The idea of underfloor heating is not new. It was used in ancient Rome, when special channels were arranged in the baths (therms) in the floor, through which warm air or steam was passed. The heating system adopted in our time with the help of central heating radiators is based on the effect of convection - the air is heated from a hot radiator and tends to rise, it is replaced by cold air, which heats up and moves upwards.
This air circulation means that warm air is at the top, cold air is at the bottom. The disadvantage of this method of heating will be cold floors, as a result of which it is possible that the feet will begin to freeze. To eliminate this drawback, a system of underfloor heating is used, of course, not the same as in Ancient Rome, but based on slightly different approaches to heating. Which underfloor heating is better in this case, you can determine on your own, based on the results of a review of existing systems.
Water floors
In this case, pipes are mounted under the floor, hot water is pumped through them. Such a heating system is quite difficult to install and, in addition, is prohibited for use in apartment buildings without coordination with the operating services.
A similar floor can be used in a country house or cottage, and it is best to include it in the project documentation so that a warm floor is made during the construction of the house. It has some drawbacks, one of which is the need for an additional pump that pumps hot water.
Electric floors
In such a system, heating is carried out using electricity. For this purpose, special cables are mounted under the floor covering (tile, laminate, etc.), and when an electric current passes, they heat up themselves and heat the floor. Such a floor is simpler than water, it can be mounted in an already finished apartment, which is an important advantage. Which underfloor heating is better to use depends on many factors.
It should be noted that electric floors at some points consume significant power. And even though its value can be reduced under correctly set operating modes, it in any case causes additional costs when using such heating. It is also necessary to know that the flow of electric current causes the appearance of additional radiation. Therefore, it is rather difficult to say which underfloor heating, electric or water, is more appropriate to use to heat an apartment.
Here it is worth considering the place of operation. For a city apartment, it is more correct to use an electric underfloor heating, which one is better to choose - you need to look at the real characteristics, operating costs and installation conditions.
There is one more, besides those described, the system of warm floors - modern and largely devoid of the noted shortcomings of the listed types of floors.
infrared floor
In this case, a special film is used that generates infrared radiation. This is a completely different heating principle, different from water or electric ones embedded in warm floors. Heating is carried out by infrared radiation. Its other name is "thermal" radiation, because. it is through him that a person perceives heat from heated objects.
The heat emitted by the film is perceived both by the floor covering, and by furniture, walls and directly by a person. As a result, the heating efficiency becomes much higher than with any other warm floors. Therefore, it is somewhat incorrect to compare a warm film or cable floor due to the various principles used in heating, although this has to be done voluntarily or involuntarily.
Any, even the best electric warm floor, heats only its coating, and from it it heats the air.
The infrared floor heats not only the floor covering, but, as already mentioned, the environment - walls and furniture. Such heating creates comfortable conditions, although the air temperature may be lower than when using other underfloor heating systems.
It will probably be incorrect to talk about which infrared warm floor is better, although manufacturers and firms that install floors of this type will give a lot of arguments in favor of their particular option. In this case, it will be necessary to take into account a number of additional factors, such as operating modes of the system, operating conditions and the influence of the environment on the operation of the heating system. Only taking into account such data will allow you to choose the best system for floor heating.
About the application of different types of floors
To a small extent, this issue has already been raised when considering various floor heating systems. So, for an ordinary apartment building, the problem of what to choose - electric floor heating or water, has only one answer - electric, because. the use of floors with water heating in such conditions is prohibited. Especially if you want to make heating on a glazed loggia or balcony. Here the choice can only be between infrared or electrically heated floor.
As for the specific choice of which company has a warm floor, it is almost impossible to answer it, as already noted, without knowing the specific operating conditions and characteristics of the room.
In some cases, especially in a fairly mild climate, underfloor heating can generally act as the only heating system. This applies primarily to a country house or cottage.
At the same time, do not forget that the best warm floor will not be able to provide the required living conditions in the house, if additional measures for thermal protection are not taken in it, even at the construction stage. In addition, during the operation of the premises, first of all, it is necessary to reduce heat loss, at least get rid of the existing gaps.
After that, most likely you won’t have to consider different options and choose which one is best: electric or infrared warm floor.
Heated floors in our time are becoming a common element of a house or room and are designed to create comfortable and desirable living conditions in them. And the answer to the question, what is the best underfloor heating, will be the one that will provide such conditions with a fairly economical consumption of resources.
