Frequently asked Questions about our heat Pump and Underfloor Heating products

An air to water Heat Pump is the most efficient way by far to year your house. A well designed air to water heat pump system is 400% efficient. What that means is for every 1 kilowatt of electricity supplied to the heat pump, will generate the equivalent of 4 kilowatts of usable heat to your home. In comparison, Oil and gas boilers will only achieve 80 to 90%. Stoves will score even worse as these come in at approx. 40% at best.

The best heating system for your home is an Air to Water Heat Pump, combined with underfloor heating on the ground floor and either underfloor heating on the first floor or radiators. Underfloor heating on the first floor would be preferred if the first floor is of concreted floor construction. If the first floor is not of concrete construction and is of timber construction, fitting radiators would be preferred as the installation of underfloor heating would be expensive to install.

The best heating system for your home is an Air to Water Heat Pump, combined with underfloor heating on the ground floor and either underfloor heating on the first floor or radiators. Underfloor heating on the first floor would be preferred if the first floor is of concreted floor construction. If the first floor is not of concrete construction and is of timber construction, fitting radiators would be preferred as the installation of underfloor heating would be expensive to install.

There are many advantages of an underfloor heating system:

• Comfortable even temperature throughout
• Efficient on fuel due to lower operating temperatures
• Healthier environment with less dust being circulated
• Safer—no hot panels or dangerous hard edges
• No restrictions on interior design layout
• Low maintenance
• Maximum usable floor spaces
• Excellent value for money
• Independent temperature control for all rooms.
• Lower CO2 emissions

•  Comfortable even temperature throughout
• Efficient on fuel due to lower operating temperatures
• Healthier environment with less dust being circulated
• Safer—no hot panels or dangerous hard edges 
• No restrictions on interior design layout
• Low maintenance
• Maximum usable floor spaces
• Excellent value for money 
• Independent temperature control for all rooms. 
• Lower CO2 emissions.

There is no maximum area that can be covered. The possibilities are endless.

You can add underfloor heating to your existing heating system and many people do when refurbishing and/or adding extensions to their houses. As the underfloor heating system works on lower temperatures slight alterations to your heating system will have to be carried out by your plumber.

Yes, you can. There are grants available through Sustainable Energy Agency Ireland to supplement the cost of the install. 

Yes, Heat Pumps and underfloor heating works perfectly in extensions.

The underfloor heating can be installed during the build process of the dwelling on top of the sub floor and a layer of insulation.

This is a very good question. Underfloor heating includes a series of pipes buried in the concrete floor of your house. If there is any issue with the pipe in the future, it will be very expensive to locate and repair.  Pipelife manufacturer the pipe in Cork and the pipe is guaranteed for 50 years. 

5 Years on other components.

The ideal temperature setting is 40 degrees and should be set to ensure that the floor surface temperature should never exceed 29ºC. Above this temperature could cause cracking in the floor.

Tile, carpet and timber are all suitable floor coverings. There are a few design considerations to be adhered to :

• Tile: Use adhesive suitable for underfloor heating 
• Timber: Use timber that has been kiln dried to approx 8%.
• Carpet: Always use a good quality thin carpet and a good quality underlay. 

Always consult your flooring provider before you lay a finished floor on top. They will provide you with the best advice on choosing a floor covering most suitable for underfloor heating

The initial investment is higher than a radiator system but the end result is lower running costs, a better form of comfort, as well as improved control and a hidden heating system. The installation of undefloor is approx. 10& more expensive to install.

Pipelife will do up a detailed design specification with full pipe layout drawings as well as electrical wiring drawings. These drawings & installer instructions are very simple to follow which can be passed onto your local installer to install. If you would prefer, Pipelife, can organise and project manage the install right through to commissioning stage. 

No. All Pipelife underfloor heating systems are relatively easy to install. Simply follow our AutoCAD design drawing for the pipe patterns and loop lengths. A full design specification goes out with each project detailing zone layouts, commissioning details, system setup and operation and of course all mechanical and electrical diagrams and data sheets. 

Commissioning, is where a Pipelife Engineer will call out to the house after the installation is completed. (Full Heat Installation, Heat Pump, Underfloor Heating and or Radiators) The engineer will carry out a number of checks to insure that the system is installed correctly. There are parameters set on the heat pump that are tailored the needs of the house. The heating is then turned on for the first time. The engineer will go through the workings of the heating system with the end user and discuss how to use the system most efficiently.

No, the running costs will be reduced due to the fact that the heating system will be running at a lower temperature. 

Not at all. You can incorporate underfloor heating with a radiator system. 

Yes. In Pipelife Designs, Individual room thermostats are supplied for each room allowing you to have a completely independent time and temperature control system. Pipelife can tailor the level of control to the needs of the user. Whether it be a simple dial room thermostat or a digital room thermostat that you can also control through your phone and/or tablet. Other companies may reduce the level of control and thus reduce your comfort.

The Pipelife heating system will cater for the entire heating needs of the house. This includes the hot water demand. The Pipelife Heat Pump will supply plenty of hot water to meet the requirements of the occupants of the house.  

Yes, underfloor heating can be fitted upstairs. 

You are not confined to underfloor heating up stairs. You can have conventional radiators upstairs. 

• Pipelife are supplying the agricultural and construction sector since 1970.
• Pipelife manufactured pipe carried a 50 year warranty giving you peace of mind that the pipes under your floor are covered for this length of time.
• Pipelife offer full design indemnity insurance on all systems.
• We offer control no matter what your technical ability may be.
  
• All systems are very user friendly.
• We commission every full system supplied. Full system comprises of Heat Pump, Underfloor hearing and or radiators.
• We have engineers throughout the country to cover after sales service.
• We pride ourselves in our after sales service. 

An air to water heat pump collects the heat from the outside air and through a refrigeration cycle, generates heat for our homes. There is liquid in the heat pump which will boil at -40 degrees Celsius. (Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius). This liquid changes into a gas when boiled. This gas is compressed. When you compress a gas, the temperature of the gas increases which is then used to heat our homes and hot water for our showers.

A screed is a layer of concrete that covers the underfloor heating pipes and becomes the floor of your house.

Yes, It would be a good idea to get technical advice on what heat pump best suits your house before you carry out any work.

Generally, yes you can. It would be prudent to get some technical advice before you carry out any work.

This depends on the size of your house and the level of control you require. Below is only a rough guide.

Please use above only as a guide. To receive an accurate, detailed quotation, please send a set of drawings to Pipelife. We will return a full detailed quotation, outlining the best options available to you.

An approximate rule of thumb is €16/per square meter of floor.

Please use above only as a guide. To receive an accurate, detailed quotation, please send a set of drawings to Pipelife. We will return a full detailed quotation, outlining the best options available to you.

You would require approximately 200mm to allow for your new floor insulation, pipes and new concrete floor.

An outdoor unit is called the condenser. This primarily collects the heat from the air which boils the gas within the unit. This heated gas in turn, heats the water that is heating your house as well as the water for your showers. 

An indoor unit is a pre plumbed (easy for your Plumber to install) which also houses your hot water tank. This comes in white panels and look like a fridge. (Insert link to photo)

The outdoor unit can be located anywhere outside your building. However, it is best practice to keep it as close to the building if possible. This will reduce the length of gas pipes that will be needed to run.

Pipelife have the system displayed in Cork and Dublin. You are more than welcome to make an appointment to come visit where one of our Engineers can go through the system with you. Feel free to bring a set of drawings for your house and we can go through the system that suits you best.

Pipelife have showrooms in Cork and Dublin where we have a number of systems on display. Please feel free to make an appointment and visit to meet with one of our engineers to discuss the best system that suit you.

Part L is one of many Building Regulations that your house will have to meet on completion. Part L relates to heating and hot water. This is a very detailed document that your Builder, Plumber, Heating Designer will have to follow to meet the minimum requirements and to make sure your heating system is up to building regulations. 

The Part L document of current building regulations sets out maximum energy usage and carbon emission levels for the dwellings. It also states that all new buildings must incorporate some form of renewable energy technology to help reduce the use of fossil fuels to heat the dwelling or to reduce the primary electricity usage. The most popular renewable energy sources used are heat pumps for heating and hot water. 

There are many components in a heating system. There are also many different quality components. When poor quality components are used, this when things can go wrong. While most of the components can be replaced easily as these are accessible, what is not easily accessible is the pipes under your floor. There has been lots of horror stories in the industry that have not got to the public domain with regard to substandard pipe. Stories that included, people having to move out of their house to accommodate removal off all floors in the house to replace pipes that have failed after a number of years. The pipes began to leak after a number of years, only for the homeowner to find out that the warranty of the pipes has expired, and they would incur the very expensive cost. Insurance companies will not cover costs on uncertified pipe. 

There are a few things to look out for to avoid horror stories outlined above. Ultimately, insist on full design insurance, high quality components with long warranties so that you will not incur costs in the event of any issues that may arise. As the pipe will be fitted within your floor structure, you should insist on a 50-year warranty on the pipe. Do not take the word of a Seles Rep, please insist on documented evidence.

Pipelife Heating systems are all fully covered by third party Design Indemnity Insurance.

Generally, there are some competitors that can offer cheaper comparisons. This is only done by compromising on something. Whether it be quality, quantity or service. There are lots of ways of reducing the price offered. The most common trick is reducing the quantity of components. For example, the quantity of pipe and controls. We would suggest you ask all potential suppliers for a detailed list of quantities, on every quotation. Remember, your heating system should last for many years, you need to know exactly what you are getting. Study and compare all quotations. Make sure that the quantities of all the components are the same. One item less may affect the price but it will also effect the running costs of your system as well as the level of comfort in your house. Insist on warranties of 50 years on the pipe and at least 5 years on all other components.

Another trick that is used widely is reducing the size of the heat pump. An under sized heat pump will cause nothing but problems in the future. An under sized heat pump will have to work harder all year round resulting in expensive running costs as well as burn out. Burn out consists of the heat pump burning out and require replacing same. This is a very expensive and avoidable exercise. It has been found, that under sizing a heat pump will result in burn out between 4 to 6 years. Just when your warranty has expired. Leaving you with an unexpected very large expense.  

All systems and components can be purchased through your local hardware shop giving the peace of mind that you are buying locally. We can also offer a fully designed & installed system either through your local plumber or one of our partners throughout the country. Pipelife have Certified Installers throughout the country and we would be more than happy to you in contact.

Hitachi focuses on your comfort. Ventilator blades and scroll compressor have been specially developed for a low noise level.

Hitachi was one of the first manufacturers to use DC inverter technology for heat pumps This keeps temperature fluctuations to a minimum, giving customers the opportunity to tailor the temperature of their homes to their own preference, whilst saving up to 40% of energy compared to systems without this technology.

It depends on many factors, including the size of your flat or house, the type and number of heating elements involved and hot water function. Your living environment also plays an important role. In general, you can use both Yutaki M and Yutaki S in connection with common radiators or underfloor heating systems. The Yutaki S heat pump is a split system, consisting of an outdoor unit and a separate indoor unit. In contrast, the Yutaki M heat pump is a compact solution, whereby only a single unit has to be installed on the outside. It does not take up much space and can use an existing heating solution. Your Hitachi specialist dealer will be happy to help youmake the right decision.

No problem with the Yutaki S! The Yutaki S is a split system comprising an outdoor unit and a separate indoor unit. They are connected via a refrigerant pipe and are installed by a trained professional. All sizes are equipped with an electric heater as standard, which can be switched on as needed. This is particularly beneficial in transitional periods. The use of convectors as a heating system means that the Yutaki S can be used to regulate indoor temperatures in summer. It is especially suited to new builds that you ideally want to equip with underfloor heating. Its screed drying function is a real advantage here, which shortens the drying process considerably. It also has a legionella purge cycle, automatic summer cut-off (this does not affect service water heating) and the option of solar connection.Thus, its use can be customised all year-round.