FAQ

Yes. If the slab is already on ground, we require a minimum of 50mm of screed above the slab to allow enough space to install the hot water pipes.

A heat source such as natural gas, LPG or an electric heat pump is used to heat the water to the desired temperature. The water pipes connect the heat source to the manifold and then to each heated area. Each heating zone has a circuit controlled by a separate thermostat. Once the boiler is activated, it begins to heat the master zone (the largest and most used zone) and then the remaining zones can be added.

The installation cost for underfloor hydronic usually pays for itself in terms of operating costs for a total heating area that are larger than 60m². The minimum requirement for Hydronic Underfloor heating is 25m².

They are both very good applications and the key is finding your perfect heating solution. Both the electric in screed and the electric under tile are similar but designed for different installations.

The in-screed application a higher wattage that is attached to steel mesh or fixing strip and embedded in a screed bed. We recommend this installation for new builds or renovations where the floor has been stripped back to the subfloor, or where a 20-25mm screed bed is possible. This installation is ideal under tiles and provides a higher thermal mass. Whilst the in screed installation takes slightly longer to heat, it holds some residual heat once the system is off.

The under tile mat application with our X mat features a lower wattage thin cable with a self-adhesive backing that is installed before tiling. These mats are embedded in a thin glue bed or self-levelling compound before tiling, carpeting or laying timber floors. Since the heating cables are just below the surface of the floor, it allows the floor surface to heat up more rapidly. 

The X mats are available with either a 2.5mm or 3.5mm thickness that are ideal for areas where floor heights are restricted or screed beds exceed 30mm.

Yes. However, the X cable or X mat must be protected in a self-levelling bed or screed for under carpet applications and batten or floating timber.

An important point to note is that batten or floating timber floors require a lower wattage heating cable. Therefore the cable must be controlled by a floor and air sensing thermostat with the floor temperature limit set to the temperature recommended by the manufacturer. Batten or timber floors are suitable for background heating in a poorly insulated room.

Please note that underfloor heating is not suitable for bamboo flooring.

The floor heat will take anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes to reach the desired temperature. Heating times may vary depending on the thickness of the screed and tiles. For example, the X mats are closer to the surface and take 30 minutes whilst the embedded in screed installation will take anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes to heat up.

A thermostat controls the operation of underfloor heating. Whilst the thermostat is set to the desired temperature, the sensor located in the floor measures the actual floor temperature. The controls, available as a manual thermostat or programmable thermostat turns the system on/off to maintain the desired temperature.

It is important to note that regulating the floor temperature is energy efficient and more accurate than regulating the air temperature. Similar to the operation of air conditioning, the sensor is not sensitive to external temperature variations such as open doors and windows.

Setting up the thermostat for the desired temperature is similar for both the manual thermostat and programmable thermostat. The difference lies with setting up the heating periods. A manual X thermostat requires the operator to physically turn the underfloor heating on or off manually. On a programmable X thermostat, you can set different heating times for different days. The programmable X thermostat also has a manual override that can be used outside of your programmed periods.

It all depends on the design of the system and the hydronic layout. However, costs start at around 8K for the equipment and the installation (supply and install) or around $120/m² for large heating areas. Please contact our friendly team to receive an accurate and FREE quote.

We offer Supply only and Supply and Install (Sydney area only) services to our customers

We recommend insulation to ensure efficient underfloor heating and to minimise potential heat loss.

Yes. There are thermostats are either wall-mounted or Din-rail style (located on the switchboard) that are suitable to use with underfloor heating.

Yes. If the slab is already on ground, we require a minimum 50mm of screed above the slab to allow for the installation of the hot water pipes.

Yes, sensor cables can be extended to 50m by your electrician using a “figure 8” or twin cable. The X thermostat comes with a standard 3m sensor, but we can also supply a 10m sensor cable.

Never cut the X cable or X mat as it will void your warranty. The heater may run too hot or fail altogether. In this case, please call our office for advice or ask to exchange for the correct size cable.

X mat is a direct stick product that is installed in a glue bed of 8mm thick or a floor levelling bed of 10-12mm. It can be applied directly on the sub-floor or on top of a thick screed bed.

Yes. If you know where the cable is damaged and are confident repairing the cable yourself, we have repair kits with instructions available. An electrician will need to test the installation when the repair is completed. We also have qualified service repairers who can trace and repair the fault if the location is unknown or you would prefer to have someone else do it for you.