Installing underfloor heating with tacker plates

A common underfloor heating system is a system that uses 'tacker plates'. This system is not electric but water-based. This is therefore a wet construction system. This underfloor heating is relatively quick and easy to install.

Tip: it is advisable to install this system with the help of at least two people.

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The bottom part of the tacker plate consists of insulation. This insulation helps to retain heat, but also to dampen sounds. A 5 cm grid print is woven on top of the insulation. This grid helps you to lay the pipes of the underfloor heating. Heat-conducting cement is placed on the tacker plates with pipes. The finishing floor is laid on top of that. This knowledge base article explains how to connect an underfloor heating system with tacker plates.

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​Required materials for installing underfloor heating​

For this job you will need the following materials:

• A complete set of pipes for underfloor heating

• Pipe cutters

• Tackers

• Soft brush

• Pencil (or if necessary a pen or marker) for marking

• Hammer

• Plugs

• Tape measure

• Open-end spanner (size 24)

• Spirit level

• Edge insulation (possibly with adhesive strip and foil)

• Snap-off knife/Stanley knife

• Floor bends

• Tape

• Tacker pliers

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As main or additional heating?

When installing tacker plate floor heating (this also applies to the electric version) you must consider in advance whether you are going to use this as main or additional heating. The choice here determines the distance between the pipes during installation.

Distance of the tubes:

• As main heating: 10 cm centre-to-centre distance.
  Underfloor heating will function as main heating if there are no radiators, convectors or other types of heating. It is no problem at all to achieve the desired temperature in a room with underfloor heating and that makes radiators redundant, for example, which is of course visually much more attractive.

• As 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. All heating systems then work together to provide the correct heat demand.

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Installing tacker underfloor heating

Follow the steps below to install tacker floor heating.

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Preparation:
Step 1: Clean the space

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

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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 borders the floor that is going to be 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 on the floor surface must be provided with edge insulation. Think of pillars and support/partition walls.

Different floors::

• Cement screed: edge insulation with adhesive strip

• Cast floor: edge insulation with foil, with adhesive strip

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 at least 40 cm above the floor. You need this height to have enough space to connect the manifold.

Installing and connecting the 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 attached to the wall exactly horizontally. Preferably do this with 2 people, the next point explains why.

• When the manifold is hanging straight, you can mark the four drill holes (1) on the wall. As described in the previous point, it is useful to do this with 2 people. The manifold is often large and heavy and you have to keep the manifold level and then also mark the holes. That is a challenge to say the least.

• Drill the holes (1) with a drill. Make sure you drill the holes deep enough!

• Place the plugs in the drill holes (1). If you are unable to push the plugs into the wall with your thumb/finger, carefully use a hammer.

• Attach the manifold to the wall using bolts. Tighten the bolts using a ring spanner or - even better - a ratchet wrench, which will go a lot faster.

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Step 4: Place and secure tacker platesCover the floor with tacker plates where you want to install the underfloor heating.
Note: The lines of the tacker plates must continue into each other.

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Step 5: Cut tacker plates to size
If necessary, cut the plates to size. You can do this by using a snap-off knife.

Step 6: Sticking the tacker plates
Then secure them together with tape. Make sure the plates are firmly and securely attached to the floor.

Installing underfloor heating with tacker plates: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)
Knip de verwarmingsbuis af. Plaats de wartel, knelring en tule in deze volgorde op de buis. Gebruik de onderste aansluiting (1) van de verdeler als aanvoer. Draai op deze aansluiting de koppeling vast met behulp van een steeksleutel.

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 in the right position and nail it in place using tacker nails and tacker pliers. Use three tacker nails per metre of underfloor heating pipe. Place the pipes 10 or 15 cm apart, in a snail shell pattern. This has the advantage that the supply and return of water are alternated. This ensures ideal heat distribution.
Note: You need to use more tacker nails in the bends than on straight sections with pipes.

Step 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 with tacker plate:

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 not leaking of course!

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