Polypipe Underfloor Heating’s time-saving technology used in ‘work of art’ installation

The brief

Despite their significant expertise in heating installation, Concept Plumbing and Heating came up against the potential challenge of this being a significantly time-consuming project. The process of installing underfloor heating in this property required running pipes into each room from a central location – and the customer had a huge emotional attachment to the house, given it was inherited from a family member. Not only was this a complex job, it was also a delicate one which required our team to be caring and compassionate throughout the project.

Concept Plumbing and Heating is a long time user of Polypipe Underfloor Heating having been fitting our products for over 25 years. With this in mind we were pleased to be able to support him on this project with our new Overlay Plus Enhanced Underfloor Heating panels.

Our solution

Overlay Plus Enhanced was selected as the best solution for the project, with panels designed to save hours of installation time, without the need to infiltrate or break up large areas of the home.

The panels were installed directly over the existing structural floor for minimal disruption, with the pipes laid in grooves within the boards’ surface. Large but lightweight, these panels covered the large floor space quickly, with the felted finish meaning tiles could be applied directly.

The great benefit of the new Enhanced panels is the built-in end returns and connection routes. These mean there is no longer a requirement for separate plastic end returns, which need to be fixed and screeded to match the floor height of the rest of the Underfloor Heating installation. With no need for wet screed, a fully dry system could be installed. The Enhanced panels allowed Concept Plumbing and Heating to route the connection pipes in a more efficient way, considerably reducing installation time by several hours without compromising on quality.

Along with the underfloor heating, a new more energy efficient boiler was also installed. As a result, the decision was made to use stainless steel over copper piping, as this would match the material of the cylinder, and the heat exchange inside the boiler. Grade 316 was used due to its thickness and the fact that it will be more durable throughout the whole system. In 10 years’ time, it will look exactly the same as the day it was laid due to its quality and resistance.

Results

The result was a triumph for the customer who called the installation a “work of art”.

They also said that the completion of the job restored their faith in tradesmen, and their expectations were completely surpassed due to the performance of the system.

They are now able to operate the heating system in their home using smart temperature controls via a mobile app. In making this transition, the customer’s energy bills have lowered from £500 per month to £250 per month: which is half the price of what they were paying previously with the old boiler.

Upon visiting the property as part of a follow up check, Concept Plumbing and Heating found that the temperature in the room was still a comfortable 20 degrees.

The end result was that the customer now has long-term comfort throughout the colder months thanks to Polypipe Underfloor Heating, with the integrity and aesthetic appeal of the property remaining intact.

Paul Clark, Owner at Concept Heating and Plumbing shared:

“I’ve fitted Polypipe Underfloor Heating for over 25 years now and I won’t fit another product because it’s the best. It’s also really simple to mix and match the products when you’re working on different areas of a property.

 

“As a discerning plumbing and heating engineer, I know that underfloor heating is a big investment for people, and an expensive outlay when you’re renovating. By fitting the best product you possibly can, it gives a customer confidence.

 

“I’ve never had any complaints from customers about Polypipe Underfloor Heating Overlay – and I see many of my previous customers regularly for feedback.

 

“People know the name Polypipe Underfloor Heating for a reason. It always delivers.”