existing system, that the output is capable of serving the extra heat load.

The OP has asked for advise, I have given him the option of a system that allows minimum height, so what is wrong with recommending a certain product that can acheive this.