Underfloor heating, how to do it?? All aspects of plumbing questions and answers, help, tips and information

[gumbo]

I want to put some underfloor heating in my bathroom, it has wooden floorboards so is it just a case of lifting the boards and extending the heating circuit via running copper pipes underneth or is there more to it?

[stoneyboy]

gumbo,
If you run the flow and return pipes on opposite sides of the bathroom and link them with many pipes (two per gap between joists) this will give you underfloor heating. You will need some sort of adjustable flow restrictor on each of the link pipes so you can restrict the flow and balance across the room.
Because the heat source is under the wood flooring it will take more than 2 hours for the warmth to be felt in the floor but provided you accept this it is a cheap way to fit underfloor heating.
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[htg engineer]

Firstly why do you want it ?
Wooden floors do not tend to get cold, it's normally concrete floors where people want underfloor heating.

Is it ground or first floor ?

If your bathroom is upstairs, I really wouldn't bother - stick with the radiator.

http://www.wetunderfloorheating.co.uk

It may also be worth considering electric underfloor heating.

htg

[nitro23456]

Stick in an electric underfloor heating mat and tile on top, easier, better imo.

[gumbo]

Bathroom is first floor and will eventually be tiled hence the reason id like underfloor heating.
I have looked at electric mats but id imagine them to be quite costly so thought running the heating pipes underfloor would be a cheaper option

[stoneyboy]

gumbo,
Electric expensive - yes, you're looking at about 150w per square metre so for a 3x3m bathroom floor = 1350w. Doesn't seem much until you consider if you want 2 hours am and 4 hours pm warm floor, the electric will be on for about 4 hours per day. If every day for three months in the winter your quarterly bill will go up by about £100.
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[gumbo]

Thats why i dont want electric. So would just extending the heating pipes under the floor boards give much heat or would i be wasting my time?

[stoneyboy]

gumbo,
Yes I have done it before but it does take some time (2 hours) for the floor to warm up - the heat has to travel through the floorboards and tiles. Insulate under the pipes and don't forget flow restrictors so you do not get a short circuit along the first link pipe in the system.
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