Selecting the Correct Size Electric Underfloor Heating

Planning your underfloor heating system is an important step in working out how efficiently to heat your home. Having a solid plan before you purchase your materials not only saves you time but will also save you money, and prevent any mistakes during the installation.

 

So, first things first. How do you know what size underfloor heating mat you need?

 

To start with, draw out your room where you want underfloor heating to be installed. Next, we need to mark out any areas where fixed furniture will be. This includes things like toilets, showers, sinks, kitchen cabinets, etc. These fixed furniture areas will be avoided when we work out how much we need, as it's not required to heat beneath these items. Make sure that when you draw out your fixed furniture the measurements are accurate.

Now that you have your room layout drawn out, you can calculate the total heated area. Simply deduct the gross area of your fixed furniture from the room dimensions and you are left with the nett area to be heated. For instance, if your gross room area is 6sq.m, then you are looking at a nett area of around 2.5 or 3sq.m.

When choosing an electric heat mat or cable, make sure that it will fit comfortably within the nett area of the room. If your nett area for instance is 3.4sq.m, then you should choose a solution that covers 3sq.m.

Underfloor Heating Mats or Loose Cable?

If you are working in a large space, it tends to be more time-effective to use a heat mat. The benefits of heat mats are that they can be rolled out in longer lengths, and are already spaced out at the required spacing to achieve the wattage output that you are looking for. They also tend to feature a sticky self-adhesive backing which allows you to fix the mat to your floor, preventing any unwanted movement during the installation.

Underfloor heating cable on the other hand is perfect for use in tighter areas, such as a bathroom or in combination with a decoupling membrane. As the cable is loose, you can manoeuvre the cable around objects and position the cable exactly where you want it, while having full control over the cable spacing.