Houseboat with SpeeTile10

What type of home did you install your heating system in?
In a houseboat with a concrete hull. Our houseboat is 20 by 5 metres. I often describe it as a ‘floating apartment’.

How many people are in your household?
My household consists of two people. I handled the preparation and most of the installation myself. It was exciting, but also a fun challenge.

How did you come across WARP Systems?
I read a blog from VLOT magazine online about sustainable houseboats, where WARP was mentioned.

Why did you choose to install a low-temperature hydronic (floor) heating and cooling system?
So I’d have warm feet in winter! I chose SpeeTile 10mm: thin pipes (minimal loss of floor height), lightweight system, and compatible with a cast floor finish.

Do you think sustainability is important? Why or why not?
Saving energy is good for both the planet and your wallet. I do think sustainability is important, but it wasn’t the main reason for this project. Underfloor heating simply provides pleasant and comfortable warmth. It can also run at low temperature, which makes it energy-efficient. That, to me, is smart energy use.

Do you have specific plans for sustainability in the future?
If the technology develops further, we may get a heat pump. Right now, our WARP underfloor heating is connected to our old central heating boiler. We’ve had solar panels for several years.

Who or what convinced you to go for self-installation?
We considered self-installation to save money on the project. The clear manuals and instruction videos from WARP gave us the confidence to request a quote. During preparation, I still had a few practical questions and WARP’s customer service was really helpful. Even when I called twice in one day or had tricky technical questions. That ultimately convinced me to go for self-installation.

How did you experience the installation overall?
It felt like an advanced IKEA project: cleverly designed with clear instructions. That made the installation manageable. I used to love building with Lego Technic, and honestly the WARP kit is just as fun. It’s like a puzzle for adults, you just need to follow the instructions, and anyone can do it.

Which parts were easier than expected?
Pouring the levelling mortar had us a bit nervous, since the boat isn’t always level, there’s a risk the floor could set unevenly. But it all went smoothly. With the levelling pump and the great help from WARP, it was done within two hours and with a perfect result.

Which parts required extra effort?
I underestimated how much time it would take to lay the pipes. I had to fit 1,119 metres of pipe, over a kilometre! That added time pressure just before pouring the levelling mortar. It also took some fiddling to place the edge insulation neatly around door frames and corners.

Did you use the installation tools and instruction videos? If so, how helpful were they?
The tools and instructions from WARP were incredibly helpful. Without them, I wouldn’t have dared to do the project myself.