HOMEOWNERS URGED TO FIND THE ENERGY TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLES AHEAD OF UK CLIMATE CHANGE TARGET

Renewable energy is fast becoming the norm and with climate change now a very real problem more and more people are thinking about investing in a renewable energy source.

Renewable energy is generated using natural resources like the sun, wind and water with technology which works to make sure that the energy stores are naturally replenished. So instead of buying energy from a supplier, people are now considering installing renewable technology into their homes to generate their own.

Using renewables makes use of secure and local resources, reduces homeowners’ dependence on non-renewable energy and helps to lower the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Other benefits include creating new jobs in renewable energy industries, a drop in energy bill costs and the opportunity to generate income by selling surplus energy back to the energy provider.

One of the main questions people ask when making the switch to renewable energy is how they can generate their own heat and use it most efficiently. This is where underfloor heating experts Wunda Group plc and their rapid response, ‘no need to dig up floors’ Wundatherm system comes in.

With climate change targets causing uncertainty for current heating methods, choosing a solution that works with any heat source will give customers peace of mind knowing that they are ready for anything and only have to buy once. Wet underfloor heating is a good first step to reducing a household’s carbon footprint and is a great way to be more responsible with heating, and while the country is still deciding on the most cost-effective way to update millions of homes it is reassuring to know that products like Wundatherm will work with both current and future resources.

Wundatherm is future-proof and perfect to use with both existing boilers and future heat sources, and with home heating accounting for 21% of a home’s carbon footprint, homeowners will need to stop using fossil fuels to heat their homes in favour of sustainable green energy heating in order for the UK to meet its global climate change commitments.

Wet underfloor heating is one of the only heating systems that runs efficiently with new low energy heat sources. It’s already the first choice for many other countries, and has been shown to be 25% more efficient than radiators and costs 60% less to run than electric underfloor heating.

The Wundatherm underfloor heating system can be laid by any competent tradesmen including builders, carpenters and tilers and once installed only requires a plumber to commission the system and an electrician to fit the controls. It is also designed with a ‘fit and forget’ reputation that is reliable, durable and maintenance-free.

One of the big incentives of a renewables system, aside from lowering environmental impact and savings on fuel bills, is that the money spent on the installation can be offset by applying the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

The scheme offers quarterly payments to residents over a seven-year period based on estimates of the property’s annual heating consumption.

Wunda prides itself on first class quality and customer service, providing free technical support six days a week, and provides the specialist service of detailed layout plans for all bespoke systems free of charge to trade customers. With these layout plans to hand, tradesmen can have complete confidence in laying the boards and installing the Wundatherm system.

For further information on the Wundatherm underfloor heating system or a free estimate, call 0800 083 2677, email: plans@wundagroup.com or visit the website www.wundatrade.co.uk

PLUMBING SPECIALIST HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK AFTER TAKING THE PLUNGE WITH WUNDATHERM

Compatible with sustainable heat pumps, solar panels or any existing gas/oil boilers, the Wundatherm underfloor heating system by heating experts Wunda Group plc can be laid by any competent tradesmen, including builders, carpenters and tilers.

The company wants more tradesmen to gain from the profitable benefits of Wundatherm, a rapid response wet system with no need to dig up floors, so has asked one of its most valued customers why they use Wunda and why they keep coming back.

PW Heating and Plumbing Engineers is a loyal customer to Wunda Group and have been servicing the South Wales area for more than 20 years. A supplier and installer of commercial and domestic heating and plumbing systems, Managing Director Patrick Whitehouse reveals why when it comes to underfloor heating he won’t go anywhere else.

After starting in the trade aged 16 as an apprentice, Patrick now runs his own business in gas plumbing and heating.

PW has used Wunda as its supplier of underfloor heating for around 10 years. “I find the technical side is very good and if you pick up the phone someone is always there to give you an answer and of course the products are good quality,” says Patrick, “and I think the most important thing for everybody in the trade is that it is the right price. The next day delivery is an added bonus.”

“I found out about Wunda through doing a lot of work in the area, speaking with a friend who had used them and after speaking with a local installer. I was then led to more people who use Wunda, including a very close friend who is also a heating engineer. There is also lots of positive feedback on a few industry Facebook pages and they are one of the bigger players in the industry.”

He continued, “Over the years, we’ve installed underfloor heating from scratch in new builds and renovations and we’ve used Wunda’s overlay system and pretty much every product they supply as it’s simple to fit and is always evolving. I have found that the overlay system is really popular at the moment as it is ideal for conservatories and newer houses where people are looking to take their radiators out and put underfloor heating in without too much disruption. There have always been reservations with underfloor heating as people are concerned about how much mess it creates or that it’s going to be too expensive to fit because you have to dig the floors up, but you don’t need to worry about any of that with Wundatherm and that’s why it is a really good alternative to radiators.”

“For us, we go with what we know and when I’m happy with something I don’t need to go anywhere else,” says Patrick. “I fitted some underfloor heating a few years ago in a conservatory and came to see Tom at Wunda and he explained to me the thermal element of it and how quickly it spreads the heat and I was so impressed that I’ve used it whenever we’ve had the opportunity.”

“I’ve installed around 15 systems for people doing home renovations. I had used other products before I started to use Wunda, but heating is moving on rapidly, and I’m pleased that every time I look at Wunda Group there’s something new.”

But it isn’t just the product that Patrick likes. “Wunda provides a really good service including support on a Saturday which many of the big players don’t.” He says, “If there is a problem on a Friday night or a Saturday morning then with many underfloor heating companies there is no help available, but Wunda cares a lot about the customer service side and when I phone in I get to speak to the same people and get a dedicated account manager, and that matters to me when I’ve got to place an order.”

“When placing an order, Wunda provides plans and drawings and I never have a problem if I stick to the diagram, especially as the drawings are so detailed. I wouldn’t swap to another supplier now, lots of people in the industry like to try out new products but when I find a good product that is always developing I don’t need to go anywhere else.”

Wunda’s new Rapid Response® Wundatherm system is incredibly easy to install, with no mess or drying time and is extremely durable. The lightweight low profile boards are just 16 or 20mm thick, heat up in minutes and are suitable for any floor finish including carpet, vinyl, Karndean, Amtico, laminate, wood, ceramic and stone tiles. Once installed, floor heating pipe is laid into the pre-formed grooves in the boards and the system is ready for immediate use.

Wunda prides itself on first class quality and customer service, providing free technical support six days a week, and provides the specialist service of detailed layout plans for all bespoke systems free of charge to trade customers. With these layout plans to hand, tradesmen can have complete confidence in laying the boards and installing the Wundatherm system.

To see Patrick in action, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AEvh044_JE&feature=youtu.be

For further information on the Wundatherm underfloor heating system or a free estimate, call 0800 083 2677, email: plans@wundagroup.com or visit the website www.wundatrade.co.uk

BAN ON FOSSIL FUEL HEATING TO IMPACT NEW HOMES FROM 2025

Last year the Government announced that it had introduced a new consultation to set out its plans for the Future Homes Standard. This includes options to increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 2020.

The aim of the new standard is to bring all of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, a target seen as one of the most ambitious in the world. New and existing homes account for 21% of emissions, and despite recent efforts to lower those emissions much more still has to be done.

With climate change now a major crisis and coinciding with the release of the CCC (Climate Change Committee) report last year, underfloor heating expert Wunda Group is raising awareness about what the standard means and how it’s over floor heating solution can help homes comply.

As part of the UK’s journey to the 2050 target, the Government has committed to bringing in its Future Homes Standard in 2025, and anticipates that an average home built using the new guidelines will have 75-80% less carbon emissions than one built using the current energy efficiency requirements.

It is expected that this will be achieved through very high fabric standards and a low carbon heating system. The standard was created to address the need to ban fossil fuel heating systems, such as gas boilers, from new homes by 2025 and how vital it is to replace them with low carbon heating systems. This means a new home built to the Future Homes Standard might also be fitted with triple glazing and walls, floors and roofs that significantly limit heat loss.

Chapter 2 of the Future Homes Standard discusses how the roll out of low carbon heating systems will lead to world-leading levels of energy efficiency. An excellent example of a sustainable heating system is Wundatherm, Wunda Group’s leading underfloor heating product.

Compatible with sustainable heat pumps, solar panels or any existing gas/oil boilers, the Wundatherm underfloor heating system can run at temperatures as low as 35°C and can be laid by any competent tradesmen including builders, carpenters and tilers. Once installed, Wundatherm only requires a plumber to connect the system to the heat source and an electrician to fit the simple controls, and is designed with a ‘fit and forget’ reputation that is reliable, durable, maintenance-free and future-proof.

Wundatherm is a new Rapid Response® system that’s extremely durable, incredibly easy to install and eliminates mess and drying time without the need to dig up floors. The lightweight low profile boards are just 16 or 20mm thick, heat up in minutes and are suitable for any floor finish including carpet, vinyl, Karndean, Amtico, laminate, wood, ceramic and stone tiles. Once installed, floor heating pipe is laid into the pre-formed grooves in the boards and the system is ready for immediate use. Wundatherm is extremely affordable and is virtually maintenance-free with a lifetime guarantee.

Wundatherm consists of pre-formed aluminium coated boards that deliver rapid response heating and are bonded instantly to the floor with spray adhesive. Once in place, high output 16mm floor heating pipe is laid into the pre-formed grooves in the boards, looping around to a heating manifold, with up to 150 sq. metres taking two people just two days to install.

The Wundatherm system takes minutes to reach operating temperature, unlike screed which takes up to 48 hours, and creates a comfortable heat as the boards come factory fitted with thick aluminium for fast heat transmission and the continuous leak-proof pipes carry a lifetime guarantee. To complement the whole system, there is a range of matched traditional hard-wired thermostats, as well as wireless and smart controls via an app on mobile devices to offer users complete remote control of the system.

The UK needs to help the housing industry to be able to deliver in 2025, so by implementing an achievable change to the current energy efficiency standards in 2020, the economy is a step closer to making new homes more energy efficient and future-proof in readiness for low carbon heating systems.

Wunda prides itself on first class quality and customer service, providing free technical support six days a week, and provides the specialist service of detailed layout plans for all bespoke systems free of charge to trade customers. With these layout plans to hand, tradesmen can have complete confidence in laying the boards and installing the Wundatherm system.

For further information on the Wundatherm underfloor heating system or a free estimate, call 0800 083 2677, email plans@wundagroup.com or visit the website www.wundatrade.co.uk

WUNDATHERM TILED AND TESTED TO WORK WITH ALL FLOOR FINISHES

If you’re extending, renovating or building a property, Wundatherm is the new generation of warm water underfloor heating specifically designed for the UK retrofit market to suit any project without the need to dig up floors.

When it comes to underfloor heating, one of the first questions many people ask is what types of flooring they will need to have. This is where the rapid response Wundatherm system, the latest floor heating solution from experts Wunda Group plc comes in, as it designed to work with virtually all floor finishes.

Having recently become members of The Tile Association, a large independent trade association representing the UK tiling industry in all aspects of wall and floor tiling, Wunda Group is helping tradesmen and consumers to know how each floor finish works with underfloor heating.

With the majority of floor coverings proving to be suitable for use with underfloor heating (UFH), some undoubtedly offer a better heat transfer and thermal conductivity than others, with the best floor finishes being hard surfaces like stone or ceramic tiles as they have more heat output and work more efficiently. Tiles are a popular choice in many of the homes looking to install underfloor heating, and are by far the most thermally conductive floor finish as they transfer heat from the warm water system to the surface quickly and with little resistance.

Although tile is the top choice of floor finish, there are many other everyday options that work well with underfloor heating including carpet, engineered wood, laminate and vinyl.

Laminates and engineered wood are popular choices as they have a good structural stability and don’t pose the risk of warping. Laminate flooring is cost-effective and is designed to suit any home, and as it is available in any shade it is a very common floor surface. As laminate is a thin material, its density is higher, meaning the heat up time will be shorter and the system will be more responsive. With wood flooring, engineered timber is the best type to use with underfloor heating systems as it can handle changes in floor temperature.

Solid hardwood and softwood flooring will also transfer heat well but care should be taken when specifying board width and thickness.

Wundatherm underfloor heating can be used with most types of carpet as long as the carpet and underlay combined doesn’t exceed two togs. Felt and polyurethane underlays should be avoided as they affect heat transfer and work as an insulator and blocking the heat, preventing the system from providing sufficient heat output.

Vinyl floor tiles like Karndean and Amtico come in a range of finishes, heat up and cool down quickly, are very durable and are a favourable choice with UFH. However, as a more sensitive floor finish, a sensor should be fitted to limit the heat output to protect the surface from any discolouration. For this reason, vinyl and lino is not recommended in areas like conservatories that have a high heat loss.

Underfloor heating can also work well with concrete floors, as they provide quick heat up times and retain heat well due to their high thermal mass, making them a great option to improve the warmth and comfort of your home.

Once a floor finish is chosen, the next question for many is how quickly the flooring can be laid after underfloor heating is installed. With Wundatherm, once the boards and pipes are down the floor covering can be laid straight away and is ready for immediate use, unlike a screed system which can take several days to dry and be ready to turn on.

Wunda prides itself on first class quality and customer service, providing free technical support six days a week, and provides the specialist service of detailed layout plans for all bespoke systems free of charge to trade customers. With these layout plans to hand, tradesmen can have complete confidence in laying the boards and installing the Wundatherm system.

For further information on the Wundatherm underfloor heating system or a free estimate, call 0800 083 2677, email: plans@wundagroup.com or visit the website www.wundatrade.co.uk

NEW OVER-FLOOR HEATING, QUICK TO INSTALL WITH RAPID RESPONSE

With the UK starting on the road to zero carbon emissions, between now and 2050, 20,000 homes a year must meet new standards. This task is set to provide work for thousands of tradesmen for the foreseeable future.

One of the key solutions to these goals will be underfloor heating, as it’s the only system that efficiently runs with new low energy heat sources. It’s already the first choice for many other countries, and has been shown to be 25% more efficient than radiators and costs 60% less to run than electric underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating experts Wunda Group have created Wundatherm, a rapid response over-floor system 16mm or 20mm thick that can be laid without the need to dig up floors and is suitable for both retrofit and new build homes.

Wundatherm consists of pre-formed aluminium coated boards that deliver rapid response heating and are bonded instantly to the floor with spray adhesive. Once in place, high output 16mm floor heating pipe is laid into the pre-formed grooves in the boards, looping around to a heating manifold, with up to 150 sq. metres taking two people just two days to install. Once the boards and pipes are down, any choice of floor covering can be laid straight away, from carpet and vinyl to wood, laminate, ceramic or stone tiles.

Compatible with sustainable heat pumps, solar panels or any existing gas/oil boilers, the Wundatherm underfloor heating system can be laid by any competent tradesmen including builders, carpenters and tilers. Once installed, Wundatherm only requires a plumber to commission the system and an electrician to fit the controls, and is designed with a ‘fit and forget’ reputation that is reliable, durable, maintenance-free and future-proof.

The Wundatherm system takes minutes to reach operating temperature, unlike screed which takes up to 48 hours, and creates a comfortable heat as the boards come factory fitted with thick aluminium for fast heat transmission and the continuous leak-proof pipes carry a lifetime guarantee. Wundatherm is also noted for its rapid response time when activating or adjusting the heat temperature in a room.

A fully developed and proven system, Wundatherm comes with a number of options including both 16mm and 20mm board thicknesses and three densities to choose from according to the final floor surface. There are also different pump sets available to go with the manifold, and hassle-free auto-balancing actuators which adjust flow rates. To complement the whole system, there is a range of matched traditional hard-wired thermostats, as well as wireless and smart controls via an app on mobile devices to offer users complete remote control of the system.

In the past, underfloor heating has been seen as a luxury product and deemed to be very expensive, but the prices of Wundatherm underfloor heating systems are extremely competitive and are supplied direct to the trade, with 40 square metres of Wundatherm starting from just £793 including the manifold, pipe and pump.

Wunda prides itself on first class quality and customer service, providing free technical support six days a week, and provides the specialist service of detailed layout plans for all bespoke systems free of charge to trade customers. With these layout plans to hand, tradesmen can have complete confidence in laying the boards and installing the Wundatherm system.

For further information on the Wundatherm underfloor heating system or a free estimate, call 0800 083 2677, email plans@wundagroup.com or visit the website www.wundatrade.co.uk

For a video of the Wundatherm underfloor heating system being installed, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2JnAp_bP8g