Heatwell has developed a  Best Practice set of guidelines over our many years of underfloor heating installation. Heatwells' Best Practice is a seven-step installation and testing procedure that protects underfloor heating cable between installation and the laying of the final floor covering.

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What is the purpose of Heatwells' Best Practice?

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Heatwells' Best Practice allows us, and other installers, to minimise risk to the underfloor heating cable during the installation process, and allows us to guarantee our installation work.  Heatwells' Best Practice is our quality control.

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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 can occur.  Undiagnosed damage to the underfloor heating cable will result in the expensive and time consumming process of fault finding and repair.  

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

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Watch Heatwells' best practice video.​

What does Heatwells' Best Practice test?

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Heatwells' best practice tests the Ohms or resistance of the underfloor heating cable during different stages of the installation process.

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 crushed cable will increase the resistance and create a hot spot at the crushed point. A hot spot has a high risk of burning out causing the heating cable to fail.   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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Heatwells' installation 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 installation.

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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.​​

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Why does Heatwell test with ohms readings instead of using a continuity alarm?

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A continuity alarm only sounds when the circuit has been broken. It will not warn an installer that a cable has been crushed. A crushed cable increases resistance and creates a hot spot at the point of damage, while the circuit stays intact and the alarm stays silent. Only an increase in the ohms reading reveals the damage. Heatwells' Best Practice records an ohms readings backed up with photographs rather than relying on a continuity test.

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Best Practice Installation Step by Step

​Heatwells' Best Practice steps start after proper floor preparation has been complete and after floor primer has been applied.

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Best Practice Steps:

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

2. Recommended: Test the kOhms of the cable with a multi-meter before you install.  Make sure the test is very similar to the recorded test.  The reading may vary slightly due to room temperature.

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 the kOhms immediately.

4. When all the cables are in place with the cold tails drawn through the flush box, test the kOhms against the test given from the manufacturer in step 1. We are ensuring no damage has been done during the install process. The test must be similar to readings in steps 1 and 2 (they may vary slightly due to room temperature).  Take a photo of the test.

5. Write the kOhms test reading on a piece of tape and attach it to one of the cold tails. A record for the kOhms test must be available for the final flooring installer and the electrician.  Take a photo of the recorded test.

6. Take a photo of the installed cable layout.  This is very important if anything is going to be fixed to the final flooring.

7. The installer of the thermostat (electrician) will then check against the kOhms reading recorded in step 5. The electrician should take a photo of the test and a photo of the operational thermostat.  The installer of the final flooring product can also check against an kOhms reading if necessary.

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Please note:  There is still significant risk of cable damage from the final flooring installer if they drill a hole in the wrong spot.  Careful planning before cable is installed is needed if anything is going to be fixed on the final flooring.  Test the kOhms reading immediately if there is any possibility of damage.

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The installer should always have a minimum of 4 photos:

1. The label of the cable that is going to be installed.  We want to record the test notes from the manufacturer.

2. The multi-meter kOhms test after installation.  We want to record that the reading of the manufacturer test are very similar to the test after installation

3. The handwritten label of the of the kOhms test attached to the cold tails.  We want to record that the test kOhms numbers are available to the final flooring installer and the electrician.

4. The flooring layout of the installed cable.  Others may need to know the flooring layout at a future date.

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The electrician should always have a minimum of 2 photos:

1. The multi-meter kOhms test of the cable.  We are recording that the cable has been tested and that it's good to go.

2. The fully installed powered up thermostat.  We are recording that installation has been a success and that we are finished.

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