Identify the system beneath your floor
The first check is to distinguish water-based from electric underfloor heating. The former distributes water and can be assessed for connection to a compatible heat source. The latter uses electric heating elements and does not become a water circuit when outdoor equipment is replaced. If you do not know which system you have, gather its documentation before requesting a proposal.
For a water-based installation, identify the manifolds, controls and current heat source. It is also useful to know whether any areas have radiators, fan coils or other emitters. A home with several systems requires an understanding of how demand is distributed, rather than an assessment limited to the room with underfloor heating.
Explain current operation using examples
Note which rooms are comfortable and which are problematic, how long the installation has been in use and whether renovations have taken place. Changes to windows, insulation or layout may have altered the conditions since the original design. This information helps the new proposal reflect the home as it is now.
Bills and usage schedules can provide context, but are not a promise of savings. Cost comparisons should explain the calculation assumptions and services included. Comparing only the previous heating with a new solution that also supplies hot water or serves other areas would not be consistent.
Operating temperature is part of the comparison
Heat pumps need selecting for the conditions in which they will operate. Underfloor heating can support a low-temperature heating approach, but its ability to meet each room’s needs must be checked. Compatibility is not decided solely by the output shown on an equipment label.
Where different emitters coexist, their individual requirements and the overall water circuit arrangement need assessing. Ask which components will remain, which will change and how demand will be controlled. A clear explanation of these decisions is more useful than a list of components unrelated to your home.
Review the space and services you want to add
The proposal should address equipment locations, connections and access for maintenance. If domestic hot water is included, that part of the work also needs defining. Having underfloor heating already does not automatically determine where every component of the new installation will go.
If you want summer cooling, treat it as a specific requirement. The floor’s suitability, humidity control and operating limits must be checked. Cooling should not be presented as guaranteed simply because the heat source can produce chilled water.
Ask for a proposal that makes the changeover understandable
Before accepting, clarify which work affects the existing system and which checks will be made afterwards. Red Málaga can assess the heat pump and underfloor heating together, coordinating their integration with the home’s installations.
- Existing equipment and controls to be retained or replaced.
- Services included: heating, hot water and cooling where appropriate.
- Adaptation work and conditions requiring prior inspection.
- Commissioning, explanation of use and documentation for the completed system.
More common questions
Can I keep all the thermostats?
That depends on how they communicate and control the installation. Their compatibility with the proposed solution must be checked; keeping them is not always possible, and replacing them is not always necessary.
Sources and technical reading
Some source documents are available in Spanish.