Top Local Businesses

Best Underfloor Heating in Wellington: Hydronic and Electric Floor Warming Specialists

Sunflow and Multitubo in-slab pipework, Stiebel Eltron heat pumps and electric under-tile mats, from Newtown and Ngauranga bases

Cold tile and concrete floors are one of the most stubborn comfort problems in a Wellington home, and the best underfloor heating in Wellington starts with matching the system to the way your floor is built. Underfloor heating in Wellington splits into two families: hydronic in-slab systems that circulate warm water through pipework beneath the floor, and electric under-tile heating suited to bathrooms and smaller rooms. Flow Heating and Radiant Heat NZ are among the specialists covered below.

1Flow Heating

Flow Heating is a Newtown based central heating company that designs, supplies and installs hydronic radiator and underfloor heating systems across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kapiti and the Wairarapa. Its underfloor systems circulate warm water beneath the floor from a boiler or an air to water heat pump, and the same team handles the gasfitting, plumbing and maintenance that sit around them. The company works on residential new builds as well as retirement villages, hotels, motels and schools.

Services

  • Hydronic underfloor heating design and installation
  • Radiator central heating for new and existing homes
  • Air to water heat pumps
  • Hot water heat pumps
  • Gasfitting, plumbing and system maintenance

Highlights

  • Over 30 years installing central heating in Wellington homes
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee offered on all heating solutions
  • Handover training so owners can operate the system and its controls from day one
  • Maintenance plans available for the systems they install

Location & Contact

Name: Flow Heating
Address: 22B Newtown Avenue, Newtown, Wellington
Phone: 0508 863 569
Website: flowheating.co.nz

2Radiant Heat NZ

Radiant Heat NZ designs, builds and services domestic and commercial radiator and underfloor heating systems for homes in Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa. Its Sunflow underfloor systems circulate heated water through tubing embedded in a concrete floor, so the slab itself becomes the heat emitter and only the thermostat needs to be visible in the room. The business operates from Ngauranga and was purchased by Laser Plumbing Wellington East in 2019.

Services

  • Sunflow hydronic underfloor heating systems
  • Radiator central heating for existing and new homes
  • Sunflow solar water heating for domestic hot water and pools
  • Servicing of domestic and commercial heating systems

Highlights

  • More than 20 years specialising in underfloor and radiator heating
  • Sunflow in-slab systems that can run on a gas boiler, an air to water heat pump or a diesel boiler
  • Purchased by Laser Plumbing Wellington East in 2019
  • Seven day programmable thermostat control, with finer zoning and internet enabled control available
  • Covers the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa as well as Wellington

Location & Contact

Name: Radiant Heat NZ
Address: Unit 6, 25 Centennial Highway, Ngauranga, Wellington 6035
Phone: 04 569 2396
Website: radiantheat.co.nz

3Pipeline

Pipeline is a Wellington hydronic heating company that has designed, installed and maintained warm water heating systems since 2008, working across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kapiti and the Wairarapa. Its work runs from radiant floor heating through to radiator systems, covering custom system design, installation and long term servicing. Servicing and fault diagnosis are handled by a technician who works on hydronic heating full time.

Services

  • Hydronic system design and installation
  • Radiant floor heating and radiator systems
  • Servicing, maintenance and performance testing
  • Fault finding and repairs
  • Gas boiler to air to water heat pump conversion

Highlights

  • Working on Wellington hydronic heating since 2008
  • Over 2,500 systems installed and serviced
  • Stiebel Eltron accredited installer
  • Bosch boilers, Heatmiser controls, Multitubo pipe and Megaflow cylinders among the products used
  • Dedicated service technician with more than 20 years of hydronic experience in the United Kingdom and over 12 years with Pipeline

Location & Contact

Name: Pipeline
Address: Wellington
Phone: 04 563 7689
Website: pipeline.net.nz

4EuroHeat

EuroHeat is a family owned Wellington business specialising in the design and installation of hydronic radiator and underfloor central heating, alongside hot water appliances. Its underfloor systems run warm water through pipework concealed in the floor, fed by a central manifold, with digital zone control setting the temperature room by room. Systems can be powered by a gas boiler or by an air to water or geothermal heat pump.

Services

  • Hydronic underfloor heating design and installation
  • Radiator central heating
  • Gas boiler installation, including Rinnai, Vaillant, Viessmann and Baxi
  • Hot water heat pumps and hot water cylinder replacements
  • Residential plumbing and gasfitting for kitchens, bathrooms and laundries

Highlights

  • Family owned business, with every system installed under the supervision of a Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer
  • German made Multitubo PE-RT in-slab pipe supplied with a 25 year guarantee
  • KeKelit Kelox FB fixing plates for surface heating, an option where a slab cannot be poured

Location & Contact

Name: EuroHeat
Address: Wellington
Phone: 0800 693 876
Website: euroheat.co.nz

5Warmup Wellington

Warmup Wellington is the Wellington operation of the Warmup electric floor heating brand, fitting under-tile, undercarpet, laminate and in-slab heating alongside waterproofed shower systems. The team works on residential bathrooms and on commercial projects, including 130 bathrooms at the Rydges Hotel and waterproofing and acoustic insulation across 60 rooms at The Sebel. Enquiries run through the Wellington office on weekdays.

Services

  • Under-tile heating for bathrooms and tiled floors
  • Undercarpet heating mats sized to fit most rooms
  • Wood and laminate floor heating
  • In-slab heating cable for new homes and extensions

Highlights

  • Wellington office with its own local phone line, open Monday to Friday
  • 10 year warranty on heating elements, extended to a lifetime warranty on elements and installation when fitted by an accredited installer
  • Heating elements and controls approved and certified to New Zealand and international standards
  • Commercial fitouts including 130 bathrooms at the Rydges Hotel and 60 rooms at The Sebel
  • Do it yourself under-tile kits supplied with full installation instructions

Location & Contact

Name: Warmup Wellington
Address: Wellington
Phone: 04 385 6803
Website: warmup.co.nz/warmup-wellington

Underfloor Heating in Wellington at a Glance

BusinessBased inHighlight
Flow HeatingNewtownOver 30 years installing central heating in Wellington homes
Radiant Heat NZNgaurangaMore than 20 years specialising in underfloor and radiator heating
PipelineWellingtonWorking on Wellington hydronic heating since 2008
EuroHeatWellingtonFamily owned business
Warmup WellingtonWellingtonWellington office with its own local phone line, open Monday to Friday

How to Choose the Right Underfloor Heating in Wellington

  • Decide between hydronic and electric first. Warm water in-slab systems suit whole house heating and new concrete floors, while electric under-tile mats are usually the practical choice for a single bathroom or a renovation.
  • Ask what heat source the installer is proposing. A gas boiler, an air to water heat pump and a diesel boiler have very different running costs, and the answer should be worked out from your home rather than assumed.
  • Check the underfloor insulation. An uninsulated slab loses heat downwards and into the ground, so ask how the perimeter and underside will be treated before the pipe or cable goes in.
  • Look for design work, not just installation. Pipe spacing, zoning, manifold position and commissioning decide whether the floor heats evenly, and specialist underfloor heating installers will put that in writing.
  • Confirm what happens after handover. Warranty terms, annual servicing and who answers the phone in July matter more with a system buried under the floor than with a plug in heater.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wellington Underfloor Heating

What is the difference between hydronic and electric underfloor heating?

Hydronic systems circulate warm water through pipework laid in or under the floor, heated by a boiler or a heat pump, and are generally used to heat a whole house. Electric systems run a heating cable or mat under the floor covering and are more often used for one room, most commonly a bathroom. Hydronic costs more to install and less to run over a large area, while electric is cheaper and quicker to fit in a small space.

Can underfloor heating be retrofitted into an existing Wellington house?

Yes, although the method depends on the floor. Electric under-tile or undercarpet heating can be added during a bathroom or flooring renovation with very little change to floor height. Warm water heating can be retrofitted where there is access under the floor, or by using fixing plates that sit above an existing floor rather than embedding pipe in a new slab. Timber floors with good access are usually the least disruptive to work with.

How much does underfloor heating in Wellington cost to run?

Running costs depend on the heat source, how well the floor and home are insulated, the floor covering and the temperature you want to hold. Warm water systems run at lower water temperatures than radiators, which helps efficiency, but a poorly insulated slab will lose much of that benefit. Installers on this page work the figure out from the specific home rather than quoting a flat rate, and Gen Less, run by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, has independent guidance on home heating and insulation.

What flooring can go over underfloor heating?

Tile and stone are the best conductors and transfer heat to the surface quickly, which is why bathrooms and kitchens are common starting points. Wood, laminate, vinyl and carpet all work, but thick carpet and heavy underlay slow the heat transfer, and laminate systems use a sensor and thermostat to keep the floor below a set temperature. Tell the installer the floor covering before the system is designed, because it changes the output the floor needs to deliver.

How do I check an underfloor heating installer is registered?

Warm water underfloor heating is plumbing and gasfitting work, so the tradespeople involved should be registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, which publishes a public register you can search by name. Electric underfloor heating is electrical work and must be done or certified by a registered electrician, listed on the Electrical Workers Registration Board register. Ask for the certificate of compliance or the producer statement at handover and keep it with your house records.

Which parts of the Wellington region do underfloor heating companies cover?

Heating specialists in Wellington usually work well beyond the city boundary, so a company based in a suburb such as Newtown or Ngauranga will often also quote in Porirua, the Hutt Valley, the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa. If you are outside the central city, say where the house is when you make the first call, because travel affects both scheduling and the cost of return visits for servicing. For a bathroom sized electric job, a nearby installer is usually the simpler option.

How long does an underfloor heating installation take?

An electric under-tile system in one bathroom is normally laid just before tiling and adds very little to a renovation schedule. A hydronic in-slab system is tied to the build programme, because the pipe has to go down before the concrete is poured, and it then needs pressure testing, connection to the heat source, commissioning and balancing. Retrofit work sits between the two and depends largely on how easy the floor is to get at.

Does underfloor heating work as the only heat source in a home?

A well designed warm water system can heat a whole house on its own, which is how it is normally specified in a new build with an insulated slab. It responds slowly, so it suits homes that are occupied through the day and is usually left running through the cooler months rather than switched on and off. In an older or poorly insulated home, an underfloor system is often combined with radiators so that individual rooms can be brought up to temperature faster.

How We Chose the Best Underfloor Heating in Wellington

Every business in this guide was found by searching for underfloor heating in Wellington, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Wellington, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.