Get ready to take your business to the next level with the Multipipe Training Academy Underfloor Heating Course. Join us in person on selected dates! Did you know that the UK’s plumbing and heating industry is largely unregulated? Which means anyone can call themselves a plumber – regardless of qualifications, knowledge and competence. Here at Multipipe, we try to educate and share our knowledge to help raise the standards of the industry and encourage professional plumbers to consider the quality of the products they are using and how they are installing them. Check out our Knowledge Base here! Join Multipipe for a comprehensive training program designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a proficient underfloor heating installer. Our in-person courses will be held at Multipipe HQ on multiple dates throughout 2024, for just £135 per person +VAT. Throughout the course, you will learn about the […]

Installing domestic hot and cold services with Underfloor Heating and Ceiling Cooling Already working with Multipipe for the underfloor heating system and domestic hot and cold services for the build, Excelsior Heating Services asked if we could also help with the cooling system, as they had no previous experience in it. Because it is well insulated and has a lot of glass, one of the challenges was the heating in the building. The client’s consultant wanted to use cooling via the heat pump system, and the original design for the cooling involved using ceiling panels and wall panels. We suggested it would be better to install the system directly into the fabric of the building and plaster it in to give it a true thermal mass. Project at a glance: Executive home Ground and second floor Combined area 823sqm Domestic hot and cold services UFH heating system throughout Cooling system […]

When it comes to heating our homes, there are several options to choose from. Two popular choices are underfloor heating and radiators. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the decision between the two can be a difficult one. In this blog post, we will compare underfloor heating and radiators, exploring the pros and cons of each option. By the end, you will have a better understanding of which heating system is better suited for your home. Underfloor Heating Cost and Installation On average, a properly installed underfloor heating system reportedly costs around 25% less to run than radiators, if run correctly. It requires professional installation and may involve lifting and replacing the existing flooring. Heat Distribution Underfloor heating systems are known to distribute their heat much more efficiently by having a much larger surface area. They distribute heat evenly across the entire floor, resulting in a more comfortable and […]

7 Classic UFH installation errors. And how to avoid them As the UK moves towards its net carbon zero goals, the installation of underfloor heating systems is growing in popularity. However, it’s not without its pitfalls. This article looks at seven of the most common mistakes made during UFH installations and why it’s best to avoid them. Failing to prepare the floor The base floor must be properly prepared ahead of installing the UFH system. The screed, thermal insulation and UFH pipes cannot be put down on uneven surfaces. Careless preparation of the base skipping the levelling and cleaning stage means it will not provide stable support for the screed, leading to cracking. If the screed cracks, there is a risk that the UFH pipes will be damaged and may leak. If the base floor is not completely dry before laying the finished floor, there is the possibility of unpleasant […]

Underfloor Heating Manifolds – Explained As underfloor heating installation grows increasingly popular, it’s important to understand the critical parts of a UFH system and how they operate. This blog will explain what an underfloor heating manifold is and how it works. Manifolds are the central control hubs of water in underfloor heating systems. They manage water flow rates and any room zoning you have. In addition, manifolds work to circulate heated water through the UFH pipes to provide each system zone with comfortable, energy-efficient heating. What is an Underfloor Heating Manifold? Manifolds are crucial parts of a water-based underfloor heating system. They connect the heat source to the underfloor heating pipework and act as the termination point for the floor circuits (pipework). Manifolds circulate heated water from the heat source (e.g. boiler) through the underfloor pipework whilst controlling the flow rates. If a mixing unit is used, they also control […]

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 […]

11 Tips for new UFH installers Starting on any new venture can be daunting, and these days there is so much information around that it can become overwhelming. So to keep things simple when it comes to starting out with underfloor heating installations here’s our top 11 tips! You’re not on your own. Multipipe’s friendly team are always on hand with helpful advice. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the best system for your project. Get in touch on 01245 227 630. Consider heat output. It’s vital to consider the fabric of the building as this will affect the heat output required by your UFH system. The needs for a well-insulated new extension are very different to those of a room with several windows and high ceilings. Renovating? Select a low profile system. Traditionally installing underfloor heating in a renovation project has meant high levels […]

Controlling the Feeds in an UFH System UFH systems tend to rely on central manifold locations to distribute each loop through the floor. When you have a larger dwelling with more than five loops, you will find that near the manifold and even through hallways and rooms, you end up with lots of pipes at closer centres. These tend to overheat the room with uncontrolled heat. Inappropriately controlled heat can be a source of customer dissatisfaction and a perceived downside to UFH.   As part of your UFH package, you should receive a secondary conduit coil when you have five loops or more (providing the system is suitable for conduit). This secondary sleeve is used to partly insulated the flow pipes to help reduce uncontrolled heat under your floor. We only protect the flow because although we want to reduce the heat in a space, we do not want to eliminate […]

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 […]

The Importance of Commissioning Your Underfloor Heating System This #TechTuesday article will explain why it’s vital to commission, or ‘balance’ as it’s also known, your underfloor heating system.   Underfloor Heating Flowmeters  When a traditional radiator system runs (without balancing), you will find that some radiators are warmer than others. This is because water takes the path of least resistance and flows (typically) around the radiator closest to the boiler. We fit lockshield valves to increase the resistance to the closest radiators, ensuring the water is pushed around the entire system. The same applies to your underfloor heating system.    Unlike a radiator system, you do not have lockshields with underfloor heating. Instead, you have located on your manifold a flowmeter. These serve two purposes; they should flow through the loop but also help adjust the balance. Adjusting the flowmeters depending on the size of the loop in the floor will help ensure optimum efficiency and […]

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 […]

Can Underfloor Heating Save On Your Energy Bills? One consequence of the coronavirus pandemic is that an increased number of people have been working from home. Working from home has proved a popular lifestyle choice and therefore the trend is projected to continue for the foreseeable future.  The number of people working from home expected to be higher than pre-pandemic levels even after the threat of the disease has abated. Working from home inevitably uses more energy, particularly in colder weather when the house will require heating for most of the day.   Across the duration of the pandemic, there has been a 14% increase in daytime heating, and this is where underfloor heating can help reduce your energy bills. Underfloor heating works by distributing hot water via a network of pipes or by using electrical elements, which gently warm the floor from below. The heat is monitored and controlled by thermostats […]

Manifold Locations When planning your underfloor heating (UFH) systems, it is often easier to locate your manifold in a place where it has a short run from the boiler to the manifold. However, because boilers are typically found near external walls, this can mean larger amounts of “feed pipes” go under the floor. In this article, we look at why moving the manifold to a central location is best for the system.    Save costs by minimising the number of feeds.    By using some simple sums, we can show the advantage of moving manifolds.    Let’s assume that an 18m² room (max 100m coil@200 centres) uses 90m of pipe. If we have a long 15m run to the manifold, this adds an extra 30m of pipe! (Remember we must account for flow and return). Due to the length of the run, we have exceeded our recommended max loop length of 100m, […]

Smart heating puts you in control of the temperature in different rooms in your home, at different times, without needing to switch the boiler on or off manually. You can even control and personalise your heating remotely from your smartphone or computer, so you don’t even need to be in the house to adjust your settings. Smart heating is easy to use, convenient and you can personalise it to your specific needs for your home or office.   How does smart heating work? Smart heating systems use smart thermostats that connect your heating system to the internet. This enables you to make changes to your heating wherever you are with just a few taps on your smartphone, tablet or computer. While some features can vary from system to system, most include hot water control, multi-room control and even geofencing, which tracks when you leave and re-enter the building. There are […]

Understanding the Impact of Pipe Centres on Underfloor Heating For far too long, I have come across jobs where, either under pressure from the heat pump manufacturer or the installer themselves, installers push for closer and closer centres. In this article, I want to explain the real difference moving pipe centres makes. And that there are far better ways of getting more heat out of your system.    This week’s #TechTuesday is a full of information, so if you’d like to go through any of the points in the post, feel free to call Dave direct on 01245 850799!   I have been asked to install pipe at xxx centres by the heat pump provider. Why?   I get asked this question a lot, and I think there are a couple of reasons a heat pump manufacturer would want a very tight centre. One, because the property’s heat loss is high (which may then be valid), […]