Central heating manifold?

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Discussion

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,107 posts

205 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
I'm in a new build, approx 7 years old and I'm looking at install a small wet underfloor heating loop in the bathroom. Idea is to run it off the bathroom rad loop, with a simple dial to turn it up/down, but otherwise controlled by the central heating.

Our radiator system has both bathrooms plumbed via the hot water system, so when the hot water is on the bathrooms rads come on, as well as coming on when the normal central heating comes on. Great idea that warms the bathrooms/towels rtc prior to showers. It is this loop I want the underfloor heating plumbed off.

Now, rather cut mid way into the rad loop, I'd like to track down the central heating manifold and see if I can tee off the loop near to it, but I don't know where the damn thing is.

The airing cupboard has the pipe work dropping straight down into the floor, so is it safe to assume the manifold is directly below it, and will need accessing through the ceiling in the hall below? Is there likely to be an access hatch for it? Any suggestions on the feasibility of this plan?

Cheers guys

The underfloor heating loop; http://www.thefloorheatingwarehouse.co.uk/acatalog...

Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 28th January 06:55

Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
You sure it's got a manifold?

Also - you aware that temps for ufh vs rads are significantly different?

Electric for a small bathroom is probably easier?

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Microbore runs of a manifold, but very simplistic compared to an UFH manifold.

Traditional radiator systems don't run off a manifold. I've worked on some that do, but they're an exception.

You'll need a whole manifold, blending valve etc to have it working. It's not quite as you think.

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,107 posts

205 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks guys, electric would be the sensible choice but due to this being a long term house for us, and expecting to use it for a good few hours+ a day, and later this year having a second bathroom wet UFH added on (so total space of approx 15m2 over 2 rooms) , as well as being able to keep the single thermostat to turn everything on/off, I am really hoping there is a wet solution - even if it was cost me £200-300 more up front.

The house is microbore, so sounds like I would have a manifold? Is there a standard/cheap option that Bryant/a house builder would be likely to default to? Before I have to cut holes in things trying to find it, I'd like to have a rough idea of what i'm looking for/feasibility of it.

Understand the comments on the simplistic system I posted above, so I would require a mixing valve/pump setup then? I was going to try and tee off the return from the radiator so the rad dissipates some of the heat? However, when the hot water is on & only the the bathroom rads are working, it does get very hot.

The alternative system, with mixer etc is below;
http://www.thefloorheatingwarehouse.co.uk/acatalog...

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
You need a purpose made, single zone UFH manifold. Ideally you want to connect the flow connection after the CH pump, but before the 3 port valve/2 port valves.

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Come off the flow, zone valve, manifold/ pump/ blending valve setup, then return back to the boiler return.

The microbore central heating manifold is a manifold but it's designed to be controlled heat wise by the boiler stats. An UFH manifold looks after itself.

If you bathroom rads come on when the heating or hot water is called for, therefore when the boiler fires, they are probably plumbed off the boilers primaries. Therefore they won't have a manifold, probably just tee'd off.
They could be on their own valve but I doubt it.

UFH should be a stat alone aspect with it's own timer and thermostat.

Andehh

Original Poster:

7,107 posts

205 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestions guys, much much appreciated!

With the run being so small, could I just leave out the pump from the system, and have the mixer (with control) prior to the manifold? Then let the Central heating Grundfoss(sp) pump everything? Eventually I will be doing this to a second bathroom (5-6sqm, so approx 10sqm in total) so I may install a 2 zone manifold now, then plug it off until the second bathroom gets re-done and then just connect it up & let both bathrooms be controlled via the central heating system (ie temp adjustment via manifold mixer dial, then on/off with central heating)

I can get my plumber to chop into the boiler feed & return lines to tap off for the underfloor heating, however I am not too interested in individual zone controls, something that just comes on with the central heating, abit at the lower temp require, is all I'm after.

Cheers smile

edit: Image I am working off, except this is 4 zone when I would have 1 zone now, then eventually 2 zone with second bathroom.



Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 28th January 12:33