Buying underfloor heating supplies online: what to check before you order

Underfloor heating is a system, not a pile of parts. The pipe, the manifold, the pump and mixing valve, the wiring centre and thermostats, and the floor system the pipe sits in all have to work together. Buying them from one supplier who checks that they do is the simplest way to avoid a second trip, a second delivery charge and a day lost on site.

This guide is a checklist for installers, builders and self-builders buying UFH supplies online. It covers what a complete order should include, the questions worth asking before you pay, and how MaxHeatUFH, a UK underfloor heating supplier based in Cheshire, handles each one.

What should a complete underfloor heating order include?

For a wet (water) system, a complete order normally covers six groups of parts. Leave one out and the system cannot be commissioned:

1. Pipe: 16mm PE-RT or multilayer pipe with an oxygen barrier, in coils sized to your loop lengths. See UFH pipe.
2. Manifold: one port pair per loop, with flow meters, loop valves, an air vent and drain and fill valves. See UFH manifolds.
3. Pump pack or mixing valve: brings the water down to floor temperature and circulates it, or a non-mixing set for a heat pump. See pump packs, actuators and valves.
4. Floor system: the part the pipe sits in. Clip rail or castellated panels for screed, grooved chipboard or spreader plates for joisted floors, overlay boards where floor height is tight. See screed panels, joisted floor systems and overlay boards.
5. Controls: a thermostat per zone, an actuator per loop and a wiring centre to tie them to the pump and heat source. See thermostats and controls and wiring centres.
6. Fixings and finishing parts: edge insulation, pipe clips or staples, bend supports, conduit and Eurocone connectors. See tools and fixings.

Electric underfloor heating is simpler: a mat or loose cable, a thermostat with a floor probe, and the right insulation or uncoupling membrane underneath. See electric underfloor heating.

What should I check before I order?

Check	Why it matters	How MaxHeatUFH handles it
Is it a matched system?	Pipe size, manifold connections and pump output must suit each other and the heat source.	Kits are put together as complete systems, and loose parts use the same 16mm Eurocone standard.
Can they help size it?	Loop lengths, pipe centres and manifold ports come from the room sizes and floor type.	Design your UFH system yourself in 3 minutes with MaxHeatUFH ProLoop and get an instant quick design and quote. A full loop design is available at £0.40/m².
When will it arrive?	Screed, joinery and trades are booked around delivery.	Order by 12pm, Monday to Friday, for next working day delivery to the UK mainland. See delivery information.
Is there a trade account?	Installers buying regularly need trade pricing and simple reordering.	Trade accounts for installers and builders. See trade accounts.
Can I get installation help?	Self-builders and homeowners may want the system fitted.	Supply only, or supply and install through vetted, approved installers. See installation quotes.
What if something is wrong?	Returns and swaps happen on every job sooner or later.	See the returns policy before you order.

Should I buy a kit or separate parts?

A kit suits most single-floor jobs: everything for a stated area arrives together and nothing is forgotten. Separate parts suit installers who already hold stock, larger or mixed projects, and repairs or extensions to an existing system. Many orders are a mix: a kit for the main floor, plus extra pipe, a larger manifold or extra thermostats as the design needs.

If you are unsure which you need, start with a quick design. It sets the loop count, which sets the manifold size, which sets most of the rest of the order.

What information should I have ready?

• Room sizes, or a floor plan with dimensions.
• The floor type in each room: screed, suspended timber, solid timber or an existing floor to overlay.
• The floor finish in each room: tile, wood, vinyl or carpet.
• The heat source: system boiler, combi or heat pump.
• Where the manifold will go, and how many rooms you want to control separately.

With that in hand, a supplier can check the order properly before it ships, and the quick design in ProLoop takes about 3 minutes.

Is it cheaper to buy UFH supplies from one supplier?

Usually, once delivery and time are counted. One order means one delivery and one set of parts that are known to fit together. Splitting an order across several sellers to save a little on one item often costs more in delivery charges and in delays when a fitting does not match. Trade buyers also build up account history with one supplier, which makes reordering and support quicker.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy underfloor heating supplies online in the UK?

MaxHeatUFH sells water and electric underfloor heating supplies online across the UK: pipe, manifolds, pump packs, floor systems, Heatmiser controls and plumbing fittings, with next working day delivery to the UK mainland when you order by 12pm, Monday to Friday.

Do you sell to installers and the trade?

Yes. Installers and builders can open a trade account for trade pricing.

Can I buy underfloor heating as a homeowner?

Yes. Homeowners and self-builders can buy supply only, or ask for supply and install through one of our vetted, approved installers.

Do I need a design before I order?

It helps. A quick design sets the number of loops and the manifold size, which decides most of the order. Use ProLoop for a quick design and quote, or order a full loop design at £0.40/m².

Do you deliver everywhere in the UK?

We deliver to UK addresses, including Northern Ireland. Some Highlands and islands postcodes take 2 to 4 working days. See delivery information for cut-off times and charges.