Non-traditional heating systems have recently been very widely used in modern construction. They can significantly reduce energy consumption, which significantly affects the savings of the family budget. Such innovative solutions include film infrared space heating. We will tell you how to do the installation correctly.
Warm infrared is a polyethylene heat-resistant film in which strips of carbon paste are packed. In turn, the paste is connected by copper bars, which are also soldered into the film.
Assembled, the whole structure is called IR thermal film. If a current of a certain strength and frequency is applied through the tires, then the carbon elements begin to emit infrared radiation with a wavelength of 5 to 20 microns.
It does not cause the surrounding air to heat up and dry out as traditional radiators and space heaters do. Infrared rays heat surrounding objects - flooring, walls, ceilings, furniture.
It is important to know! Do not confuse with electromagnetic radiation, which has a harmful effect on the human body, animals and plants.
Such a heating system has practically no side effects and is environmentally friendly. Scientists around the world have proven the beneficial effect of infrared rays on living organisms and humans in general.
Infrared warm floor specifications are as follows:
- power consumption 1 sq.m. -45-67 W/m.h;
- thermal film width -50 cm;
- the maximum allowable length of the thermal film strip is 8 meters
- melting temperature of the thermal film - 130 degrees C;
- power supply -220V / 50 Hz;
- the share of infrared rays in the radiation spectrum - 95%;
- IR heating wavelength - 5-20 microns.
The energy consumption of an infrared warm floor directly depends on its area and mode of operation. On the modern market, many manufacturers present their options for warm film floors. All of them have approximately the same characteristics. So which infrared warm floor is better for you to decide.
The thickness of the thermal film is 0.4 mm, which allows it to be installed under any floor covering - ceramic tiles, laminate, parquet, linoleum and carpet. In addition, such a film can be installed on walls and ceilings. In this case, heating will occur throughout the volume of the room.
Of course, the installation of infrared one or another coating has its own characteristics. For example, for laying a film floor under carpet or linoleum, plywood should be laid on heating strips.
In order to lay a warm infrared floor under the laminate, it is enough to lay a waterproofing film. Under the tile, it is laid directly on the cement-sand screed and is covered with a layer of tile adhesive and tiles on top.
How to lay the film floor under the laminate yourself
First of all, you need to learn two main rules:
- So that the infrared film for the warm floor does not overheat, it must be placed in an area that will not be occupied by furniture, TV and other large household items
- For effective heating of the room, the film floor must cover the area of at least 70%
Armed with this knowledge, it is necessary to draw a plan for the placement of heating elements. On paper, it is necessary to reflect the location of the furniture and the heating film.
It is important to know! Laying the laminate is done on a pre-leveled surface.
The concrete screed should not have a drop exceeding 1 mm per 2 m running. In order for the heat from the thermal film not to go through the floor slabs to the neighbors, a thermal insulating substrate is laid on the floor. This is a foamed polypropylene with a thickness of 3-4 mm and having a foil coating on one side.
Strips of thermal insulation are laid butt-to-joint and fastened together with thermal insulation tape. The strips are carefully cut around the perimeter of the room. Thermal film strips are measured, cut and laid on the floor in accordance with the plan.
You can cut the heating film only in the places indicated on it. They are highlighted with a dotted line and a scissors symbol.
If you cut the film diagonally, it will be damaged. The cut points are located approximately every 18 cm. The heating film should not come closer to the wall than 10 cm.
The strips of the heating film are laid on the substrate one next to the other with a gap of at least 5 mm, but not more than 1 cm. It is impossible to bend the heating element at an angle of 90 degrees or more, as it will fail.
Places of thermal film cuts, where conductive busbars are cut, must be insulated with strips of bituminous insulation, which is supplied with the floor heating kit. To mount the contact, insert it exactly in the middle of the end of the conductor rail and press firmly with pliers.
The current-carrying wires are stripped by 5-10 mm with a sharp knife and clamped with pliers in the contact terminal. After that, the entire contact is isolated with a piece of bituminous insulation.
The connection of an infrared warm floor (heating strips) is carried out in parallel with copper stranded wires with a cross section of at least 1.5 mm2. In order for the automation of the underfloor heating thermostat to work correctly, it is necessary to install the temperature sensor.
To do this, at a distance of 20-25 cm from the wall on which the thermostat will be installed, a strobe 1-2 cm deep is made with a perforator. A temperature sensor is placed under the heating film in it.
Note! The sensor must be laid on a heat-insulating substrate. Otherwise, it will not show the true temperature of the floor.
After that, the thermostat is installed and connected. When it is fully mounted and connected, the performance of the warm film IR floor is checked. All thermofilms should heat up when turned on. Only after checking the performance can you start laying the laminate on the heating elements. Video on the installation of infrared floor heating can be viewed in this article.
