Installing underfloor heating with wire mats

​Installing underfloor heating with wire mesh is a traditional and widely used method. A wire mesh underfloor heating is a good application to use when a new floor still needs to be poured. This underfloor heating method is used when there is not much space to install underfloor heating. But also when you want to provide a large space with underfloor heating.

Advantages of wire mats underfloor heating:

• Wire mats make it possible to apply an insulation layer under the underfloor heating

• It is suitable when you have little space and do not want to shorten doors, for example

• The installation and assembly can be completed in one working day

• It is a cheap type of underfloor heating

This type of underfloor heating is covered with a screed. Underfloor heating using wire mats is used in wet construction. When the installation of the underfloor heating is finished, the finishing floor can be poured. In this article you can read how to install underfloor heating with wire mats.

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Materials Needed

For this job you will need the following materials:

• A set of pipes for underfloor heating

• Concrete shears

• Stripper pliers

• Mat connectors

• Pencil or marker for marking

• Hammer

• Spirit level

• Edge insulation (possibly with adhesive strip and foil)

• Floor bends

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Underfloor heating as main or additional heating?

When installing wire mats underfloor heating, you must choose whether you are going to use this as main or additional heating. The choice here determines the distance between the pipes when installing.

 

Distance of the tubes:

• Main heating: 10 cm centre-to-centre distance.
  Underfloor heating becomes the main heating when there are no radiators, convectors or other heating systems. It is possible to achieve the temperature of a room with underfloor heating and makes radiators redundant, for example.

• Additional heating: 15 to 20 cm centre-to-centre distance.
  When you use underfloor heating as additional heating, this serves as a supplement. In this situation, you also use radiators, convectors or other types of heating. This makes it possible to supply the correct heat demand with all the heating systems together.

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Installing wire mats for underfloor heating

Follow the steps below to install a wire mat floor heating.
Preparation:
Step 1: Clean the space

In preparation, the space should be cleaned. Make sure the floor is swept clean of dust, sharp objects and obstacles. It is important that the floor is dry.

Step 2: Apply insulation
Before applying the edge insulation, sweep the bottom 20 cm of the walls with a soft brush. Then apply edge insulation. You should place this along each wall that is heated. Choose the right edge insulation for the surface on which you are going to work. Applying insulation is important because it prevents cracking as a result of the expansion of the screed. All objects that are in the floor surface must also be provided with edge insulation. Think of pillars and walls.

Different floors:

• Cement screed: Edge insulation with adhesive strip

• Cast floor: Edge insulation with adhesive strip and foil

​Please note: Are you using edge insulation with foil? Then the foil must be on the floor side and it must be facing inwards.

Step 3: Hanging the underfloor heating manifold
Hang the underfloor heating manifold. Make sure that the bottom of the manifold is placed approximately 40 cm above the floor. You need this height to have enough space to connect the manifold.

Place distributor:The numbers in the text about connecting a distributor correspond to the numbers in the image.
Installing the distributor on the wall:

• Supply and return connections (2) must be at the bottom of the manifold.

• Use a spirit level when placing the manifold. The manifold must be mounted horizontally on the wall.

• When the manifold is hanging straight, you can mark the four drill holes (1) on the wall.

• Drill the holes (1), make sure you drill the holes deep enough!

• Carefully place the plugs in the drill holes (1). Use a hammer if this is not easy.

• Place the manifold against the wall. Tighten the manifold with bolts using a ring spanner.

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Step 4: Installing wire mesh
Cover the floor with wire mats in the places where you want the underfloor heating.
Note: Make sure that the wire mats neatly overlap.

Step 5: Cutting the wire mesh to size
If necessary, cut the mats to size. You can do this by using concrete shears.

Step 6: Attaching the wire mats
Connect the wire mats to each other using mat connectors.

Laying wire mats for underfloor heating:

Below is a floor heating manifold. The numbers in the image correspond to the numbers in the explanation of the step-by-step plan.

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Step 1: Connecting the distributor (part 1)
Cut the heating pipe. Place the union nut, compression ring and grommet on the pipe in this order. Use the lower connection (1) of the distributor as the supply. Tighten the coupling on this connection using a socket wrench.

Step 2: Installing the floor bend (part 1)
Use a floor bend to ensure the pipe under the manifold makes a neat bend without kinking.

Step 3: Installing underfloor heating
Roll out the underfloor heating pipe. Place the pipe over the mats at a distance of 10 or 15 cm from each other. Do this in a snail shell pattern. A snail shell pattern has the advantage that the supply and return of water are alternated. This ensures ideal heat distribution.
Note: Do not bend the pipes too much, the pipe must not kink.

Step 4: Connect wire mesh to pipe
Connect the tube and mats together using a mat connector. Use a pliers to secure it. Place a mat connector every 90 cm. Use more mat connectors if you need to make a bend.

Step 5: Installing the floor bend (part 2)
When you get back to the distributor you need to use a floor bend to keep the pipe from kinking. Place it under the distributor to make a bend.

Step 6: Connecting the distributor (part 2)
Now you are back at the distributor you can connect the heating pipe. Cut the heating pipe. Place the union nut, compression ring and grommet in this order on the pipe. Use the top connection (2) of the distributor as return. Tighten the coupling on this connection using a socket wrench.

Step 7: Installing the thermostat knob
Place the thermostat knob (3) on the supply foot valve of the manifold. This is located on the upper right side of the manifold. Unscrew the protective knob from the foot valve. Then turn the thermostat knob by hand. Make sure that the knob is set to a maximum of 40 °C.

Step 8: Place capillary
Place the capillary (4) at the bottom right of the distributor. Place this in the tube sensor provided for this purpose.
A capillary is a thin tube filled with a liquid. For example, gas or a special oil. When the temperature in the room changes, the capillary shrinks or expands. This activates the thermostat knob to adjust the amount of heat that the radiator emits.

Testing underfloor heating:

Connect the distributor with the plug to a wall socket. Test whether the distributor and floor heating are working properly and especially: whether the system is leak-free!

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