Installing Floor Heating for the 1st Time

There are many elements to a great under tile heating installation.  Here at Speedheat, we have been installing underfloor heating globally for over 40 years, and with this comes expert knowledge on how to have the smoothest installation process. If you are looking to install our tile underfloor heating kits by yourself for the first time, you may want to consider these things before getting stuck in.

Preparation and Planning

Like most things, any good install starts in the preparation and planning phase. 

Assess Suitability 

The first step in the underfloor heating process is to assess the suitability of underfloor heating for your project. There are two elements you need to take into consideration. The first being the type of flooring you are going to install, along with the subfloor it is being installed on. The second is the electrical capacity available to the home.

You need to ensure that heaters are installed on clean, smooth concrete or concrete-like surfaces. This means you may have to complete some floor preparation before heating is installed. In some cases, such as large areas or large tiles, it is recommended to place a leveler over the heaters prior to the floor covering being installed to make it easier for the flooring teams. These tasks should be included in your project timelines and discussed with the relevant suppliers to ensure correct flooring products are used.

Different flooring types will require different approaches to the installation of underfloor heating, and some flooring types may not pair well with underfloor heating in general. You can read about how different flooring types interact with our electric underfloor heating below:  

As the electrician, make sure you are aware of the underfloor heating requirements as part of the initial planning and assessment phase, particularly if you are planning to heat large areas of a home. This is to ensure you have the correct circuits installed and a sufficient electrical supply.

Measure Available Space & Request a Quote

In order to know which heater sizes will best fit your space, you will need to measure the available space in the room. The available space is the area where the heater will be installed as you don’t need to have 100% heating coverage to heat a room and in many cases you can’t due to cabinets, shower screens etc. We tend to aim for around 70-85% of heater coverage as this is sufficient to heat the room. Available space also considers elements such as whether you would like heating in the shower, under a wall-hung vanity, or if you need heater coverage under a bed.

**Please note that underfloor heating cannot be placed under heavy, flat items like bath tubs and cabinets** 

If you are unsure of doing your measurements then we are happy to complete a quote for you. All you need to do is send your plans (with room dimension measurements) through to the link below, and we will be able to tell you which heater sizes you need. This is highly recommended if it is your first time working with our underfloor heating. All electrical and flooring preparation requirements will also be provided to you in your quote document. 

Subfloor Preparation

Electric underfloor heating has to be installed over a concrete or concrete-like subfloor. This subfloor needs to be clean and level before installation occurs. An unlevel subfloor can risk an uneven heat distribution as the cables will vary in distance from the floor surface. This can be alleviated by applying a self-leveler or screed over the surface. Please note that any of these materials will need to be completely dry before the installation of underfloor heating can commence. 

In wet areas, waterproofing will need to be completed prior to the installation of underfloor heating. Having the waterproofing completed underneath the heater system protects the waterproofing should the heater elements require a repair at any stage. Your flooring team will need to complete the waterproofing at a minimum of 48 hours before scheduled installation, as it has to be completely dry before the underfloor heating is placed on top.  

The flooring levels of any build or renovation must comply with Australian building regulations. Our Speedheat cables are the thinnest on the market, at only 1.5mm thick. This means with Speedheat, you do not have to worry about underfloor heating affecting your flooring levels.

Before installation occurs, make sure the floor is smooth, dry, and free of any sharp stones, dust, oil, or residue that has the potential to damage the heater elements. It is also important that no buckets, chairs, tools, ladders, or heavy items are placed on top of the elements after installation, as this risks compromising the heating elements.

Electrical Preparation

You need to have completed the relevant calculations to ensure the appropriately sized cables and safety switches are roughed in for the circuits, draw wires are installed before the walls are plastered, and the thermostat location has been decided. This will confirm the correct position of the heater elements to fit off the thermostat. The thermostat cut-out uses General Power Outlet (GPO) measurements and can be installed vertically or horizontally. Information on the wattage and amperage, as well as the electrical preparation, is on the plans that we provide as part of the quote document. 

Some larger spaces (that have more than 16 amps running through the thermostat) will require a contactor to be connected to split the load correctly and ensure that the thermostat is not overloaded.  We are more than happy to answer any questions regarding how this is done over a phone call or email.

Installation

After ensuring the subfloor is level and all waterproofing or self-leveler is completely dry, you will be ready to lay the heating. In any case, re-measure the room and lay each heater out before sticking them down. This will ensure you have the correct-sized heaters while also avoiding sticking the heaters down in the incorrect place. Once the heaters are laid out in the desired formation and you have placed the floor probe, you’ll be ready to start sticking the heating down.  

The floor probe is what provides temperature information to the thermostat. It is important that this floor probe is installed if you are intending to run your heating on floor mode.  

Our installation video will be accessible through a QR code on your heating kit package, but you can also find it on our YouTube channel:  

During and after installation, be careful not to slice or squash the cables, as this will damage the heating system. It is important to be mindful of sharp edges on the tiling trowels when applying tiling glue, or cleaning out the glue prior to grouting, as well as checking for sharp stones wedged in work boots. Precautions you can take to ensure the elements are protected include, installing flooring close to the installation of heater, checking boots before going into the area, placing heavy buckets onto a board and in particularly large areas, adding a thin layer of leveler over the top of the heaters after installation.

After installation, attach the Klima Guard monitor, this will alert you in regard to any potential damage during construction. Please note that this is a single-use monitor and cannot be used on multiple heaters. 

Testing

After installation is complete, the installer of the heating kits (i.e. a qualified electrician) will need to complete the mandatory electrical tests that abide by AS3000 regulations.  

Thermostat

Once you are ready to fit off the thermostat towards the end of the project (after installation, flooring, painting etc), we recommend watching our thermostat fit-off video as there are some great tips on tricks to be aware of. You can find it via the QR code on the thermostat box, or here on our YouTube channel:

The Finished Product 

It’s important to wait a minimum of 7 days after grouting before turning the heating on for the first time if you are using our under-tile heating kits. From there, all that’s left to do is program your thermostat and enjoy the warmth that our electric underfloor heating brings to any space. To get the ball rolling on creating a new level of comfort in your daily routine, request a quote today: