Are Heat Pumps the Future? The latest government announcement offers homeowners an incentive of up to £5,000 to fit a renewable source heat pump instead of a gas boiler in a bid to help the UK meet its net carbon goals.   For the end-user, this may seem an excellent benefit when it comes to finally changing their boiler because according to the energy-saving trust, it costs an average of £2,300 to replace a boiler, and a heat pump can be between £6,000-£8,000, of course, this depends on system size and complexity. So, having £5,000 knocked off the bill will be very tempting to the end-user.     However, the issue is not as simple as it may first seem. We’ve listed some potential challenges below, with assumed costs so you can see where the pitfalls may lie.    The age of properties What seems to be missing with this grant is the […]

When selecting a client’s thermostat, do you base it on the ease of use, aesthetics, price or maybe all three? There is a fourth point with UFH systems that is often overlooked and yet is the most important of all. Read on to find out why you need the right thermostat for your UFH system. Older Controls Tech and UFH As explained in a previous article, UFH does have a slower reaction time when compared with other heating types. Due to these slower reaction times, it is better to maintain a constant temperature and only make small adjustments.   Luckily room control technology has come a long way since the simple dial thermostat. Even though these are very easy for clients to use and extremely cheap, they are terrible for UFH as they suffer from over and undershoot of a minimum of 1 degree because of the way the thermostat […]

Installing UFH in concrete sub floors Since UFH came to the UK over 30 years ago, it has grown in popularity as a great way to heat both domestic and commercial buildings. When it boils down to it, not a lot has changed, and now many companies are offering a UFH design and supply solution. But did you know that with some clever planning during a build stage, you can unlock significant potential in the build that is often overlooked?   As you may know, UK houses tend to be a solid floor on the ground, often installed on a secondary “screed” surface. But what this means is a lot of planning with the builder to change his standard construction. So first, we move the subfloor to the first layer and move the insulation above, and then we normally provide a 4:1 sand/cement mix.     But did you know there is no […]

Underfloor Heating Thermostat Positions Do you know the perfect underfloor heating thermostat positions? If you know Multipipe, you know we  believe in the importance of good underfloor heating system design. Great design ensures you get the most from your UFH system by planning, designing, and carefully picking the right products. However, after all that, you can still let your system down by making a very simple mistake in the placement of your room thermostat. In this article, we look at the perfect placement of the thermostat, and I’ve included a simple list of rules to follow to help.  Why is the correct placement of the thermostat essential?  The thermostat is your system’s way of reacting to the room’s temperature. Incorrect placement means the thermostat will respond poorly to drafts and solar gains, especially with modern ITLC stats (Internal Temperature Load Compensation). In this instance, the thermostat can over and under […]

Change to Part L of the Building Regs It is expected that changes to both Part L and F of the building regulations will be released in October 2021 and come into effect from April 2022. You may be aware of this, but what effects does this have on how you do a system this time around? The primary change is further requirements for better insulation to reduce heat losses in the building, which is to be expected. However, the most challenging difference is the requirement to design a system for a maximum water temperature of 50°C.    What is the difference between heat loss and output?   When you scope the size of most heat emitters, the size must be based on the difference between the mean water temperature (average of flow and return) and the ideal room temperature using guides from the emitter supplier. This sizing gives the “output” (in […]

Water Quality Control. Are you using the best solution to fill and maintain your heating water? After reading many social media posts and a great chat with David Whitfield of Elysator, I have learned a lot about VDI 2035 over the last few months. VDI 2035 is a standard used in Germany for water quality control. In future articles, we will look into more detail about this alternative method of water quality control to help you better your work. First, however, we’ll start with a quick summary of what it is all about and how Multipipe and Elysator can help you get the most from this standard.      What is VDI 2035?   In 2009, The Association of German Engineers (VDI) (much like the UK CIPHE) established guidelines for German plumbers to follow. The guidelines looked at heating system water quality and controlling it correctly to avoid corrosion in heating systems. […]

What are you doing now to prepare for the 2050 net-zero carbon target?  Net Carbon Goals How can we prepare new installations for meeting the net-zero carbon targets set by the government? The first step will be moving towards the Part L requirement for 55°C water temperature for heating systems. Part L requirements mean we must consider how we size our emitters as many would not work on future renewables.      Systems need to change to match the heat loss.  One challenge our industry faces is education. People have designed systems one way for years, but now we must reduce the core temperatures but get the same output. Do people know what they are doing with these changes? The government also wants to minimise system oversizing, making thresholds of error smaller. The number of end-users who tell me that their “Heat Pump does not work” is incredible. Often, I find […]

What is Manifold Plumbing? Manifold plumbing refers to the use of a manifold in a plumbing system. The manifold acts as a central hub in a heating system that distributes heated water to different zones of your home. It ensures that each zone receives an even distribution of heat, allowing for efficient and effective heating throughout the home. Unlike most other technologies, plumbing system layouts haven’t made any significant leaps forward for decades. Manifold plumbing is not new and is often used in heating systems in new builds where you have small bore pipes for radiators. But manifold plumbing is not just limited to radiators. Sanitary manifolds can also bring benefits to your taps. Plumbing manifolds are used to distribute hot and cold water to appliances around the building. As pipes run in continuous loops to and from the manifold to each piece of sanitary wear (sinks, baths, washing machines etc.), […]

MLCP – Coils Vs. Straight Lengths Flexible MLCP   Piping made from multilayer composite pipe is a viable alternative to copper because it offers flexibility, speed of installation and the elimination of hot works on site.    First introduced in the UK in the 1970s, MLCP has seen growth in popularity alongside the increased use of renewable energy technology – such as underfloor heating. MLCP has also seen less dramatic price fluctuations in recent years compared with copper and steel.   The flexibility of the pipe, together with the use of press fittings, is where MLCP can offer significant savings to plumbers on installation time. The pipe can be bent readily, allowing efficient routing around the building. Once bent, it retains its form and stays in position. As Multipipe MLCP has an aluminium mid-layer, it meets the NHBC requirements in detecting buried services, so there is no need to worry about finding it […]

Why You Should Use Secondary Recirculation Systems As houses get bigger and clients demand even more from their installer, one of the biggest issues is delivering hot water quickly and efficiently to the hot water taps. The only way to efficiently do this is by setting up a circulation loop from the cylinder to the tap emanating the dead leg between the two – known as a secondary recirculation system. Although there are no legal requirements to fit one, HSE’s best practice is to deliver 50°C water within 1 minute to a tap; this is for legionnaire control. How Does a Recirculation System Work? The idea is you have your primary hot water pipe flowing through your house. Besides this, you have a “secondary recirculation pipe”, which travels beside the hot water primary pipe to the extremities of the system. The secondary pipe taps into the primary to join the […]

How to Select the Right Room Control for Your Heat Emitter Do you remember the delights of the brown & beige Honeywell thermostats? The good old days when ‘stats were far simpler to work with and to wire. But let’s be honest, they were inefficient! Room control technology has come on leaps and bounds since the old fashioned bi-metallic thermostats (the clicky thermostat). The industry now has a far better understanding of how the various heat emitters need different controls to provide the best performance. Next time you are looking at a room control system for an underfloor heating system, make sure you pick the right one. Most older thermostats work on the theory of a 0.5 – 1°C span (or gap) from switching the system on from the temperature setpoint. This theory stopped nuisance switching whereby the thermostat would click in and out every 5 seconds on a radiator […]

Underfloor Heating Systems and Cold Weather – Why aren’t I Warm Enough? Whilst we’re all dreaming of warm summer days and the easier jobs that seem to come, there’s no doubt that the dreaded cold weather is good for business. We have developed a love/hate relationship with freezing conditions as an industry. On the one hand, it’s good to be busy and get the money rolling in, and on the other hand, there are frozen pipe emergencies and unrealistic customer expectations.  Can we ever win?  Over the years, I’ve noticed that many customer calls I receive have similar points regarding underfloor heating. Why aren’t I warm enough? Why isn’t my system heating the house like I thought it would? I understand the customer’s frustration. They have invested in a system and want it to perform – it’s not unreasonable to want to be a toasty warm 25°C degrees inside whilst […]

Pipe in Walls In this tech Tuesday I would like to speak to you about more of a problem. As we move closer to aesthetically pleasing homes, one thing is for certain. People do not like pipework on walls. These are typically hidden after with ugly boxing in running the lines of your lovely new home, or even worse they are not boxed in meaning every couple of years you have to paint them but more serious could be a scald risk. Why Not Bury Them in the Wall? Why not bury them in the wall? More plumbers are moving to put the pipe into the wall themselves and plastering over them, which is great. Plastic pipes do mean that you do not have to protect them as they are corrosion-free. But before you get the paintbrush out you do need to consider the type of pipe you have in […]

Multi-Zone Control and Single-Zone Control for Heating In this week’s Tech Tuesday, I want to speak about the difference between multi-zone control and single-zone control and how technology has made this easier to implement. Controls for heating systems is not a new thing. The building regulations require you to have a means of thermostatic and time management. However, the level of control I believe you should have (as a minimum) is multi-zone control.   In a well-designed underfloor heating installation, a simple adaptation of your heating system to a multi-zone control will realise savings of between 8 to 20% on your heating bill – even on a radiator system, the savings can be significant. What’s more, you’ll find your home is far more comfortable as you can select the temperature required in each room.   What is multi-zone control? The traditional set-up of a heating system involves a single thermostat […]

Do You Install Your Hot and Cold Pipes in Floors? Most of you know the water regulation schedule, a government set document that lays out rules for installing (and manufacturing) pipes and fittings. In this article, I’ll look at one small paragraph: Schedule 2, section 7 under the heading of “Requirements for water fittings” to explain how you can install your hot and cold pipes in floors. I have often seen and spoken to people about pipework in floors. However, when it comes to space heating (underfloor/rads etc.), it does not directly affect this (WRAS does not cover heating services). Still, I consider it good practice to adopt the principles of this regulation for radiators etc. However, we should be more concerned about potable water (hot and cold-water supplies) as this water regulation is enforceable by law. Failure to meet these standards can result in fines or imprisonment, so ensure […]

Fitting Underfloor Heating under Kitchen Units Did you know that fitting underfloor heating in the kitchen, and specifically under kitchen units, can massively benefit the homeowner? Some people are pressured by the kitchen fitter telling them it would damage the cupboard or bake items in the cupboard. But it is worth remembering wooden floors are used on UFH without issues. So, a cabinet 200mm off the floor will not warp or twist and it will not bake goods in the cupboard. It’s a popular misconception that underfloor heating fitted under kitchen units will damage the kitchen units or even cause overheating of the items in the cupboards. However, in the many years of specifying UFH, Multipipe have never had issues with damage to units or products inside. This is because UFH, by the regulation, has to run at a dictated (BS 1264) floor temperature of only 9°C warmer than the […]

The Importance of Screed in Underfloor Heating In this week’s Tech Tuesday, I want to highlight the importance of screed.  This has been written in partnership with Gyvlon, who are experts in specialist screeds. As many people know, screed underfloor heating systems are the most common, as they are the cheapest and easiest to install and the easiest to implement. However, the importance of the screed is often overlooked. People will always speak about the importance of pipe centre temperatures going into the floor heating system and other aspects. The easiest way to get more heat out of your system is to have a more conductive, thinner screed. When underfloor heating first started, there really was not much choice in screeds, and most people would stick to builders’ sand cement screed, which has one of the lowest outputs of any screed. However, in the current market, there are many different types of screed.  The main screed I want to speak about today is […]

When it comes to UFH on ground floors, this tends to be done by embedding pipe into the screed. And providing it is done right, you have an extremely efficient system. However, more end users want UFH throughout their homes, meaning the incorporation of underfloor heating on (typically) a suspended timber floor. Many systems can be installed on the first floors, but many increase the height of the floor or are too heavy for the timber structure. A Heat emission plates (HEPs) system allows you to fit UFH without raising your floor. Follow our tips to help you get the best out of your HEP install. Things to know when selecting this system. Select the thickest plate you can (the thicker the plate, the better the heat transfer). Ask your supplier for the thickness of the plate. You need to be looking at 0.5 mm plates – any thinner & […]

The Three Main Types of Underfloor Heating Patterns Did you know that how you lay your underfloor heating system can massively change how the system will feel once it’s all commissioned? There are three main types of UFH laying patterns: bifilar, meander and double meander. This week’s #TechTuesday sets out some easy-to-follow references for these three types, including when and where you should use them. Underfloor Heating Pattern 1 – The Bifilar Pattern This key pattern is probably the least understood pattern but offers some great benefits and is the Multipipe preferred option.  You will have to give greater thought as to how you’re going to install the pipe before you lay it, however, once you get your head around how to lay this system, you’ll find it is a useful pattern.  Even with very close centres, it’s much easier to lay as turns are only done as half turns […]

  Installation Issues With a Metal Press System Over the last month, we have been receiving more calls from consultants taking metal press systems out of their specs due to full bore detachments on site. Here are the facts on this issue and how you can look at preventing this on your site. Like with most systems, you can always install things wrong and with the metal press systems (due to the way the fitting must be made). The failure is generally due to incorrect pipe insertion depths on fittings. Often installers are not marking the pipe up and, when working up high, do not get the right depth to pass the O-ring but, more importantly, where the crimp is made. So always make sure you follow the insertion depth given by the individual manufacturer, then use a permanent marker to ensure you cannot rub the mark off when getting it into place. If the fitting moves during the press, then cut out the fitting and start again. Another […]

How Do You Advise on Running a New Underfloor Heating System to a Customer? Over the years, Multipipe have had various calls from homeowners about issues with running a Underfloor Heating (UFH) system. And we’ve concluded that education of underfloor heating systems, is the biggest downfall in running an efficient UFH system. Many end-users that have never previously owned an UFH system will run it like a radiator, whereby they have the heating on in the morning, off during the day and on again in the evening. For a highly reactive system, this is fine. However, when you have a traditional screed underfloor heating system, this is known as a slow reaction system. So, why not look at how to run it differently? The best way is to run your heating system continuously through the winter months, using the thermostats in the room to maintain the temperature. This might sound […]

Floor Coverings For Underfloor Heating The biggest reason for underfloor heating underperforming is usually due to the floor covering. This is normally out of the control of the installer, as it is your client that typically picks the final floor covering. But going forward, we should be educating our customers of the pitfalls of fitting an incorrect floor covering. After you have completed your final commission and set up the system to work as it should do, your responsibility as an installer is over. But there is nothing stopping your hard work from being undone by a simple incorrect floor covering. Thick wood and carpets are a killer of UFH outputs, so it is important for the customer to get the “R-value” of the floor covering from the manufacturer and find out whether it is suitable for UFH (as some floor coverings are not!). You want to be aiming for […]

Get your Underfloor Heating ready for winter As winter approaches, do you cringe at the thought of turning the thermostat up? especially with the rise of gas and electric prices? You’re not alone, and the UFH system maybe needs a little more TLC to ensure 1. it is running correctly and 2. all mechanical and electrical components are working in a tip-top condition. Now hopefully, you have your heat source regularly serviced by a registered plumber. If not, get it done, as this can affect not only the efficiency of your unit but also its safe running. But did you know it is just as important that your heat emitter is checked before the heating season starts? This will ensure that not only your system works, but the efficiency is optimum. Some items you can carry out yourself, but others will require a qualified plumber who can do the work […]

  Underfloor Heating Installation. The Evolution of UFH and Things to Be Aware of as an Installer We know that you want to be proud of every installation you do so this week’s blog looks at how best to install underfloor heating systems. UFH (Underfloor Heating) is not a new commodity, but in recent years we have seen a surge in popularity driven by advances in technology. The first UFH systems were installed as far back as the 1970s, but these were very basic and too expensive to install in your average house. Fortunately, some major technical innovations were introduced around the 1990s, which meant UFH became more affordable and is now a very realistic option for many households. Different Types of Underfloor Heating There are different types of UFH systems available including: Solid screed construction Timber suspended Overlay systems The type of system used will usually be determined by the environment that the UFH […]

Water quality in metal pipe systems Although copper pipework system failures are rare, we are finding more and more issues with copper corrosion in systems and now that pipe walls are getting thinner on copper, these systems are not lasting as long as they used to. One problem we see more through our helpline (which is more of a concern) is blue water. This is a problem in copper pipe systems where, through water standing in a new pipe system for a long period of time, poor installation, electrolysis or excessive flux entering the system can cause a breakdown in the pipe wall. This happens because instead of the pipe oxidising (like it should do), it keeps an unoxidised layer on the pipe wall. This then breaks down the copper minerals into the water, causing blue copper crystals to form making blue water. If it is a new system, then keep flushing the water through every day and over time the copper pipe will get lined with […]

A Beginner’s Guide to Press-fit Tools Picking your way through the Minefield of Pressing Tools Press systems are a newer way of carrying out fittings compared to more traditional solder and screwed methods. They can offer time and cost savings as well as many other benefits. Our beginner’s guide to press-fit tools provides a great overview to get you started. Press-fitting systems use hydraulic press technology to provide a high-quality and easy to fit joint method. While this helps save a considerable amount of time on jobs, it can be difficult for first-timers to know where to start with more manufacturers coming on board. We have provided a guide to answering all the questions a press-fitting novice might have. What are you installing? When beginning to think about press-fit tools, the first question you need to ask yourself: What will I be installing? With more systems coming onto the market, […]