What is The Best Underfloor Heating Manifold Location?

by UFH1

Getting the underfloor heating manifold location right is an important aspect of your UFH system. It is often thought that it needs to be near the boiler/cylinder/heat pump. It is, in fact, better to be in the room where the UFH system is to be fitted or very close by if it’s a single room (single zone) system or somewhere central for multi-room (multi-zone) system.

Particularly in multi zone systems, if the manifold was in a far corner or end of a property, it’s likely that we would need to increase the size of the manifold (add extra ports/circuits to the design) to accommodate the extended connection lengths to the various rooms. It would also mean that we may need to run pipe through rooms that aren’t required to be heated - see plan example below.

positioning the underfloor heating manifold

Common Places to Install a UFH Manifold

Manifolds are often placed under stairs, in utility room units, hallways etc. They can easily be covered with bespoke cupboards/panelling etc. to improve the aesthetic appearance whilst still allowing access to the manifold.

You can put them:

  • Under stairs
  • Inside utility cupboards
  • Within hallway cabinets or airing cupboards
  • Behind custom panelling or removable access doors

Planning Ahead: Tips for Smart Manifold Locations

Whilst UFH systems are generally “fit and forget”, we recommend that you make sure that wherever it’s placed allows for easy access, as occasional maintenance (like balancing zones or checking valves) may be required. 

  • Keep it central in multi-zone systems
  • Ensure access for maintenance
  • Avoid placing it behind fixed cabinetry without a removable panel
  • Consider aesthetics—cupboards and enclosures can help conceal it

We provide a range of manifold sizes in our Technical Document to help customers check they will fit where intended.

How to Connect an Underfloor Heating Manifold to a Boiler or Heat Pump

Once the manifold is in position, it must be connected to your heat source. Here's a basic outline:

  1. Use a pump and blending valve set to regulate water temperature.

  2. Connect flow and return pipes from your boiler or heat pump to the manifold.

  3. Install isolation valves for maintenance access.

  4. Flush the system and pressure test before covering.

For full support, explore our underfloor heating pump sets and accessories.

Get Help With Your Underfloor Heating Manifold Location Today

Need help designing your layout? Contact our experts for tailored advice on the best Underfloor Heating manifold location for your property.

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