A water-based underfloor system consists of a run of flexible hoses under the floor that carry hot water from your central heating system. As water from a heating system is generally very hot, there’s a mixer valve that reduces the temperature of the water so that you don’t get burnt walking around. Typically, an underfloor system should be set to a water temperature between 35°C and 45°C.
In addition, as there’s a lot of pipework, underfloor heating systems will have a pump to help push the water around. This pump can operate a single zone or multiple underfloor heating zones through an underfloor heating manifold. Simply put, a manifold is a hub for underfloor heating, letting you isolate and control individual zones.
Generally used in new-builds or extensions, wet underfloor heating is best suited to new floor constructions, which can be designed to hold the pipework and be adequately insulated. It’s ideal for an open-plan space or whole-house system, and can be fitted to a solar water-heating system.
A wet system can take longer to warm-up than other heating, but it also takes longer to cool down. A heating engineer or specialist will complete the water-based underfloor heating installation, which can run to thousands of pounds if it’s a whole-property system. But problems tend to be extremely rare, and pipes are designed and tested to have a 50-year life expectancy. Just be aware that retrofit can be difficult, and floors may have to be elevated to allow for pipework.