Heatwell has developed a "best practice" set of guidelines.  

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The time period between installing the underfloor heating cable and the final flooring product is where the greatest likelihood of damage to the cable will occur.  Undiagnosed damage to the underfloor heating cable will result in the expensive process of fault finding and repair.  Fault finding and repair is something that is best avoided as it can prove to be time and cost expensive.

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Following our Best Practice Guidelines is essential for the Heatwells' cable warranty to apply.

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Watch our best practice video.​

Heatwells' Pro Series and Gold Series cable have been independently tested.  Each cable will have an ohms value on the spool.  kOhms are the resistance of each cable and will vary depending on the length.  Ohms readings will vary slightly with temperature.

Taking Ohms readings during the installation process is essential.  A continuity alarm will only sound when the circuit has been broken. A continuity alarm will not warn the installer if the cable has been crushed or damaged. A crushed cable will increase the resistance and create a hot spot at the crushed point.  Only an increase in an Ohm reading will show damage to a cable.

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A crushed cable can happen during the cable installation process or during the installation of the final flooring product.  Crushing can occur if something heavy is dropped on the cable.  Crushing can also occur if the cable is pinched (imagine a pinched garden hose) during the install process. Heatwell uses a horizontal cable roller to reduce the possibility of cable damage.  If you pinch the cable accidentally, or drop something on the installed cable, an Ohm reading should be done immediately.  There is no use in continuing to install a damaged cable.

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Our system of putting fibreglass mesh over the cable and locking the cable in with a self-levelling compound (screed) helps protect the cable during installation of the final flooring product. However, you should never assume the cable has not been damaged during the final flooring product install.

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Testing with a multi-meter is essential after initial installation.​  All installers will need a multi-meter capable of reading kOhms.​​

Best Practice Installation Step by Step

1. ​Take a photo of the test readings that come with the underfloor heating cable.

2. Test the cable with a multi-meter.  Make sure the test is very similar to the recorded test.  The reading may vary slightly due to room temperature.  Take a photo of the test.

3. Fully install the underfloor heating cable including the cold tails to the flush box.  If anything happens that may incur damage during install, test immediately.

4. When all the cables are in place with the cold tails drawn through the flush box, test the ohms against the test readings from Step two. We are ensuring no damage has been done during the install process. Take another photo of the test.

5. Write the ohms test reading on a piece of tape and attach it to one of the cold tails. Take a photo.  The installer is now fully covered!

6. The installer of the thermostat (electrician) will then check against the ohms reading. The electrician should take a photo of the test.  The installer of the final flooring product can also check against an ohm reading if necessary.

7. There is still significant risk of cable damage from the final flooring installer or from an installer drilling a hole in the wrong spot.  Please test the ohms reading immediately if there is any possibility of damage.