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The PROHEAT
under wood floor heating system will truly warm the heart of your home
through even, radiant heat. Here are some answers to questions
you may have about the product:
Do I need a separate electrical circuit for the heating
system?
If you install less than 3kW (13 Amps), you usually don’t need a
separate circuit. Power could be supplied from a 15 Amp wall
plug, and directly connected onto a plug circuit. If you don’t
connect your heating system via a socket and plug, it needs to
be connected through a double pole electrical isolator. This
should be done by a qualified person.
What about the electrical connection and certificate of
electrical compliance?
Although the heating system is not part of the electrical
compliance test, CTM recommends that you get a qualified
electrician to connect your heating system. If it is properly
connected and earthed, your safety is assured, because all
PROHEAT heating products have been designed with your safety in
mind and are fully earth screened. Proper installation is
required to complete and maintain safety – please follow the
installation guide carefully, or employ a qualified person to
install your heating.
Do I need a thermostat?
Yes, a thermostat will ensure that you enjoy the optimum comfort
while the running costs of the system remain cost effective. The
advantage of having sophisticated controls is that they pay for
themselves in energy savings. It is possible to upgrade to a
remote control programmable thermostat.
What are the safety rules for floor heating in wet areas such
as bathrooms?
First of all, CTM does not recommend laminate flooring for
bathrooms. So if you would like to install underfloor heating in
your bathroom, it would have to be under tile heating.
Remember the following when you install a PROHEAT heating system
in your bathroom:
The thermostat as well as the isolator or connection must be
at least 600mmm away from a bathtub or shower pan.
The system must be properly earthed and all metal objects in
the bathroom like taps etc. must be interconnected to that same
earth (this is called equipotential bonding – your electrician
should know how to do it).
Although it is legal to do so, the PROHEAT heating system
should preferably not be installed under the bathtub or shower
pan.
The heating element must have an earth sheath – something
which all PROHEAT heating elements have.
How much heating would I need in my home?
The number and type of heaters you need to warm your home would
depend on the following:
• The size of the room
• Whether or not the surrounding rooms are heated
• How well the room or home is insulated
• The size and type of the windows and window frames
• How much sunshine the room gets
• The micro climate conditions in your area
• What the room is used for
• How well the room needs to be ventilated
• How warm you need the room to be.
For the PROHEAT under tile heating, if you have average
requirements, covering 60 – 75% of your floor with the PROHEAT
heaters would be sufficient capacity (smaller rooms need more
coverage, while larger rooms need less). However, in a bathroom
all tiles where you may walk should be heated – that is usually
about 90% of the available floor area.
For PROHEAT under wood heating, the average coverage requirement
extends from 75 – 90% of the floor area.
Ask CTM for an estimate of your heating requirements or consult
the colour-coded guide in this brochure.
How long does it take for the floor to heat up?
It depends on many factors including the recovery level and the
set temperature, the subfloor type and insulation, the floor
covering (tiles or wood), etc. However, you should usually be
able to feel the difference within 30 minutes for tile heating,
and within about 45 minutes for wood heating.
How cost effective is a PROHEAT heating system to run?
Cost depends on energy consumption and preservation. PROHEAT
floor heating is extremely cost efficient when installed
correctly. If there is good insulation, if you manage the heat
sensibly and if you have the correct capacity installed, the
PROHEAT heating system should consume around 8 kWh of
electricity per day per kilowatt installed capacity, if simply
left on for 24 hours.
What does the SmartStat™ do for me?
The SmartStat™ control can be programmed to operate at for
instance 6 hours occupancy rate per room per day (this is high
for most rooms). This will reduce consumption by as much as 40%,
down to about 5 kWh per day. Remember, good insulation keeps
operating costs to a minimum! Energy saving tips are included in
the user guide in each pack.
What if the heating gets damaged?
Each PROHEAT pack includes a KlimaGuard™ installation monitor
that will alert you to any damage to the element during
installation and flooring. Should the KlimaGuard™ emit a warning
signal, stop the installation and call the help line. In the
unlikely event that a heating element is found damaged after
installation, it may be necessary to lift one or two floor tiles
or laminates to repair the heating elements. In this event, call
the help line. It is always good practice to keep a few extra
matching tiles.
Is it best to leave the heating on for long periods?
That depends on the use of the room. If you don’t use the room
all the time or very often, you shouldn’t leave it on. If it is
a room where you spend a lot of time, you could turn the
thermostat down when you are not in the room instead of turning
it off. The room will then heat up again quicker. Switching the
heating off means it will take longer for the heating to reach
the required temperature, whereas increasing the temperature
from moderately warm to comfortably warm is relatively quick. A
thermostat switches the heating on and off to maintain the set
temperature and the heaters usually operate for about a quarter
to a third of the time. (Also see Question 8.)
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