Underfloor Heating Guides

How long does underfloor heating take to warm up, and should you leave it on?
Screed underfloor heating takes hours to warm from cold, overlay and electric floors far less. When to use setbacks instead of switching off, how heat pumps should run and how optimum start helps. Read more...
Underfloor heating in an extension or conservatory
How to heat an extension or conservatory with underfloor heating: a single room mixing pack, a new zone on an existing manifold, or electric for small areas. Covers slab insulation, glazing heat loss and zoning an open-plan kitchen. Read more...
Underfloor heating in a bathroom: water or electric, wet rooms and towel rails
Electric underfloor heating is usually simplest for a single bathroom, while water suits bathrooms on a whole-house wet system. This guide covers output on a small free floor area, wet rooms, membranes, floor probes, towel rails and zoning. Read more...
Maintaining underfloor heating: bleeding air, flushing loops and annual checks
Underfloor heating needs little maintenance, and the pipe or cable in the floor needs none. This guide covers the yearly checks at the manifold: pressure, air, flow meters, actuators, inhibitor, flushing, pump care and electric UFH testing. Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How to balance underfloor heating loops and set flow meters
How to balance underfloor heating loops and set flow meters
Balancing gives each underfloor heating loop the flow it needs, so short loops stop stealing water from long ones. This guide shows how to work out target flows in L/min,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Electric underfloor heating in bathrooms: zones, RCDs and Part P
Electric underfloor heating in bathrooms: zones, RCDs and Part P
Electric underfloor heating is allowed in bathrooms if it has 30mA RCD protection, an earthed heating cable and a thermostat outside zones 1 and 2. This guide explains the zones,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Heat loss and underfloor heating output: will it heat my room?
Heat loss and underfloor heating output: will it heat my room?
Underfloor heating will heat a room if the floor output per m² is at least the room heat loss divided by its heated floor area, up to about 100W/m². This... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: BS EN 1264 and BS 7671 in plain English for underfloor heating
BS EN 1264 and BS 7671 in plain English for underfloor heating
BS EN 1264 is the standard for water underfloor heating, and BS 7671 covers the electrics, including Section 753 for electric floor heating. This guide explains what each part covers... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating pipe centres: 100, 150 or 200mm?
Underfloor heating pipe centres: 100, 150 or 200mm?
Use 150mm pipe centres for most rooms, 100mm where heat loss is high or flow temperatures are low, and 200mm only in low heat loss rooms. This guide shows how... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating, Part L and the Future Homes Standard
Underfloor heating, Part L and the Future Homes Standard
The 2026 edition of Approved Document L comes into force in England on 24 March 2027 and puts the Future Homes Standard into practice. This guide explains the current Part... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Screed depths and drying times for underfloor heating
Screed depths and drying times for underfloor heating
Screed depth sets your floor levels and pipe cover, and drying time decides when the floor finish can go down. This guide gives depths and cover over pipe, drying times... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating pressure dropping: causes and how to find the leak
Underfloor heating pressure dropping: causes and how to find the leak
A sealed underfloor heating system should hold its cold pressure from week to week. This guide explains which drops are normal, where systems usually lose water, and how to split... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Insulation under underfloor heating: what you need and why
Insulation under underfloor heating: what you need and why
Insulation under underfloor heating sends heat up into the room instead of into the slab or ceiling below. This guide gives the BS EN 1264-4 minimums, Part L U-values, board... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: UFH actuator, zone valve and wiring centre faults: how to find and fix them
UFH actuator, zone valve and wiring centre faults: how to find and fix them
When a UFH room stays cold but the heat source works, the fault is usually an actuator, a stuck manifold valve pin, the wiring centre or a zone valve. This... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating under tiles, LVT, laminate, engineered wood and carpet
Underfloor heating under tiles, LVT, laminate, engineered wood and carpet
Every common floor finish works over underfloor heating if you stay within its thermal resistance and surface temperature limits. This guide gives tog values, the 27°C limits for wood, laminate... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Air in underfloor heating: how to bleed and purge the loops
Air in underfloor heating: how to bleed and purge the loops
Air trapped in underfloor heating loops causes gurgling, cold patches and bouncing flow meters, and the manifold air vent alone can't clear it. This guide shows how to purge each... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating in joisted timber floors: spreader plates vs routed chipboard
Underfloor heating in joisted timber floors: spreader plates vs routed chipboard
Water underfloor heating in a joisted floor goes into routed chipboard, onto aluminium spreader plates or up from below. This guide compares the methods, joist notching rules, outputs and insulation,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: MLCP multilayer pipe for plumbing and heating: a practical guide
MLCP multilayer pipe for plumbing and heating: a practical guide
MLCP has an aluminium layer between two plastic layers, so it bends by hand, holds its shape and blocks oxygen. This guide covers sizes and bores against copper, joining, bending,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Castellated panels and liquid screed for underfloor heating
Castellated panels and liquid screed for underfloor heating
Castellated panels hold underfloor heating pipe between raised bosses, so liquid screed can't float it during the pour. This guide covers screed depths, preparing the floor, pipe choice and a... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: M-profile vs U-profile press jaws explained
M-profile vs U-profile press jaws explained
M-profile jaws press metal press fittings such as copper M-press, and U-profile jaws press multilayer (MLCP) fittings. This guide explains the profiles, which jaws fit which MaxHeatUFH tool, and priced... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Electric underfloor heating thermostats and 16A loads
Electric underfloor heating thermostats and 16A loads
Electric floor heating thermostats switch the full heating load, so they must be rated for it: 16A at 230V is 3,680W. This guide shows how to work out the load,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Low-profile overlay underfloor heating: heights, tiling direct and retrofit tips
Low-profile overlay underfloor heating: heights, tiling direct and retrofit tips
Low-profile overlay boards add 15 to 25mm to an existing floor and most can be tiled directly with no screed. This guide covers full build-up heights, tiling rules, 12mm vs... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Floor probes, air sensing and floor limits for underfloor heating
Floor probes, air sensing and floor limits for underfloor heating
Most underfloor heating rooms are controlled on air temperature, with a floor probe added as a limit under wood, vinyl and electric mats. This guide gives the limits for each... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Choosing a UFH pump: Grundfos UPM3 Auto vs Flex vs Wilo vs Bastion
Choosing a UFH pump: Grundfos UPM3 Auto vs Flex vs Wilo vs Bastion
The Grundfos UPM3 Flex suits PWM control from a heat pump, the UPM3 Auto sets itself, and Bastion and Wilo 6m pumps cover standard manifolds for less. This guide compares... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Heatmiser neoStat vs neoAir vs Slimline: which to choose
Heatmiser neoStat vs neoAir vs Slimline: which to choose
The neoStat V3 is wired with app control, the neoAir is wireless with app control, and the Slimline-RF is wireless with buttons only. This guide shows which wiring centre each... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Non-mixing pump sets for heat pumps: how they connect, flow rates and which to choose
Non-mixing pump sets for heat pumps: how they connect, flow rates and which to choose
A non-mixing pump set circulates underfloor heating loops at the heat pump's own flow temperature, with no blending valve in the way. This guide covers connection layouts, flow rate and... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: UFH mixing (blending) valves explained: when you need one and when you don't
UFH mixing (blending) valves explained: when you need one and when you don't
A UFH blending valve mixes hot primary water with cooler return water to hold the floor at a safe temperature, usually 35 to 50°C. This guide explains how it works,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Connecting a UFH manifold: Eurocone fittings, ball valves and pump packs
Connecting a UFH manifold: Eurocone fittings, ball valves and pump packs
Which parts connect to an underfloor heating manifold, in what order, and how to make a Eurocone joint. Covers choosing a blending or non-mixing pump pack, connecting to the heat... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Commissioning underfloor heating and the first heat-up
Commissioning underfloor heating and the first heat-up
The commissioning sequence for a wet underfloor heating system, from flushing one loop at a time and calculating flow rates to proving each zone. Explains functional heating versus drying heating,... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating with a combi or system boiler: connections, mixing and controls
Underfloor heating with a combi or system boiler: connections, mixing and controls
Any combi, system or regular boiler can run water underfloor heating if you fit a blending valve pump pack at the manifold and interlock the boiler with the wiring centre.... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Pressure testing underfloor heating: method, readings and records
Pressure testing underfloor heating: method, readings and records
The full method for pressure testing a wet underfloor heating system at 6 bar for 60 minutes, keeping it pressurised while screeding. Covers what to isolate, how to read a... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Retrofitting underfloor heating into an existing home
Retrofitting underfloor heating into an existing home
You can retrofit underfloor heating with overlay boards on the existing floor, by digging out and screeding, or by working on timber floors from above or below. This guide gives... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Electric underfloor heating: loose cable vs mats
Electric underfloor heating: loose cable vs mats
How electric heating mats and loose cable differ, and which to choose for your room shape, with spacing-to-output tables for 10W/m and 20W/m cable. Includes priced comparisons for a 4m²... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating running costs explained
Underfloor heating running costs explained
Underfloor heating running cost is the heat your rooms need, divided by the heat source's efficiency, multiplied by your fuel price. This guide works through annual examples for gas, heat... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How to install an electric underfloor heating mat
How to install an electric underfloor heating mat
Step by step instructions for laying an electric underfloor heating mat under tiles, from sizing the mat to the free floor area to the three resistance tests and the 7... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Can you fit underfloor heating in every room?
Can you fit underfloor heating in every room?
Underfloor heating can go in almost every room, but the floor system and details change from room to room. This guide covers kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, conservatories and upstairs... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: UFH pipe types compared: PERT-EVOH vs PERT-AL-PERT vs PEX-AL-PEX
UFH pipe types compared: PERT-EVOH vs PERT-AL-PERT vs PEX-AL-PEX
PERT-EVOH is flexible, good value plastic pipe for most screed and panel floors, while PERT-AL-PERT has an aluminium core that holds a bend and expands far less, which suits joisted... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating vs radiators: which is better?
Underfloor heating vs radiators: which is better?
Underfloor heating gives even heat at low water temperatures and suits heat pumps, while radiators are quicker to fit and respond faster. At heat pump temperatures a radiator gives only... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating zoning, thermostats and wiring centres: how a UFH system is wired
Underfloor heating zoning, thermostats and wiring centres: how a UFH system is wired
Each underfloor heating thermostat connects to one zone on a wiring centre, which opens that zone's actuators, runs the pump and calls the heat source through a volt-free contact. This... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Is underfloor heating worth it? Pros, cons and myths
Is underfloor heating worth it? Pros, cons and myths
Underfloor heating is usually worth it when the floor is being laid anyway, or when you have or plan a heat pump. This guide sets out the real pros and... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating not getting warm: 12 causes and fixes
Underfloor heating not getting warm: 12 causes and fixes
Cold underfloor heating usually means no hot water at the manifold, no flow round the loop, or a floor that can't release the heat. This guide walks through 12 causes... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Copper press fittings vs solder vs compression: a guide for installers
Copper press fittings vs solder vs compression: a guide for installers
Press fittings are the fastest flame-free way to join copper, solder is cheapest per joint, and compression suits accessible repairs. This guide compares cost, speed and the UK rules for... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating thermostats explained: wired, wireless and smart
Underfloor heating thermostats explained: wired, wireless and smart
How underfloor heating thermostats, wiring centres and actuators work together, and when to choose wired, wireless or smart controls. Covers Part L room by room control, floor temperature limits and... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How to install water underfloor heating, step by step
How to install water underfloor heating, step by step
The full build sequence for a wet underfloor heating system in screed, from edge insulation and pipe laying to a 6 bar pressure test and the BS EN 1264-4 first... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How many manifold ports do I need? Loop lengths and zoning
How many manifold ports do I need? Loop lengths and zoning
You need one manifold port per heating loop, and a 16mm loop at 150mm centres covers about 12 to 14m². This guide shows how to count loops, how they relate... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How much underfloor heating pipe do I need?
How much underfloor heating pipe do I need?
Multiply your heated area by 10m, 6.7m or 5m of pipe per m² for 100, 150 or 200mm centres, add the tails to the manifold and keep 16mm loops to... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating floor systems explained: screed, overlay, joisted and electric
Underfloor heating floor systems explained: screed, overlay, joisted and electric
There are four underfloor heating floor systems: screed, overlay boards, joisted timber and electric. This guide compares build-up heights, screed depths and drying times, how each is laid, and which... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Underfloor heating with a heat pump: flow temperatures, pipe centres and design
Underfloor heating with a heat pump: flow temperatures, pipe centres and design
Underfloor heating suits a heat pump because it heats a room with water at around 35 to 45°C, well under the 55°C limit in Approved Document L. This guide covers... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: How much does underfloor heating cost in the UK?
How much does underfloor heating cost in the UK?
Wet underfloor heating kit costs about £13 to £21 per m² on a solid floor plus £400 to £1000 for the manifold, pump and controls, while electric mats cost about... Read more...
MaxHeatUFH guide: Water vs electric underfloor heating: which is right for your project?
Water vs electric underfloor heating: which is right for your project?
Water underfloor heating suits whole floors, extensions and heat pumps and is cheaper to run. Electric suits single small rooms like bathrooms, where a 4m² kit costs about £160 inc... Read more...