Wet and electric systems · Clare
Underfloor Heating in Clare: Wet, Electric and Retrofit Systems
Find a local installer for wet underfloor heating, electric mats or a low-profile retrofit across Clare. 2026 prices per m², heat pump guidance and plumbers working from Ennis to Scarriff.
The basics
Wet or Electric: What Underfloor Heating in Clare Involves
Underfloor heating in Clare comes in two forms. Wet systems circulate warm water through pipes laid in the floor screed, running off a boiler or, ideally, a heat pump, and suit whole houses, new builds and extensions. Electric systems use thin heating mats or cable under tile, and suit bathrooms and single-room retrofits. Which one suits your home comes down to how much floor area you are heating and what your heat source is.
The installers listed here cover the whole county, taking in Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush, Killaloe, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Kilkee and Scarriff. Enquire directly about wet, electric or low-profile retrofit systems.
How Long Does Underfloor Heating Take in Clare?
A wet single-storey system takes two to four days plus screed curing. An electric bathroom mat is usually a one-day fit under the tiler.
SEAI Grants for Clare Homeowners in 2026
Up to €6,500 for a heat pump and €1,200 for solar water heating, through SEAI-registered contractors. Underfloor heating is the ideal heat-pump partner.
Local coverage
Underfloor Heating Across Clare: The Areas Covered
Clare is a predominantly rural county on the west coast with a relatively small natural gas network concentrated in Ennis and Shannon. The majority of the county lies outside the gas grid, making LPG the most common alternative fuel for homes and businesses in the rural west and north of the county. Installers operating across Clare therefore tend to see a mix of natural gas work in the main towns and LPG appliance and connection work in outlying areas.
Co. Clare has a diverse housing stock: Ennis and Shannon have substantial estates of 1980s-to-2000s housing; the Burren and west Clare coast have traditional stone cottages and rural farmhouses. Shannon Town has a high proportion of 1960s-70s housing built during the industrial development phase, which now needs significant boiler and cylinder upgrades.
West Clare is exposed to Atlantic storms with some of the highest wind speeds in the country. This makes outdoor pipe installations and roof-penetrating flues a priority for proper insulation and fixings. The Shannon Estuary creates mild winter temperatures for Shannon Town and Killaloe.
Ennis has well-established plumbing contractors covering much of the county. Shannon Town has dedicated local businesses. West Clare and the Burren coast are covered by travelling contractors from Ennis and Ennistymon, with response times reflecting the driving distances involved.
Every area above is served by installers in the Clare plumber directory.
The options
Wet, Electric or Retrofit Underfloor Heating in Clare
Ennis and Shannon are the main centres with natural gas coverage in Clare. Much of the county, including the Burren, West Clare and the coastal areas, relies on LPG or oil for heating.
Wet Underfloor Heating
Warm water pipes in the floor screed, run off a boiler or heat pump. The efficient choice for new builds and larger homes across Clare, where the whole floor heats evenly at a low temperature. Supply and fit.
Electric Underfloor Heating
Thin heating mats or loose cable set under tile or stone, controlled by a room thermostat. Quick to fit and the common choice for bathrooms, en-suites and single-room retrofits. Supply and fit.
Retrofit / Low-Profile UFH
Slim overlay panels add just 15 to 20 mm to the floor, letting wet underfloor heating retrofit into an older Clare home without lifting the slab. A common choice during extensions and full renovations.
2026 prices
Underfloor Heating Cost in Clare 2026: Prices From Ennis to Scarriff
Typical supply-and-fit Clare ranges. All figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Wet UFH per m²
€60–€90
Whole floor, pipes in screed, supply and fit
Electric UFH per m²
€50–€75
Mat or cable under tile, supply and fit
Single-room electric
€600–€1,100
Bathroom or en-suite, fitted
Whole-house wet system
€6,000–€12,000
New build or full retrofit, all zones
Manifold and zoning
€400–€900
Per manifold, sets the room-by-room control
Clare draws from the River Fergus and Lough Derg as primary sources. West Clare coastal properties can have issues with salt-laden air accelerating corrosion on outdoor pipework and boiler flues. Groundwater in the Burren area is exceptionally hard due to the karst limestone, causing rapid scale build-up in heating systems.
SEAI grants
SEAI Grants for Clare Heating Upgrades
Underfloor heating pairs perfectly with a heat pump, and SEAI grants are available for heat pump installation (up to €6,500) and solar water heating (€1,200). The underfloor heating itself is not separately grant-aided, but as part of a heat-pump upgrade it delivers low running costs, and work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered contractor before any grant can be claimed. A fabric-first upgrade makes the biggest difference, and SEAI-registered insulation contractors covering Clare are listed at wallinsulationireland.ie.
See SEAI-registered plumbers →Hiring
How to Find an Underfloor Heating Installer in Clare
Underfloor heating is a specialist fit best handled by an experienced plumber or heating installer in Clare. Here is how to choose and hire correctly.
Browse Local Plumbers in Clare
Every plumber listed in the Clare plumber directory works locally and can be contacted directly. Browse the county, find heating installers near you, and enquire about wet or electric underfloor heating. No fees and no sign-up to get in touch.
Get Three Written Quotes for the Work
Quotes should specify whether the system is wet or electric, the floor build-up, the number of heating zones, the manifold and the controls. A quote without a floor plan and zone layout is incomplete, since the specification affects both comfort and running costs.
Confirm the Heat Source and Controls
Wet underfloor heating runs best at low flow temperatures, so confirm whether it will pair with a heat pump, a boiler or a blend of both. Ask about weather compensation and room thermostats, as good controls are what make underfloor heating cheap to run.
Agree the Screed and Commissioning Steps
For a wet system the installer should pressure-test the pipework before the screed goes down and commission the manifold once the floor has cured. Ask for the commissioning sheet and the manufacturer warranty on completion, and keep them with your home file.
Underfloor Heating in Clare: Common Questions
How much does underfloor heating cost in Clare in 2026?
Wet underfloor heating costs €60 to €90 per square metre supplied and fitted across a whole floor in Clare. Electric underfloor heating is €50 to €75 per square metre, and a single bathroom in electric mat runs €600 to €1,100 fitted. A whole-house wet system is €6,000 to €12,000. Figures include labour and VAT at 9%.
Is wet or electric underfloor heating better in Clare?
Wet underfloor heating is the better choice for a whole house or new build in Clare, running cheaply off a boiler or heat pump across large areas. Electric underfloor heating suits single rooms such as bathrooms and en-suites, where it is quick to fit but costs more to run over a full house.
How long does underfloor heating take to install in Clare?
A wet underfloor heating system for a single storey in Clare takes two to four days to lay and commission, plus screed curing time before you run it fully. An electric mat in one bathroom is usually a one-day fit under the tiler. Whole-house wet systems in a new build run alongside the wider build programme.
Does underfloor heating work with a heat pump in Clare?
Underfloor heating and heat pumps are an ideal pairing. Underfloor heating runs at low flow temperatures, exactly where a heat pump is most efficient, so together they give low running costs. Clare homeowners can claim SEAI grants of up to €6,500 for a heat pump, which makes the combination attractive for new builds and deep retrofits.
Does underfloor heating suit an older home in Clare?
Yes, in most cases. Many older Clare homes take underfloor heating well, either as a wet system in a new extension or as a low-profile overlay that avoids lifting the existing slab. Paired with a heat pump it gives the efficient, even heat that older rural houses in Clare often lack, and electric mats cover single-room upgrades.
How do I find an underfloor heating installer in Clare?
Browse local plumbers and heating installers across Clare on plumbersinireland.ie, then request quotes directly. Ask for three written quotes that set out the system type, floor build-up, zones and controls, and confirm whether the installer has fitted underfloor heating with a heat pump before.
Get Underfloor Heating Quotes in Clare
Underfloor heating in Clare, from wet screed systems to electric bathroom mats and heat-pump pairings, matched to local plumbers near you. Free, no obligation, reply within 24 hours.