Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT FAQ

Schlüter^®-DITRA-HEAT

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum cover over the cable?

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The minimum combined adhesive and tile covering must be 5 mm.

Can the floor probe be replaced?

Once installed it’s not possible to remove or replace the probe as it’s set in the adhesive bed, this is why we supply 2 floor probes to be installed in the first instance, so that in the unlikely event of the connected probe failing, the original probe can be disconnected and the second probe can then simpl be connected to the thermostat.

What size trowel is needed for installing the matting?

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Use a 6x6 inch notched trowel to spread the adhesive on the substrate, when installing the matting into the adhesive bed it is advised to use a floating trowel to help press the matting into the adhesive bed.

Can I cut the heating cable down?

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Only the cold leg of the heating cable can be trimmed down, the hot leg of the cable cannot be trimmed so it’s essential to select the correct cable length for the heated area.

What size cable do I need?

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Step	Description of action	Example calculation for bathroom	Example calculation for kitchen
A	Calculate the area of the room to be tiled.	2m wide x 2.4m long = 4.8m2	4m wide x 5.1m long = 20.4m2
B	Calculate the footprint of the area that will not be heated (eg. WC, basin pedestal, shower, bath, kitchen cupboards etc).	WC = 0.15m2 Basin pedestal = 0.03m2 Bath = 1.2m2 Total area = 1.38m2	Kitchen cupboards = 5.7m2 Dog bed = 0.6m2 Total area = 6.3m2
C	Subtract the unheated area from the area of the room to be tiled. This will provide the area to be heated.	4.8m2 - 0.15m2 - 0.03m2 -1.2m2 = 3.42m2	20.4m2 - 5.7m2 - 0.6m2 = 14.1m2
D	Subtract 10% from the area to be heated/multiply the area to be heated by 0.9. This will enable the ideal length of the heating cable for the installation to be determined.	3.42m2x 0.9 = 3.08m2	14.1m2 x 0.9 = 12.69m2
E	Select one of the DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables, choosing the one where the cable length is equal to or shorter than that for the area determined in step D. Do not choose a longer cable length.	DHEHK35 is sized for a heated area of 3.3m2 so is not suitable. DHEHK29 is sized for a heated area of 2.7m2 so is suitable.	DHEHK136 is sized for a heated area of 12.7m2 so is suitable.

What do I need?

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Just matting, cable and thermostat, these can be purchased in a single box for common room sizes or separately.

Can Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E be installed in the shower?

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The Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-MA and Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK can be as long as the 2% falls are maintained and the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-FF sensor is positioned outside the shower area.

When installing the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-RS thermostat in wet areas such as bathrooms and Wetrooms the placement of the thermostat and fused spur need to be in line with UK regulations.

What’s the largest area one thermostat can run?

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The Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-RS thermostat can run a maximum of 20m² area.

Can the thermostat be positioned in a bathroom?

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When installing the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-RS thermostat in wet areas such as bathrooms and Wetrooms the placement of the thermostat and fused spur need to be in line with UK regulations.

What wattage does the system run at on timber, and concrete?

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The system is designed at 136 w/m².

How many cables can be attached to a thermostat?

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The Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-RS thermostat can have 2 cables per stat to a maximum loading of 3600w (16 amps) or 2300w (10 amps)

Where can I buy Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E?

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Use the dealer search on the right hand side of this page to find your nearest reseller, alternatively call +44 (0) 01530 813396 and one of our consultants will be happy to advise.

Can Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E be used as my main heat source?

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Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E is designed as a comfort heating system to warm the floor covering.

Do I have to use a levelling compound over the top of the matting and cable of the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E?

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There is no benefit or need to use a levelling compound over the top and the system is designed to be tiled to directly. Using a self levelling compound may cause installation issues.

Can I use another heating cable in the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-MA?

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To retain the warranty for Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E we can only advise to use cable found in the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK range.

What adhesive is advised to fix the tile on top of the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-MA matting?

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Cementatious adhesive either a category C2 or C2F to match tile format and suitable for use over electric underfloor heating. Readily available at resellers nationwide.

What adhesive is advised to bond the mat, Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-MA to the substrate

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Cementatious adhesive either a category C2 or C2F, readily available at resellers nationwide.

Can Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E be installed in a shower?

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Yes, the relevant tests have determined the cable to be IPX7 rated.

How do you waterproof Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E?

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Simply seal the matting joints and the floor to wall connections with Schlüter®-KERDI-COLL adhesive and Schlüter®-KERDI-KEBA (12.5cm) band with a minimum 5cm overlap each side.

Does the matting (DITRA-HEAT-MA) act as insulation?

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No, we would recommend a rigid insulation layer below such as Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD to create a thermal barrier. The use of Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD will increase warm up time by approximately 40%.

Do you have to put a thermal insulation board down first?

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For more efficient heating through the tiles we would recommend a rigid insulation layer below such as Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD to create a thermal barrier. The use of Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD will increase warm up time by approximately 40%.

How far from the wall do I place the cable?

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It is recommended that the cable is positioned at least 2 studs (60 mm) away from walls or any building element e.g. wall, column, bath, toilet etc.

Can the cables be positioned further apart?

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The system has been designed for the cables to be positioned at 3 studs apart to ensure a uniform temperature and optimum performance.

Can I use an alternative thermostat?

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To retain the warranty for Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E we can only advise to use a thermostat from the Schlüter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-RS range.

Can the cables be positioned closer together?

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The system has been designed for the cables to be positioned at 3 studs apart to ensure a uniform temperature and optimum performance.

What is the maximum adhesive bed over the mat?

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The adhesive bed must not exceed 10 mm.