Selecting Materials for Underfloor Heating

The choice of materials is the top priority that ultimately determines the user experience and the physical and mental health and safety of the entire family. Therefore, our strategy is to select high-quality, branded materials within our budget whenever possible. The difference between the highest and lowest quotes for underfloor heating can be as much as tens of thousands of yuan.

1. Selection of Wall-Mounted Boilers (Heat Source) The market for underfloor heating boilers is dominated by German brands, led by Vaillant, Viessmann, and Bosch, with other well-known industry brands such as Vaillant, AO Smith, Rinnai, Ariston, and Immergas following closely behind. These boilers enjoy high recognition in China, and their quality and reliability are generally dependable. Although these are all imported brands, some models are locally manufactured in China. Compared to imported models, there are differences in performance and price, so be sure to inquire and pay attention to these details when making your selection.

2. Manifold + Thermostat (Control)

The mainstream materials for manifolds are brass, copper alloys, stainless steel, and PPR. We did not spend time researching other non-mainstream materials. Major manifold brands on the market include: Calfe, Giacomini, Danfoss, Oventrop, Emetti, Konif, and Manreid. Thermostats are typically used in conjunction with manifolds, so manifold manufacturers usually offer their own branded thermostats; the main thermostat brands are the same as those listed above. Thermostat technology has advanced significantly; generally, a dual-temperature, dual-control model with weekly programming is sufficient. As for which brand to choose, that depends on your budget.

3. Underfloor Heating Main Pipe + Coils (Heat Transfer) The underfloor heating main pipe is the section of piping running from the wall-mounted boiler to the manifold. Common materials include PPR, PPR-aluminum composite pipe, and Steady-State pipe. Although PPR pipe meets the requirements for underfloor heating main lines, I still recommend choosing higher-quality PPR aluminum-plastic composite pipe. Unlike the underfloor heating loops, which are buried in the floor, this section of piping is exposed and therefore requires greater resistance to external forces and long-term high-temperature exposure. The underfloor heating loops are the actual source of the warm flow beneath our feet. They are laid throughout the rooms requiring underfloor heating. The mainstream products for these loops include pipes made of PE-RT, PEX-A, and PEX-C materials.

4. Selection of Underfloor Heating Insulation Materials (Insulation) Underfloor heating insulation materials are generally referred to as “underfloor heating auxiliary materials.” Their primary function is insulation, which naturally leads to reduced operating costs and provides the added benefit of protecting the underfloor heating pipes. Underfloor heating auxiliary materials include: insulation boards, reflective film, wire mesh, perimeter insulation strips, expansion joints, and insulation sleeves.