Underfloor heating is becoming an unconventional for Russia, but a form of heating that has recently become very popular - reviews about them indicate a growing sympathy for them from consumers. Today, there are two types of systems on the market - water-heated floors and cable options. Which system is more efficient, and what to choose for a country house or apartment? These questions can only be answered by comparing the technical characteristics and operational advantages of both options.
What underfloor heating to choose?
Rod underfloor heating RHE
Both systems have the same merits. They allow you to remove bulky heaters, independently regulate the temperature in the room and provide additional soundproofing of the floor. But the most important advantage of any warm floor is the absence of converter flows and uniform heating of the space.
Both the water heating system and the electric version of the warm floor are widespread and are actively used to improve the microclimate of households. Thanks to the use of modern materials, it is possible to extend the service life of alternative heating.
Therefore, the question of which warm floor is better, and which system to give preference to, remains more relevant than ever. In order to answer it as correctly as possible, it is necessary to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option, as well as the conditions for their installation. When deciding on a preference, you need to answer very important questions:
- Where is the underfloor heating going to be installed?
- What is the state of the sexual base?
If we are talking about an apartment in an apartment building, you can not use the water system. The fact is that, according to existing standards, it is forbidden to insert any additional heating objects and connect a warm floor to a centralized hot water supply system. And to organize an autonomous highway, you will need additional equipment, a gas boiler, a circulation pump.
In addition, you will have to lay and connect a separate branch, which will multiply the cost of utility bills. Such investments are unlikely to pay off - the down payment is too large. In this case, an electric underfloor heating aeg, for example, would be much more preferable. Heating mats are made according to classical technology.
At the factory, the manufacturer calculated the ideal cable spacing, and a self-adhesive base is fixed on the synthetic mesh, which greatly facilitates installation. With the help of such a system, it is possible to quickly insulate a small part of the area of \u200b\u200bthe apartment, for which it is not economically feasible to install complex systems.
Note! If the goal is to insulate a country cottage, especially when the problem is solved at the construction stage, it is more profitable to use a water system. In this case, there is a chance to recoup the first expensive investment due to the fact that the water-heated floor will prove to be a highly energy-efficient system.
Now it's time to talk about the technical features of each option.
Electric floor heating
Any electrical system, including nexans underfloor heating, functions fundamentally differently than a traditional heating option. With the converter method, heat is generated by a radiator. It heats the air only near itself. It goes up, cools down and goes down. The feet are always cold and the head is warm. Therefore, there is an inevitable feeling of discomfort.
The warm floor warms the air up to +24 degrees at a distance of two meters from the floor. Feet are constantly warm, so it's comfortable on the floor. It is this distribution of warm air that saves heat indoors and creates the most favorable conditions for a person from a physiological point of view.
The air heats up with warm radiation, which is completely safe for health. Moreover, heat is provided with virtually no loss. However, while the efficiency of converting electricity into heat is rather low, besides, the operation of such a system leads to an increase in the cost of paying utility bills, which is a significant drawback. There are several types of electric underfloor heating.
It can be collected with:
- cable.
- heating mats.
- infrared film.
Each variety has its positive and negative sides. Knowing them, making a choice will be quite simple.
Cable underfloor heating
Warm floor set Teplolux
Cable underfloor heating - a system where a resistive heating cable is used as a thermal element. The positive aspects of this option are the low cost of consumables and the possibility of using the cable as an anti-icing system. This is where the advantages end and the disadvantages begin. The electrical cable must be laid in a concrete screed.
Its filling is a long and laborious process. It requires strict adherence to the technology of installation and drying of concrete. It is possible to lay the cable only one month after pouring the floor. The screed must have a certain thickness - 5–7 cm. Moreover, not every base is able to withstand such a load. But that's not all.
It is very difficult for an uninitiated person to independently correctly calculate the cable laying step. A loop that is too large will reduce heating efficiency, while a loop that is too small will cause overheating and damage to the flooring. It is impossible to allow cutting the cable, as well as connecting its two ends inside the trunk. Therefore, it is difficult to calculate in advance how long the heating element should be.
Note! All these difficulties lead to the fact that those who prefer to lay a warm floor on their own choose a simpler model for its execution - heating mats.
heating mat
This is a design of a warm floor, consisting of a polymer mesh and a thin two-core heating cable. It is fixed on it already in the factory. The location step is pre-calculated by experienced technologists. Such a mat can be laid on top of a thin leveling screed directly into the adhesive under ceramic tiles, natural stone or porcelain stoneware.
Ease of installation is the main advantage of heating mats. Having bought one set, you can easily lay the mats in the required places by cutting the mesh (but not the cable!) and turning the element in the right direction. There are also a few downsides to this option. Mats should not be laid on the floor where there is large-sized furniture without ventilation pockets. Their absence can lead to overheating of the mats, so they will quickly fail.
Film floor
How to make a warm floor
The film floor is a new generation product and an ultra-thin system that heats the room with long infrared waves. This option is a multi-layer cake. Its base is a polymer film on which thin graphite or carbon strips are applied. At the end of each is a copper terminal coated with silver paste.
During installation, the terminals are simply squeezed with pliers, and the film is connected to the cable connecting the system to the thermostat. On top of the graphite or carbon strips lies another protective polymer layer. The film assembled in this way is particularly strong, flexible, heat-resistant and moisture-proof.
It can be laid on any flat base and under any floor covering, including laminate, parquet, linoleum and carpet. The advantages of this type are obvious:
- Easy assembly and installation.
- No need to tie.
- Savings in operation.
It is worth noting the operational advantages of the film. During operation, it does not generate electromagnetic radiation, as do varieties of electric underfloor heating. And all because she has a completely different principle of work. The current, passing through carbon or graphite strips, starts the process of formation of long waves in the infrared range. They, penetrating through the finishing floor covering, heat not the air in the room, but the objects in it.
The latter also become sources of heat, giving off its excess into space. This principle of work is peeped from nature itself. The film heats up just like the sun. At the same time, infrared radiation is absolutely harmless, which has been proven by numerous scientific studies. Moreover, it is even useful. Infrared waves cause intracellular vibration, which stimulates vital processes inside the body.
Therefore, heat is perceived very comfortably from a physiological point of view. In addition, the air in the room does not dry out, which means it is easier to breathe and feel better. The disadvantage of infrared film is one - a high price. Such an electric floor will cost a lot, especially if carbon samples are chosen. But it is they who are recommended to buy by experts, if preference is given to the film floor. The carbon version is ten times stronger and more reliable than graphite.
Water heated floors
Water heated floor
In a water system, pipes are used as a heating element, through which hot water flows from the heating system. The main feature of this option is the possibility of using the system not only in winter, but also in summer. In the hot season, cold water can be run through the mains, which will significantly lower the air temperature inside the room. And in winter, hot water will heat it. Another important feature - this type of heating is able to work from any heating systems.
It can be a heat pump, a gas boiler, or a solar collector. Using this variety in the private sector, you can create different heating modes and an individual microclimate that matches seasonal weather conditions. The classic scheme of the water floor involves the installation of pipes in a cement-sand screed. Only she is able to withstand the heavy loads that a pipeline filled with water provokes, as well as prevent its mechanical damage.
In addition, the screed must also be done because the pipes have a small surface area, and air is an excellent heat insulator. Therefore, the pipes, in contact with the screed, turn it into one large heating plane. There are also negative aspects of this heating system. It cannot be installed in apartment buildings. Such floors will increase the hydraulic pressure and provoke breaks in the weak points of the system.
Therefore, a water heated floor is used exclusively in a low-rise residential sector. But even there, homeowners are waiting for one significant nuisance. Installing and connecting to a hot water supply system will certainly provoke a decrease in pressure in it. If serious errors are made during connection, the heating simply will not work.
Generalization on the topic
Underfloor heating is a very effective heating system, but only if its type is correctly selected and the functionality of the room is taken into account. So, for example, a warm floor in a bathroom heats a small area, so it is advisable to use electrical systems here. Of the three options, the heating mat is the most suitable.
