Warm electric floors - pros and cons. Warm floors - pros and cons of water and electric heating systems Pros and cons of heating a house with heated floors

The most common option today is considered to be a warm water floor, the use of which allows you to completely warm up floor surface to the required temperature, without having visual heating devices. In addition, parquet, laminate or linoleum can be laid on top of such a system without any problems. You can read more about warm water floors here (http://www.a-comfort.ru/montazh-teplyh-polov.html)

Warm floor - effective solution among all the options that contribute to heating the room. This system has gained great popularity due to the fact that installation does not require much effort and time. A warm water floor is a structure, or rather a network of pipelines through which water flows, heating up to 35 degrees Celsius. This type of heating is often preferred by urban homeowners, since there is no need to use water from the central heating system. But such a system can also be installed in country houses, in which a heating boiler and a special water pump are installed. The “warm floor” system can operate not only from a gas boiler, but also from heat pump.

Such heating has many advantages that make it possible to distinguish a water-heated floor from radiator system heating.

The heat is distributed evenly throughout the room, making your stay in the room comfortable.

Very often, the feet freeze first from the cold, and with the help of an installed water heated floor, this problem can be eliminated by providing warmth.

Cold air rises.

Saving energy consumption, which is very good when the room area is large.

If such a system is installed by specialists, the customer pays only for their work and the materials used. After this, you will not have to spend money on maintaining the heated floor.

IN winter period The system helps to heat the room, and in summer - cools it.

When installing a “warm” floor system, you can forget about heaters and radiator pipes.

But, no matter how good everything is, such a system also has a number of disadvantages that need to be considered in more detail:

The main disadvantage when installing a water floor is that if there is a need to obtain a relatively low heating temperature, you need to have a mixing unit working in conjunction with a water pump, which creates forced circulation water flowing through pipes.

In addition, often the use of a water heating system can lead to the fact that the overall pressure in the central heating of the house begins to decrease.

It is important to know that after the water passes through the loop pipes, it enters another room in a cooled form, which leads to insufficient heating.

Today, it is possible to install a water heated floor only with permission from the responsible authorities, who must give their consent to use. Do not connect yourself this type heating without the necessary sanctions.

It is best to consult with specialists who install and maintain water heated floors before installing such a system.

But in general, it should be noted that such a heating system will become an indispensable assistant in the cold season. In addition to the fact that it is hidden from prying eyes, it consumes little electricity, and it also surpasses many heaters in quality.

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The concept of a water heated floor refers to a pipeline diagram laid in a layer of concrete screed. Heated by a boiler or boiler, the coolant circulates through the pipes and heats the floor.

System Description
Consumer Opinions
conclusions

Peculiarities

In private houses and cottages, water-heated floors are increasingly being used, the opinions and reviews of buyers about which are ambiguous. To decide on the rationality of using such a design, you should understand some of its features:

Warm floors are part of a water heating system, so they can be installed in country houses and cottages or new buildings if they have heat exchange risers or autonomous heating. In apartments of houses old building this type Underfloor heating is prohibited.
The design is a “layer cake”, quite complex in execution. Installation requires certain experience and a high degree of qualification.
When pipelines are damaged, a leak occurs, and the location of the breakdown is difficult to identify. To repair the area, it is necessary to dismantle the floor.
Not all types of finishing coating are suitable for heated floors.

What are the reviews from users?

“The process of installing built-in underfloor heating is truly an amazing thing, I did it in my home. I hired contractors for installation - the floors turned out like something out of a fairy tale. General heating operates at minimum mode, the rooms are warm and cozy. The bathroom is absolutely classy, there is no such dampness and the water dries quickly on the tiles. Even with the heating turned off, the cold floor does not cause any discomfort.”

Igor, Moscow.

“I installed heated floors throughout the entire area of the apartment to use as the main option without radiators. I laid ceramic tiles on top in the hallway, bathrooms and kitchen, and laminate flooring in the rest of the rooms. Room thermostat regulates the operation of the boiler, while the system copes well with heating - an economical and convenient type of heating.”

Anatoly, Nizhny Novgorod.

“In the house, I heat the entire first floor only with a water-heated floor system - there are no radiators. Very warm even in severe frosts. The main disadvantage is the price. Laying technology and materials are much more expensive than batteries, plus special thermostatic mixing pump groups. It’s better to hire specialists to carry out the work – this is also an additional cost.”

Konstantin, Volgograd.

“Heated floors have increased comfort compared to radiator heating - this is undeniable, but they also have a number of disadvantages. I have floors like this in my bathrooms, hallways and bathhouse. At temperatures below 25 °C, I heat the floor in the bathhouse to 30-35 °C - it’s hot for the feet. I visit the house periodically, so I lower it to 15 °C. The radiators can warm up the house to 22 °C in 4 hours, and heated floors in 8. In the summer I encountered the problem of a cold tiled floor.”

Alexander, St. Petersburg.

“I have a big house, I installed heated floors in all the rooms. They didn’t turn it on the first year, they started it up only the next year – the winter was harsh. The radiators were turned off, the temperature in the rooms remained 21-22 degrees - it was warm to walk on the floor even without slippers. The average monthly gas consumption turned out to be 1.7 times less than with radiator heating.”

Danil, Samara.

“I have been installing floors under the floor for quite some time. parquet board. I would like to note that the maximum temperature on the surface of the parquet should be no more than 27 ° C, and you should definitely avoid laying a warm water floor under the furniture. With good ventilation of the room and insulation of the external walls, the temperature in the room will be 24-25 degrees, taking into account heating of the floor to 27 °C without additional heating sources.”

Maxim, Moscow.

Let's sum it up

The main role in the effectiveness and feasibility of using a warm water floor is played by the finishing coating (linoleum, ceramic tiles, laminate, parquet or engineered boards). You should choose materials with medium or high thermal conductivity, otherwise all the heat will be “extinguished.” Ceramic tiles are considered the most heat-conducting option, but some reviews indicate excessive “coldness” outside the heating season.

According to reviews, a system of warm water floors under laminate can only be used if Special attention choice of finishing coating:

load class 31-33, thickness 8-10 mm;
the presence of special pictograms or inscriptions on the markings - “Underfloor heating” or “Warm Wasser”, “H 2 O”;
safety class E0-E1.

The following are suitable for installation on a water floor system: Quick-Step Creo (Belgium), Tarkett Woodstock Premium (Russia), Pergo Living Expression (Sweden), Classen Futuro Harmony (Germany) and others.

Many consider floor heating as the main heating without the use of radiators, but for such a design to be effective, all necessary measures must be taken to thermally insulate the walls and roof of the building. Owners of private houses and cottages note the rationality of warm water floors for the first floor of a building with a basement. Warm water floors create increased comfortable conditions in the premises of a house and apartment due to the large heat transfer surface.

Related articles:

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Electric heating

Advantages of electric floors

This system, as the name suggests, runs on electricity.
It uses cables made of special alloys as a heat conductor. The current passing through the wires heats the cables, and from them the surface of the floor and more are heated. The ability to organize several temperature zones is the main advantage of an electric heated floor. The first zone is directly above the floor surface (+24°), the second is 1.5-2 m from the floor (+22°) and the third is under the ceiling (+20°). This regime fully meets the needs of the human body.

Warming up the room and distributing temperature flows in the room with a traditional radiator and warm electric floor

Electric floors are designed for long-term use. They are less susceptible to external mechanical influence, which distinguishes them favorably from water floors.

The electrical "warm floor" system has the following advantages:

It can be used indoors in conjunction with central heating.
Since the air is heated by thermal radiation, the air in the room does not become dry.
Does not require additional equipment As a result, costs are reduced.
Thanks to thermostats and temperature sensors, you can control temperature regime and set it as you wish.
Installation of film heated floors does not require overhaul base, and the mounting mesh of the heating mats can be cut if necessary.

An interesting fact is that, according to scientists, the use of infrared floors not only reduces energy costs, but also increases human immunity. Under the influence of infrared rays, microorganisms and cells vibrate. Due to this, vital processes are stimulated, and well-being improves. It's up to you to believe this statement or not.

Disadvantages of electric floors

Electric floor is not suitable for large premises, since the efficiency of using electricity as heat is quite low.

The larger the area of the room, the greater the energy consumption for heating it. Water systems here look more economical. In addition, styling electrical elements(cable or film) is not possible under furniture due to the high risk of their failure due to overheating. However, the rod floor shown in the photo does not have these disadvantages.

Cables in heated floors warm up evenly, but this is their disadvantage: this can affect the arrangement of furniture and the choice of finishing floor covering. Thus, cable floors will work best with self-leveling floors, tiles and ceramic tiles, film - with laminate or linoleum.

Resistive heating cables cannot be cut. Therefore, before installation, you need to accurately calculate the length of the wire.

The negative aspects of using an electric floor include:

Increased energy costs.
When using an electrical system, electromagnetic radiation inevitably occurs, which can negatively affect the health of particularly sensitive people and the environment in the room.
Installation without your own hands is quite expensive.
Laying wires requires precise calculation of the pitch, so it will be difficult to do without some experience.
The cable floor is laid in a screed. If you are renovating an old apartment, the cost of refurbishment of floors will increase.
Infrared floors are expensive.
Heating mats must not be placed under household appliances and large furniture.

Only after considering all the positive and negative qualities electrical system heated floors, you can decide which better view use: cable, matte or film.

Water heating

Pros of water floors

Water heated floors are a modernized design of water heating. Water enters the pipes from the autonomous heating system. A mandatory requirement is the presence of a pump, since without it the liquid will not be able to circulate through the system.

A significant advantage of a water floor is the low cost of the coolant. Low cost water provides high quality space heating.

Water heated floors have the following advantages:

Can be placed under almost any flooring, including natural parquet.
Reliability of system operation.
Electricity costs are significantly reduced.
Possibility of use as the main heating system, which allows you to abandon visible heating sources (batteries, convectors, etc.).
Installing a water floor is cheaper than installing an electric one.

Cons of water floors

Like any heating system, water floors are not without certain disadvantages:

It cannot be installed in an apartment building without permission from the relevant authorities. The fact is that if such floors are connected to a central heating system, then temperature losses for the remaining apartments increase. It is prohibited to connect to a common heating system without permission from housing and communal services.
They require the purchase of additional equipment (circulation pump, manifold, mixing unit, etc.).
Damage to communications is possible, which will lead to leaks. Therefore, when purchasing pipes, you must first figure out what material they are made from and which one is better suited for the “warm floor” system.
Complex installation that requires certain skills in laying pipes, pouring and leveling floors.
Because the water floor is flooded cement-sand mortar, in the event of a breakdown, the entire screed will need to be dismantled.
A competent calculation of the system power is required. In case of errors in the project, the consumer risks being left without heating.

polprofy.ru

A water heated floor is a room heating system from a boiler or from a boiler. The pipes are laid on the base and must be filled with concrete screed.

Advantages of water heated floors

The main advantage of this design is that the room is heated evenly and heat loss is significantly reduced, which means fuel is used economically. In addition, you don’t have to install radiators, which will give you the freedom to bring many design ideas to life.

Warm floors of this type are often installed in country houses or cottages, as well as in apartments with autonomous heating. If the house does not have an automatic boiler, it is better not to install water heated floors. IN ordinary apartments, such a floor cannot be made, since it is prohibited by law; in this case, electric heated floors are installed.

Disadvantages of water heated floors

The disadvantage of water heated floors is that leaking pipes can lead to the need to break the floor, although the service life of pipes that are used today is 50 years. In addition, you cannot lay any kind of floor covering on the floor; ceramic tiles are best suited, as they have high thermal conductivity. Parquet in in this case will be an unsuitable coating, since wood transfers heat very poorly.

Technology for laying water-based heated floors

Water heated floors are installed only inside a cement screed. To install it correctly requires professional knowledge, skills and experience. An important stage work is to carry out all the necessary calculations. It is very difficult to do this yourself, since it takes into account the dimensions of the room, what the floors are made of, the presence or absence of insulation, what power the boiler is using, as well as the diameter of the pipes and the type of flooring.

Conclusion

If you decide to make a water heated floor, it is better to entrust this work to professionals, otherwise there is a risk that you will not get the desired result.

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Warm water floor - the main differences from other types of heating

The “warm floor” heating systems that exist today are divided into two subtypes: electric and water. Depending on the method of application, such systems can act as the main source of space heating or be auxiliary heating equipment. Electric heating elements are often used for local heating of technological rooms, balconies, loggias, bathrooms and toilets. On the contrary, a water heating circuit can be installed throughout the entire apartment or used in one of the rooms, for example, in a children's room.

This heating option is usually chosen in corner rooms, where there is a high probability of cold zones appearing. Thanks to its operating principle, this heating option is able to provide the most comfortable temperature conditions. Despite the fact that, in comparison with other heating methods, water heated floors have their pros and cons, in the general context this type of heating deserves more attention. In any case, there are always aspects and situations in everyday life that allow one to evaluate the advantages of the system, or, conversely, that indicate the technical imperfection of the chosen option.

For reference: a floor equipped with a water circuit allows the use of a wide variety of floor coverings, unlike electric mats.

For example: in order to maintain normal circulation in a home heating system using heated floor technology, you will need to install not only a pipeline, but also install additional equipment. A circulation pump, a manifold-mixer, a whole set of three-way valves (according to the number of water circuits), all of these are mandatory attributes and accessories in this case, regardless of the heated area. Availability special devices will avoid a drop in coolant pressure in the central heating circuit and will prevent interruptions in the circulation of domestic hot water.

It should also be remembered that such a system is prohibited for installation in an apartment building, which was originally designed for centralized heat supply. For private sector residents and owners country houses On the contrary, this option is preferable to traditional heating options.

You need to know that in order to implement this type of heating in your house or apartment, considerable costs will be required associated with a large amount of work and consumables. The drawings and diagrams show the temperature conditions inside the room, achieved as a result of using a thermal curtain and when operating the heated floor covering of the system.

It is clearly visible on the basis of what principle heating is carried out internal space. In the case of a water floor, the heat source is located in the lower part of the room. Thereby thermal energy spreads evenly over the entire floor area, transferring the necessary heat to the air masses circulating inside the living space. When using radiator heating, during which internal air exchange occurs due to convection, the floor is the coldest place in the living room.

Insufficient heating, especially in corner rooms and with a large glazed surface, is compensated by installing additional heating devices. A water floor is fully capable of solving this problem, uniformly heating the entire internal volume of the room. The aesthetic side of the issue is also important. The absence of heating radiators has a positive effect on the quality of the interior of residential premises. A warm floor distributes heat evenly throughout the entire space, thereby heating all objects in the room.

For reference: the most acceptable indoor temperature for comfortable living is + 18 0 C. By heating the coolant in the water heating circuit to a temperature of +35-45 0 C, it is achieved optimal temperature heating the floor covering 25 0 C. Accordingly, the lowest floor layer of air heats up more, while the upper layers have a comfortable temperature.

Warm floor design. Scope of application

The main advantage that you should pay attention to when studying a heated floor heating system is cost-effectiveness and high efficiency. Interior large area, especially in private houses, designed for autonomous heating, can be successfully heated in this way. Even the installation and arrangement of heated floors in all residential premises of a large multi-room residential building will be a completely profitable enterprise. For that category of citizens who have water gas heating or expect to use solid fuel units, a water floor is practically perfect option solving the issue of organizing heating.

Comparing this heating scheme with electric floors is inappropriate in this case. The last option, even taking into account the comparative ease of installation and ease of operation, is clearly inferior to a water floor in terms of economic indicators. An electric floor can be installed in individual places where there is a need to heat small areas.

Before summing up the advantages and disadvantages of a water heated floor, let’s try to understand its design and technological features.

The basic principle of operation in this case is as follows:

heat source - coolant liquid, boiler water, which can flow into a pipeline laid in the floor;
heated water can come from a riser central highway heat supply, and from an autonomous heating device.

Thanks to design features and new technologies, today there are several ways to equip heated floors. As an ideal floor covering, it is best to use ceramic, concrete or combined materials (tiles, decorative rock, concrete screed). The advantages and disadvantages in this situation are subjective. Ceramic tile or concrete screed have high thermal conductivity, and accordingly, when heated by the heated coolant, they transfer heat better into the room. Conversely, laminate, parquet, and linoleum are convenient and comfortable floor coverings that play the role of additional insulation, reducing the intensity of heat transfer in internal spaces.

The efficiency of a warm water floor directly depends on the quality of the layer cake, i.e. on the composition of the underfloor heating substrate. The substrate usually includes:

Waterproofing;
Metal mounting mesh;
Thermal insulation;
Damper tape;
Dry or wet screed.

On a note: As a rule, the traditional thickness of a layer cake varies in the range of 50-150 mm. The final parameters of the cake are determined depending on the diameter of the pipes for the water circuit, the thickness of the floors, the quality of the floor covering and the power of the underfloor heating system.

The main operating tool in this case is a pipeline made of metal-plastic pipes. Pipes connected into separate fragments or sections (circuits) are laid on a cushion, after which they are connected to collectors through which coolant is supplied to the heating circuit and returned.

The design of the heating system also contains the operating principle. The distance between the screed and the floor covering is where the warm water circuit is laid, through which the entire surface of the floor is heated to the required temperature. Due to insignificant heating (the optimal heating temperature of the coolant is 35-45 0 C), the “warm floor” heating system is low-temperature.

Obvious advantages of heated floors

If you do not take into account installation difficulties, heated floors are rightfully considered one of the most effective systems heating The low-temperature operating mode of heated floors can provide real and significant savings in heating costs. On average, 20-40% compared to the radiator heating option. The absence of overheating of the air mass indoors ensures good saturation of the internal space with positive ions.

To others obvious advantages The following qualities can be safely attributed:

high environmental Safety systems, full compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards for heating residential premises;
the main part of thermal energy is transferred as a result of thermal radiation, which has a positive effect on the human body;
real heat savings in residential buildings with high ceilings (up to 50% with ceiling heights of more than 3 meters);
the absence of open wiring and radiators greatly simplifies interior decoration residential premises;
real subsequent savings in heating costs compared to electric heating (on average 5-7 times);
Unlike electric heated floors, a water floor does not produce a powerful electromagnetic field that negatively affects the well-being of the inhabitants of the home.

Obvious disadvantages of this heating system

The main drawback that can overshadow you if you decide to install heated floors in your home is rather the presence of administrative prohibitions on the use of such a heating system. You can get around the bans if you focus on small area heating and you have the first floor. Otherwise, the situation is fraught with further administrative fines and restoration of dismantled equipment.

The second argument that can be attributed to the disadvantages of this heating system is the lengthy and painstaking installation of the equipment. The disadvantage of a water floor during the installation process is that it involuntarily makes the structural features of the building heavier. Due to the layer cake used for the substrate, the weight of the floor can increase by 10-15%, which is extremely dangerous for old multi-storey residential buildings.

Following installation and installation technology, homeowners will have to face quite large financial costs. Unlike electric floors, water heated floors are labor-intensive in the process of maintenance and repair. In terms of safety, a water floor is inferior to other home heating options.

Conclusion

There are many advantages to this heating system, but there are also some disadvantages when it comes to heated floors. However, the situation looks like this. In any case, if you decide to install warm water floors in your house or apartment, the advantages that you will receive in the future will clearly outweigh the disadvantages. High efficiency, cost-effectiveness and practicality are the main advantages of this heating system.

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Peculiarities

Water heated floor systems are a fairly new solution in the field of built-in heating systems. The peculiarity is that the coolant in this case is heated water circulating through pipes laid in the floor, which transfers heat radiated through the decorative flooring into the room.

At the same time, the efficiency of water heated floors is high; this type of heating seems to be extremely economical, allowing one to reduce the cost of heating a home to a comfortable temperature by 20-30, or even 50%. It's all about the temperature of the circulating fluid, which, as a rule, does not exceed 50⁰C, and often 40⁰C is enough.

Why? It's simple. The floor in a room, in the case of a heated floor, is a continuous convective surface that radiates heat. At the same time, the floor covering remains pleasant and comfortable, without posing a risk of burns, and the air in the room is heated evenly over the entire area.

Unlike traditional heating radiators, a heated floor immediately warms up the air to comfortable temperatures below (22-24⁰С), while at head level the temperature is already somewhat lower (18-20⁰С), and an overheating zone does not form under the ceiling, and no empty heat loss occurs. This property is one of the advantages of water heated floors, as it provides optimal “healthy” heating that promotes comfort and health.

Like any type of heating, water heated floors, of course, have their own advantages and disadvantages. And this must be taken into account when deciding whether to install this type of heating system.

The undoubted advantages of water heated floors include the following:

Economical– compared to radiator heating from 20-30% to 60%. When heating water to low (30-50⁰C) temperatures using gas in autonomous systems, especially with large heated areas, a water floor is even superior to an electric floor in terms of operating costs (up to 5-7 times more economical).
Safety, because the pipes with the coolant, firstly, have a low temperature, and secondly, they are completely hidden. This eliminates the risk of injury and burns.
Comfort, ensured by uniform heating of the air and pleasant tactile sensations when walking on the floor barefoot.
Aesthetics, because the built-in system solves the problem of hiding or camouflaging unaesthetic radiators and opens up wide horizons for the implementation of design ideas for remodeling and interior arrangement.
Smooth and soft heating, safety for capricious floor coverings due to gradual heating and low temperatures, absence of thermal shock (in the case of installing a thermostat and the ability to control the temperature of the coolant).
No generation of harmful electromagnetic field and oversaturation of air with positive ions.
Water heated floor does not dry out the air in the room.

While listing the advantages of water heated floors, it is worth analyzing its disadvantages:

Labor intensity of installation– to lay a water floor, you will have to undertake a major overhaul with leveling and careful preparation of the surface of the subfloor. The system consists of several layers various materials, including waterproofing, cement-concrete screed and decorative flooring.
Significant initial costs for installing a hydronic floor option- approximately 5 times higher than electric or traditional radiator. However, with active use, water heated floors demonstrate high efficiency and pay for themselves.
It is impossible to install heated floors, for example, on stairs and in small corridors. In such areas, additional installation of radiators is required.
The likelihood of a leak and the difficulty of eliminating it– to find damage and repair the pipeline, you will need to completely dismantle the floor covering and remove the screed.

Due to the risk of leakage and, accordingly, flooding of neighbors below, water-heated floors are not recommended for installation in multi-storey buildings. Also, when connecting water-heated floor circuits to the central heating system, there is a high risk of pressure drop in the system throughout the house and a sharp decrease in heating efficiency.

Is it enough to analyze the information on the query “water heated floor advantages and disadvantages” to make a final decision, especially if people with poor health live in the home? On the one hand, if the difficulties do not frighten you, but the advantages captivate you, it is worthwhile to critically evaluate them again.

The point is that she main feature and the advantage of this type of heating, namely, a constant elevated floor temperature, which allows you to “keep your feet warm” all the time, can also have a downside.

Namely, to provide negative impact on the vascular system of the legs, because blood constantly flows to the “warm” legs, putting a constant load on the veins and expanding them.

Therefore, it is recommended to install a water or electric floor in rooms with periodic and short-term presence of people there, or to limit the time they walk on the floor or stay on it.

The question of whether heated water floors are harmful to the general physical condition and well-being cannot be answered unambiguously. The air in the room is not too dry, there is no improper mixing of the layers, but in the case of heated floors, natural ventilation is difficult. In order to avoid air staleness, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often and take care of forced ventilation.

Conclusion

Water heated floor is an effective alternative to radiator heating and a good option for first floors, private houses. However, making a decision about installation requires a scrupulous analysis of the pros and cons.

Warm electric floors are a unique engineering design that allows you to heat the entire room, perfectly complementing other heating systems. In some options, the heated floor even becomes the only heating element. Use this design It is possible not only in houses, but also in other premises being renovated.

Most often, heated floors are used in rooms where the floor is paved with porcelain stoneware or tiles. In addition, it is extremely rare that an electric floor is used without a central heating system. As a rule, these designs complement each other. The electrical system helps warm up cold flooring. Most often, tiles or porcelain stoneware are laid in the bathroom, kitchen or hallway, which is why heated floors are often used in these areas.

It is worth noting the absolute advantage of a heated floor - heating the air to a height of up to 2.5 meters from the floor. Warm indoor air makes living conditions even more favorable and comfortable.

Particular attention should be paid to the installation process of the electric floor. It is highly not recommended to save on materials, even if it seems that the difference will be insignificant. It is best to entrust installation to professionals.

Advantages of installing heated floors

Electric heated floors are very popular today for a number of reasons:

Electric floor design can eliminate the disadvantage central heating in apartments. As a rule, the main heating in modern homes heats the floor the least, leaving it quite cold. This is due to the fact that the batteries are located at some distance from the floor, as a result of which cold air accumulates below. Warm floors help solve this problem. As a result of installing an additional structure, the heating of the room becomes uniform.
Installation of a heated floor does not require the use of additional equipment, which makes it possible to install such a structure in any room.
The degree of floor heating can be easily controlled by choosing the most optimal option for yourself.
The warm electric floor is complemented by a special thermostat, which allows you to set required temperature. In some zones you can also easily turn off the heating altogether.
Warm air from the floor rises, thereby eliminating the formation of drafts in the apartment or house.
An electric floor allows you to rid any room of excess moisture, which, in turn, eliminates the possibility of mold formation.
A warm floor covering can easily be made the main source of heating in the house, thus getting rid of radiators, which take up additional space and collect a lot of dust.
An electric floor is a fairly reliable design that rarely fails. If the installation process went correctly - in accordance with the instructions, then breakdowns are unlikely to occur. Most often, problems with heated floors appear only in cases where breakdown or damage occurs due to the fault of the owner. For example, if a nail was driven into one of the elements of the system. If some kind of malfunction does occur, do not worry or panic, since any electric floor can be easily repaired. If you can’t do this yourself, you can contact a service center.
The heated floor system is absolutely safe and resistant to moisture. Thanks to this design, you can create warmth and comfort in your home.
The design of a warm electric floor is compact and convenient, so it does not reduce the height of the ceiling in the room.
All elements of the heated floor design are well hidden from view, which makes the system invisible and neat.
Installation of the structure is quite simple; even a person without much experience can install all the equipment and the system as a whole.
With the help of a warm floor, the surface in the house warms up evenly and equally everywhere.

Disadvantages of an electric floor

Despite the large number of advantages of the heated floor design, this system still has some disadvantages:

The first and most obvious disadvantage of an electric floor is the increase in energy costs in the house. In this case, in order to reduce costs as much as possible, it is best to use a thermostat that will lower the temperature or turn off the heating in some areas.
The second disadvantage is also associated with significant costs. The fact is that heated floors are an expensive structure, which also requires certain costs for its installation.
Before installing an electric floor structure, it is necessary to change the wiring in the house. Such a system significantly increases the load on the electrical system, so the old wiring may simply not withstand it.
The design of a heated floor is very demanding on the floor covering. It must, first of all, have good thermal conductivity in order for the efficiency of the system to be felt. If there is a carpet or carpet on the floor, which transmit heat rather poorly, the efficiency of the heated floor will not be great.
Some types of flooring may be affected by the use of heated electric floors. The greatest impact is on wooden floor, since wood dries out when heated and then begins to change shape.
If the floor covering is also varnished on top, the heating temperature cannot exceed more than 21 degrees.
In order to save energy and energy costs as much as possible, heated floors, as a rule, are not installed in places where furniture is located. In this regard, rearranging the furniture in the house will also entail reinstalling the heated floor structure.
The use of heated floors in the house provokes the appearance of electromagnetic radiation. Of course, today everyone uses electrical appliances, despite the proliferation electromagnetic waves However, with the installation of an additional electrical system, the radiation increases, so this factor must be taken into account.
The use of any electric heater, including an electric floor, entails an increased risk of electric shock. This factor should be taken into account, especially in rooms with high humidity.

It is worth noting that, despite all these disadvantages, most people still use heated floors in the house, since for them such systems are a necessary condition comfortable stay. Moreover, most of these shortcomings are completely insignificant and can be easily eliminated. As for additional expenses, then, as a rule, everyone understands perfectly well that comfort costs extra money.

Electric heated floors are used much more often than water ones. This is easily explained because similar design has a number of advantages:

An electric heated floor is much simpler and more convenient to regulate in terms of temperature supply than a water one. It is enough to simply use a thermostat, with which you can set the desired temperature and do it much more accurately than in a water system.
Installing cables in the electrical structure of a heated floor is much easier and faster than water pipes in a water heating system.
Using a water-based underfloor heating system entails installing a gas boiler to heat the water. This measure requires additional space, as well as increased installation costs.

Thus, we can determine that electric heated floors are very convenient to use. It is especially suitable for heating small rooms, for example, an apartment or a small country house. Also, the design of a warm electric floor is excellent for an office, since in such a room it is not always possible to install a gas boiler.

Disadvantages of electric heated floors compared to water ones

Unfortunately, the electric floor heating system also has some disadvantages compared to the water design:

Often a water heated floor becomes more economical option than electric. Such savings are especially noticeable in large areas.
Using hot water for floor heating and space heating is a safer option than using electricity. Hot water can harm a person to a lesser extent than electric current.
A water heating design can last much longer than an electrical system. According to the most popular manufacturers of such systems, a water floor can last in a house for up to 50 years.

Using a water floor the best way Suitable for heating large rooms. For example, it is best used in large country houses or work areas.

Electric floor - unique modern design allowing you to create maximum comfort in your home. With such a system, your floor will always be warm, which will allow you not only to walk barefoot, but also to allow children to play on the floor without fear of being exposed to a draft. At the same time, the design is absolutely safe; the system perfectly protects all elements from the ingress of water and other objects.

Video: which electric heated floor is better?

It cannot be said that the idea of creating a heating system without batteries belongs to modern man, but it effective implementation- still his merit. There are many advantages of a water heated floor, but in each individual case the effectiveness of the technical solution used largely depends on a whole range of factors, including correct calculations, installation, and the use of the optimal set of materials and components.

Most of the disadvantages of water heated floors, which are noted by experienced users of such systems, are largely formed from mistakes made initially, which led to a decrease in the efficiency of using the system. But in order to talk in detail about the pros and cons of warm water floors, available designs, constructive solutions, it’s worth understanding how they work.

Structurally, all types of water heated floors used today are a system of pipelines laid inside floor building structures. Coolant is pumped through them under the action of a pump, the temperature of which is up to 40 °C. As a result, the concrete screed is constantly heated, which in turn gives off its heat to the floor covering and the air.

Among the features of a water floor, it is worth noting that in this case it can be used as a source of energy as a system centralized water supply, and an individual heating source. As a result, a unique modification is formed in the room. heating device, radiating heat and heating the room using air convection.

The characteristics of a water heated floor and its design make it possible to use not only water, but also non-freezing liquid as a coolant. The second option is optimal for use, for example, in dachas, where winter time house can for a long time do not heat. In addition, it is important to take into account when designing and implementing such systems that all types of heated water floors can be used both as the main and additional sources of heating in combination with radiators.

The design of a heating system when using heated floor technology is never (even in its simplest design) limited to the working pipeline. In this case, each of the used components of the “pie” is important, from the supporting base to the finishing coating.

The technology for laying water mains can differ radically depending on its design. The basis can be either a concrete screed or dry structures (prefabricated screeds and frame structures are used with high efficiency). But it is worth noting that the second option is practically not used in practice, since it is distinguished by the complexity of its design and the lower performance characteristics of a water heated floor.

The optimal thickness of the screed is determined based on the balance of the strength of the resulting structure and the heating rate of the slab. In this case, the recommended thickness is 5 cm. If there is a possibility of subsidence, a metal reinforcing mesh is used, but with the installation of rigid insulation, such a need disappears.

What determines the effectiveness of using different types of heated water floors?

In order to fully evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of a warm water floor, it is necessary to take into account the influence of the parameters on which the effectiveness of using such a system as a whole depends. This is the only way to give an objective assessment of this method of heating a room.

In this regard, correct installation, correct execution of engineering calculations for heat and power losses - the most important condition for the successful implementation of a heating system. But when determining power, an individual approach is no less important. When designing a warm water floor, the advantages of its design can be completely neutralized if factors such as local climatic conditions and the type of building are not taken into account (it can be either an apartment building or a private house with relatively cold and quickly cooling walls).

As for proper installation, if you want to really appreciate all the advantages of a water-heated floor, you should not take on it without sufficient experience and knowledge in this area. It's not just about making a smooth screed, laying pipes without allowing leaks, and then laying the finishing coating. It is extremely important to correctly select thermal insulation, the number of circuits, pitch, and screed parameters.

In addition, due to inexperience, one can appreciate one of the most important disadvantages of water heated floors: the ability of constant heating to ruin massive furniture. Although in fact the issue can be resolved quite simply: it is enough to lay the pipelines so that they do not pass through areas where large furniture is located. As a result, the floor temperature will not be high enough to have a noticeable effect on the furniture installed in the house. In addition, this approach will create an additional advantage of a water heated floor - the opportunity to save money.

Advantages and disadvantages of water heated floors

Advantages of a warm water floor

Disadvantages of water heated floors

There is no way to effectively use the technology in rooms where a large area is occupied by stairs. You will need to use heated floors in combination with radiators.
There is a common misconception that the advantage of water heated floors is that it slightly reduces the level of humidity in the room. In fact, such a system dries out the air much more than a traditional radiator system, so purchasing an air humidifier will become a necessity.
It is not allowed to install a water system in apartment buildings due to a significant increase in hydraulic resistance.
Installation is quite complicated and can only be done during a major renovation of the premises.
If you choose between water or infrared heated floors, it is important to consider that using the first option always leads to a significant increase in the floor level. For the construction of infrared systems, polyester film fabric with a thickness of 100 microns is used.
There is a possibility of a leak that will require quite complex repairs.

Which heating is better: warm water floor or radiators

In most cases, the choice of heating system is between water heated floors or radiators. In order to decide, it is enough to compare both options according to several key characteristics, which will allow you to evaluate all the possibilities, pros and cons of the technologies.

Economical

This is one of the most important issues, which in the future will determine the amount of annual/monthly heating costs. If we compare both options for the distribution of hot air flows in the room, it turns out that the greatest heat from the battery remains next to it. Heating from the heated floor occurs throughout the entire area of the room.

Batteries are always installed under a window to avoid intense condensation. But this same decision causes intense heat loss to occur in the same zone. In addition, if the walls are insufficiently insulated due to the high temperature difference, the situation is aggravated.

Also, the efficiency of using a heated floor is increased due to the fact that heating occurs during its operation. concrete slab, which becomes a powerful source of heat, and the radiator can only act on the nearby air. As a result, savings when using heated floors average up to 30%.

Which is cheaper: water heated floors or radiators?

In this case, much depends on the area of the premises and the installed equipment. But due to the large amount of work involved in installing concrete screeds, hidden laying of pipelines, and the need to attract specialized specialists to perform such tasks, the cost of equipment and its installation when using a radiator system will be lower.

Inertia

The rate at which the room heats up when the heating is turned on is an important issue that largely determines the degree of comfort in using the system. In this case, deciding whether a warm water floor or radiators is better will not be easy. The peculiarity of the first option is that, for objective reasons, it will take longer to heat up a concrete slab than a radiator exposed to air. But at the same time, cooling when the heating is turned off using a heated floor will occur much more slowly. In this regard, the decision about whether this is a plus or a minus of water heated floors can only be made by the user himself.

Maintainability

The main problem in this case becomes the issue of accessibility of installed equipment and pipelines. For water heated floors, this is a minus, but at the same time, provided that the equipment is properly selected and the system is correctly designed and installed, the service life of hidden heating without the need for repairs will be equal to the service life of the pipes. That is, on average, you won’t have to open the screed for about 50 years. Equipment based on radiators is always open to access, but at the same time it requires repairs much more often.

There are quite a lot of arguments in favor of each option, but at the same time optimal solution in most cases it becomes the use of a combined system using both technologies. At the same time, all the pros and cons of warm water floors and radiators will be taken into account and used so that in the end the project will only benefit from their joint use.

Even in ancient times, a person, creating a living place for himself, tried to protect it as much as possible from enemies, predators and weather conditions, and to make it cozy and comfortable. This is how it turns out today: in countries where there are snowy and frosty winters, heating the home and work premises plays a very important role. important role in terms of convenience and coziness.

Multi-storey buildings and private sector buildings, erected during the Soviet Union, were equipped. Such a system was easy to install and repair; at any time, the owners could increase the number of sections in the battery. Owners of private housing could regulate heat by changing parameters in gas boiler. Residents of high-rise buildings depended on centralized heating, often freezing in cold weather or opening windows on warmer days, suffocating in the apartments from the heat. Thermal comfort during construction was not in the foreground. Since winter in Russia is still a very cold season, modern construction methods offer the installation of underfloor heating. And the house is warmer, and the children can safely play on the floor without fear of a cold, and it’s pleasant to walk around warm coating like walking on summer sand. They write and talk a lot about warm floors. This is a whole system that allows you to heat your home, in which heat is distributed evenly throughout the room. The heat carrier is located in the floor. If water base, then these are pipes, if electrical, then cables. Water heated to forty-five degrees undergoes regular movement in the pipe; a cable connected to the network performs the same heating function. Electric heat is regulated by a thermostat, water heat - using sensors on the boiler.

If you haven’t settled on any option yet, let’s look at the positive and negative aspects of such coverage together.

Pros:

Save money on heating costs (up to thirty percent). The warmer the room, the less heat is spent heating it. If our feet are warm, we perceive even low temperatures as comfortable. Heat, according to the laws of physics, rises. That is, without heated floors, the warmest place in the apartment is under the ceiling. With heated floors, the temperature is even everywhere.
No special equipment is required for installation; faults can be easily fixed.
At correct installation such a floor can last up to fifty years.
The appearance of a heated floor does not differ from the usual one and does not attract attention like radiators.
Warm air rising from the floor creates an obstacle to the formation of drafts.
Ideal conditions for children's games. You can play wherever you want without the risk of catching a cold.

Minuses:

Pleasure is expensive. The cost and installation, of course, will pay off someday, but money is needed now.
It's not easy Maintenance, you will have to raise the floors a few centimeters, this is not always realistic. Now, if your construction has just begun, this is your option!
You will have to think about floor coverings, because, for example, laying a warm, dense carpet on such a floor will ruin all your efforts, and there will be no benefit from the floor.
Difficulties almost always arise with repairs. The floor heating system in the rooms is common; sometimes it is difficult to determine the place where the breakdown occurred. But if you spare no expense on installation and invite real professionals for this, and follow the operating rules, there shouldn’t be any problems.
All furniture should be raised above the floor for free circulation of heat; if it is not made from natural materials, there is a possibility of releasing small but constant concentrations of harmful substances from it when heated.
The flooring may warm up slowly (from three to five hours), first the concrete in which it is built will heat up, and then the covering and the air. But when the system is turned off, cooling occurs just as slowly.
If you spend a long time in a room with warm floor heating, exacerbations of diseases of the lower extremities are possible (for example, varicose veins - a vascular disease of the veins).
Installing water in city apartments has technical difficulties and requires special permits.

Advantages and disadvantages of infrared heated floors

Half a dozen years ago, film heated floors were a unique phenomenon; today, infrared film floors are used to create comfortable zones in residential buildings, apartments and offices. Popularity and demand have created competition and, accordingly, advertising and product reviews, which can be true or fictitious.

In an electric infrared film heated floor system, the main thing is the presence of a thin heating carbon film, which, when connected, begins to emit infrared rays and anions. The radiation comes from carbon paste applied in parallel, straight or curved strips.

On expensive films, the paste is applied in a uniform layer. To ensure that the heat transfers to the flooring and not the neighbor's ceiling, it is necessary to use a heat-reflecting underlay. If you can still lay the materials yourself, we recommend inviting a qualified electrician to connect to the network. Most markets now offer Korean-made heating films. This film is different good quality and reasonable prices, which, unfortunately, depend on the value of the currency.

Selection and installation of infrared film

The market can offer products made in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the USA, China and, naturally, Russia. Increased competition expands the choice, but at the same time, the company, while presenting the quality of its product, often speaks unflatteringly about competitors’ products. Film infrared floors are the floors of the future. Hydrocarbon fiber is much more thermally conductive than many analogues used in heating systems. The most popular installation method is under laminate. This material warms up in literally a matter of minutes and can be quickly dismantled if necessary. But, covered with a laminate, a film floor still cannot be the main heating system in the room, since the quickly heating material cools down just as quickly if the system is turned off.

By the way, the film mesh can be attached not only to the floor. It is perfectly installed on walls, ceilings, and curved surfaces. Users come up with a lot of things: they heat containers with honey, heat various equipment, the bottom of a home pond, build greenhouses, and much more.

Myths about infrared heated floors

Many sellers of cable floors tell buyers a horror story that film floors ionize the room with negative particles. Some radiation does indeed come from the film itself, but the laminate, tile or linoleum covering it on top does not allow it to pass further. You can even make a mobile system, when the heating film with a backing is laid under the carpet, and placing the wires and thermostat in a safe corner allows you to use it during the cold season, removing it for the summer.

Many consumers ask whether the seams on the tiles, if it is placed on a film floor. If the installation was done correctly, the tiles will stick exactly as they would if they were laid on a regular screed. When installed correctly, a fiberglass reinforcing mesh is used and must be nailed to the floor underneath. made of tiles is attached with a special glue, the layer of which is at least one and a half centimeters.

If we have not made heating systems with water heated floors before, then it will not be right to immediately take on the practical implementation of our desires. You need to first pay attention to some theory. Well, at least learn about the pros and cons of heated floors. Perhaps the disadvantages will be such that you won’t want to have such a heating system in your home at all.

What are the advantages of water heated floors compared to radiators?

Disadvantages of water heated floors

Heat loss rooms where heated floors are installed must be less than 100 W/m2.
Conclusion: with higher heat losses, you will have to either insulate the house or install combined heating (water heated floor plus radiators).
It is not always possible to install water heated floors in apartment buildings, where single pipe systems heating. Well, or at least you need to know how to make such a connection correctly and without any conflicts with neighbors or utility workers (this is described in detail in the article about installing a water-heated floor in an apartment).
Large thickness of concrete screed over a warm floor. If such heating is on the second floor or higher, then the floor level will rise by ~10 cm. On the first floor or on the ground floor, the total is more - by 14-20 cm. In other words, when planning heating with water heated floors in an old apartment (house), be prepared to other global works related to the reinstallation of doors. And one more thing: concrete screeds for a heated floor will increase the load on floors and other structures... are you sure that they will withstand? What is your confidence based on? Think about it.
Installation of a water heated floor and materials for it are more expensive than for radiator heating. True, these expenses are then paid off by saving energy resources, as I wrote about above.

There are several more disadvantages of heated floors that must be taken into account. I will list them.

Any heated floor (not necessarily water) is not best system heating for rooms in which people are constantly present. Surprised? I'll explain why. Alas, almost everything in the world has a downside.

So, contrary to the same well-known saying (or proverb? - I can’t remember what the difference is), your feet do not always need to be kept warm. I mean, not all the time! Blood rushes to heated areas of the body, this is well known to everyone. And the legs, being warm all the time, do not rest, the veins do not rest... The result is a disease of the veins due to their constant expansion.

Conclusion: you need to stay in a room with a heated floor for a limited time. That is, do such heating in the hallway, bathroom, in any passage corridor, in the bathhouse, in the dressing room... where you are rarely or for a short time.

I mentioned the lack of mixing of air layers in the advantages of a warm floor. But this is also a minus, because it is impossible to provide normal natural ventilation. But with radiators, natural ventilation is possible.
Conclusion: when designing heated floors, design forced ventilation with all its “delights” (connection to the power grid, noise, additional expenses... this is for you in continuation of the topic of efficiency), otherwise the air in such a room will be stale.
Not every material can be used to cover a heated floor. Therefore, you need to know the following.
It is necessary to distinguish between two concepts that are similar in sound, but different in meaning: “comfortable floor” and “warm floor”. What is the difference?

What is the difference?

The comfortable floor has a temperature of 20…22 degrees and is only suitable for off-season use. But in real winter cold it will not cope with heating. And then you will need additional heating(radiator, air or something else). Wood is quite suitable for covering a comfortable floor.

But in warm floor The coolant heats up to 55 degrees. And you can’t cover such a floor with wood! Wood will crack due to high temperatures. But if you don’t heat it, then, again, such a heating system won’t cope in cold weather.

And although there is a separate section about coverings for heated floors, I will say a few words here. As coverings for heated floors, you should take only natural materials: carpet from natural material, ceramic tiles, linoleum - also from something natural, and not from PVC, parquet and parquet boards, etc.). Non-natural materials contain various harmful substances that will evaporate when heated... however, they evaporate even without heating. Do you need it?

Well, I believe that now, knowing all the pros and cons of water heated floors, you will be able to make an informed choice, and not “because that’s it.” Next we will consider the question energy saving when heating with water heated floors.

heating with water heated floor