Electric heated floor. What criteria should you use to choose a warm electric floor?

Heating with electricity can hardly be called profitable, but it is definitely the most convenient. In one form or another, it is actively used both in city apartments and in country houses. One of the most successful and popular options is electric heated floors, which are distinguished by their versatility, ease of operation, and most importantly, they provide the most high level comfort for humans. Floor heating systems can be used both for main heating and as an additional heat source. They are installed at the construction/reconstruction stage and during cosmetic repairs. Anyway to buy the right material, the developer should clearly define the tasks that need to be solved; the design and installation of the “electric heated floor” system should be well studied.

All types of electric heated floors are connected to a 220 volt network. The temperature of the floor surface increases due to heat transfer from a heated conductor (cable models) or due to infrared radiation(film and rod models). The flooring, in turn, releases energy to the air inside the room.

Note! It is recommended to power the power supply circuit for a heated floor (especially in the bathroom or kitchen) through separate machine protection and sensitive RCD with shutdown current up to 30 mA.

Automation

One of the most important advantages of such systems is ease of management and control. Modern thermostats, through which the heated floor is connected to the network, in most cases are multifunctional devices. They allow you not only to control the level of heating of the floor array or air in the room, but also to change the operating mode of the system.

Simple thermostats simply turn the power on or off when user-set temperatures are reached, causing the floor to heat up or cool down. More technologically advanced thermostats can be responsible for several zones, and can also be programmed to execute certain algorithms, which are primarily aimed at maintaining the highest possible comfort with significant energy savings. For example, if you have a multi-tariff meter, you can set the automation to heat more intensely in the evening, or vice versa - reduce the power when no one is at home (let's say during the day from 8:00 to 15:00).

Thermostats with mechanical control (using a rotating knob) are the most affordable, but they only allow you to set the temperature smoothly or in steps. Electronic thermostats controlled by buttons or via a touch screen, they are more expensive, but more practical. There are models with a built-in Wi-Fi unit, which make it possible to remotely control and, if necessary, change the operating modes of the heated floor via a smartphone or PC.

The digital display shows all necessary information

Sensors

Information to the thermostat comes from temperature sensors. The main sensor is installed between heating elements warm floors at a distance of more than 500 mm from the wall, always at the same level with them or slightly higher. Like heating elements, it can be located in the screed or under the finishing coating. Sometimes additional sensors are used that are mounted on the walls (can be built into the thermostat housing) and read the air temperature in the room, some - the humidity level.

As a rule, these devices are connected using wires to the thermostat terminals. Wireless sensors that transmit information over a radio channel are often used as additional ones.

Insulating layers

It is necessary to understand that an electric heated floor is a multi-layer cake. It is extremely important to direct thermal energy into in the right direction. Under the screed, which will heat up, it is recommended to lay sheets of extruded polystyrene foam, usually 3 to 5 centimeters thick. He must have sufficient bearing capacity(density from 25 kg/m 3) and low water absorption coefficient. This kind of insulation is especially important if a construction of an electric heated floor is created on the ground (ground floor of a cottage, in heated basements) or on a balcony/loggia.

For other options for laying heated floors, foamed polypropylene in mats or rolls is used. For mounting heating elements directly under finishing coat Technical cork insulation works well.

In the area where the ceiling adjoins the wall, it is necessary to lay a damper foam tape, which will prevent heat transfer along the perimeter of the floor and create a gap to compensate for possible thermal expansion designs.

Among various types The most effective thermal insulation materials are those with a metallized lavsan coating.

Note! Many manufacturers suggest using underfloor heating to protect against moisture. plastic film. IN various designs it is laid under heating elements or on top of them.

Which warm floor is better

There are several types of electric heated floors. It is hardly worth talking about the advantages and disadvantages of each model, since they are designed for specific operating conditions and for certain installation methods. Various criteria can be used to describe the types of heated floors.

Traditional classification according to the design of the heating element:

heated cable floor (in skeins or mats);
film;
core.

According to the method of heating and heat transfer:

convection floor (the temperature of the elements increases due to the resistance of the conductors);
infrared floor (film and rod models emit waves that heat materials from the inside).

If possible, temperature changes in different areas:

resistive (the same heating occurs throughout, such a warm floor cannot be laid under furniture without legs or its sections cannot be covered with something, for example, a carpet);
self-regulating (the cable itself reduces its power where overheating is possible, and adds it where there are cold areas, for example, near windows or the front door).

By purpose:

heated floor as the main source of heat - the calculation of the heating system “electric heated floor” is made taking into account the possible heat losses of the building; as a rule, heating elements with a specific power of 130 to 180 W per square meter are used.
for comfortable floor heating - in most cases, a performance of 90-130 W/m2 is sufficient.

By type of installation:

models that must be filled with a thick screed;
universal floors that can be laid in thin layers of screed or allow dry installation.

Popular classification of heated floors

Cable heated floors in unwinding

The heating cable is a piece of insulated conductor about 7-8 millimeters thick, having a power density of 10 to 25 W per linear meter. It can be used both for additional heating and as the main heating method. Cable heated floors come in two types:

Single-core. The heating element is laid in a closed loop so that its end returns to the installation box with the thermostat.
Two-core. The conductor does not need to form a closed loop, since both current-carrying cores are looped using an end coupling and form a working circuit. This option is about 20 percent more expensive, but is more convenient to use and creates significantly less electromagnetic radiation.

The cable floor can be self-regulating and reversible (with a constant heating level throughout).

Differences in the installation of single- and double-core cables

When installing such a warm floor, the user himself chooses the laying pattern and the step with which the conductor threads are located. But its main feature is that the heating element must be filled with a screed no less than 30 mm thick. The best option- about 50 mm.

The mandatory use of ties for filling the heating cable significantly limits installation possibilities. However, we note that cement stone is a good heat accumulator.

Note! When using aluminum mounting sheets, which distribute heat well, it is possible to dry lay a heated cable floor, which is carried out directly under laminate, parquet, prefabricated cork, frame structures with a massive board.

The heating element in this design should be no more powerful than 10 W per linear meter (or 100 W/m2)

Installation nuances

Cable heated floors in mats

Heating mats are used in cases where a specific power of 150 W/m2 is sufficient to provide comfortable temperature floor. A cable 3-4 millimeters thick with a given pitch is fixed on a mesh base, which often has a self-adhesive bottom surface.

The mats are installed without using cement-sand screed large thickness. This option is used if you need to lay an electric heated floor under the tiles, but there is no way to raise the floor level. It is also suitable for light repairs, when the plane of the old floor is leveled with leveling compound.

Note! This type of cable heated floors is more expensive than those supplied unrolled. It is easier to install, since the conductor is already distributed with optimal step and correct bend radii, but sometimes difficulties arise if the room has a complex configuration.

Procedure for laying cable mats

Installation nuances

The mats are laid so that they do not fall under furniture and floor equipment.
To deploy part of the heating element, you need to cut it (use scissors to separate the mesh so as not to damage the conductor) and roll the mat around the cable.
Since the diameter of the tube with the sensor is much larger than the diameter of the cable, to lay it you need to make a groove in the base.
After checking the resistance, tile adhesive is applied over the mats and leveled with a comb (or thin-layer self-leveling floors are poured). Optimal height the covering layer is about 5-7 millimeters.
Connection and operation of the heating system is possible after a few days, when the glue/leveling compound has dried.

Film infrared floor

The film heating method is used with any type flooring, both wet installation in screed or glue is possible, as well as dry installation - directly under finishing floor. Most often, of course, the film is laid dry. Due to its low weight and thickness (approximately 0.3-0.4 mm), it can be mounted not only on the floor, but also on walls and ceilings, on inclined and curved surfaces.

Structure of infrared heating film

Note! Some infrared film floors have self-regulating properties, so they can be laid across the entire area of the premises without any problems, regardless of the location of furniture and various objects that “block” heat.

The operating principle of the heating element is based on the radiation of infrared waves, which increase the temperature of the floor layers located above. The structure of the sections consists of a carbon base (linear or continuous), laminated on both sides with a protective electrical polymer. Voltage is supplied to the working layer via copper busbars. The roll width is 50-100 cm, the specific power of the heating element is from 80 to 220 W/m2, there are super-efficient models with indicators of more than 400 watts per square meter.

Installation nuances

Note! Available wet method installation, in which the film (like reflective insulation) is cut into small sheets and laid with gaps up to 2 centimeters in size. Also, in the areas intended for separating the roll, cut out through holes. This is necessary to ensure adhesion of the tile adhesive or screed (the thickness is 2-3 cm, its reinforcement is made polymer mesh) with a supporting base. To ensure adhesion, it is recommended to treat the film surface with primer such as “ST 16” or “Betonkontakt”.

IN certain conditions It is better to lay the temperature sensor cable in a groove in insulating material.

Rod heated floor

Relatively expensive, but very effective rod heated floors operate on the basis of infrared radiation. They are mounted under all types of coverings, placed in a thin screed or covered tile adhesive. Such heating elements have self-regulating abilities, so they can be laid across the entire area of the room, without regard to the arrangement of furniture.

This type of underfloor heating is made in the form of mats with carbon rods. The pitch between the rods is 100 mm; on both sides they are connected in parallel using flexible conductive busbars. It is allowed to use solid strips up to 25 meters long.

Installation nuances

The core floor is cut in the same way as film models - that is, the roll is completely divided into separate sheets.
The sheets are connected into a circuit in parallel or in series.
The sections of the tires are cleaned; for disconnection, couplings are used, which are insulated with polymer heat-shrinkable tubes.
The mats are fixed to the surface of the heat insulator using tape.

Windows are cut out between the rods in the thermal insulation so that the tile adhesive has contact with the load-bearing base., so that the tile adhesive has contact with the load-bearing base.

Electric heated floors have long ceased to be an outlandish technical innovation. Over the years of use, it has become clear that these are practical, reliable and secure systems. The main thing that is required from the developer is to choose the right materials for your needs and approach installation issues as carefully as possible.

Video: which electric heated floor is better

Man's desire to create for himself comfortable conditions for living led to the development various systems heating Among them in Lately Floor-mounted structures powered by electricity are becoming increasingly popular.

Types of electric heated floors

Manufacturers produce various modifications, which can be roughly grouped according to the type of heating element:

1. cable heating;

2. heating mats;

3. film infrared emitter;

4. liquid-electric structures.

Physical principles underlying the operation of electric heated floors

Cable heating with resistive conductors

When transmitting electricity based on the Joule-Lenz law, heat is released. This pattern is the basis for the operation of heating elements.

If in ordinary wires the metals and their cross-section are selected in order to reduce the maximum load heat losses, then in the heated floor system they create structures that can release maximum amount thermal energy long time without compromising performance characteristics.

For this purpose, heating elements are created in the form of cable structures consisting of:

resistive type conductive thread that generates heat;

a layer of Teflon insulation made of heat-resistant PVC plastic.

Such cables can be manufactured with one internal conductor or two. They are used for different ways installation and connection. Manufacturers give them a guarantee of 20 years or more, subject to operating rules.

The two-core cable has an additional layer of insulation located between a thin screen braid copper wire and dielectric heat-resistant coating of the cores. One of the cores has the function of a heating element, and the second, as a simple conductor, is placed parallel to the first. This arrangement significantly reduces the radiation level electromagnetic field and its effect on the environment.

A typical resistive cable design is shown in the picture.

When operating these structures, a balance of heat generated from passing through the conductors must be maintained. electric current and discharging it into the heated floor. To do this, all areas of the floor adjacent to the cable are created with a homogeneous structure, ensuring uniform thermal and mechanical loads.

The resistive cable is filled with a cement-sand screed of a certain thickness, which can be additionally covered with a layer ceramic tiles, laminate or other flooring materials.

Cables with self-regulating heating conductors

Self-regulating heating cable designs can be used in a heated floor system. They have ordinary conductive, rather than heating, cores, between which there is a semiconductor matrix with a huge number of elements independent from each other. Its dielectric properties are determined precisely by these semiconductors, which respond to changes in the temperature surrounding them.

When some section of the self-regulating cable is cooled, a structure with a large number of tracks is created inside the matrix due to semiconductors for the passage of current through them, which heats the cable and the surrounding layers.

At average temperatures, the structure of semiconductors increases electrical resistance, reducing the conditions for current flow through them and, thereby, somewhat reducing the heat generation.

If some section of the cable is very hot, then the number of paths for the passage of current in it is sharply limited, reducing its electrical conductivity.

In this way, the ambient heating temperature is regulated even without a thermostat and temperature sensors. Self-regulating cables are more convenient to use because they do not need to create a homogeneous structure for heat transfer, like their resistive counterparts. Their separate areas can be subjected to various temperature loads.

Cable mats

At first, when installing a heated floor, resistive cables were simply laid out on the floor in the form of a snake, and then fixed with fasteners. This technology is still used for single-core and double-core structures.

However, manufacturers began to produce cable mats. An example of such a design is shown in the picture, where the cable itself is already woven into a soft dielectric mesh in a certain way. It no longer needs to be carefully laid out. It is enough to simply roll out the folded roll along the length of the room for subsequent fixation with a solution.

Cold leads for connecting the cable mat to electrical diagram are included in the delivery package. They are connected through special coupling adapters. Direct connection is prohibited by the installation technology.

If there is a need to rotate the direction of the layout, then the fastening mesh can be easily cut with ordinary scissors without touching the cable, which then simply turns in the desired direction at any angle.

This method makes it easier to lay out the mat in an even layer in any room. In this case, it is easier to avoid overlapping individual cable sections with each other.

Film infrared floor heating

This technology is based on the use of heat emanating from thin heating elements through which an electric current is passed.

They are made with carbon strips located between two layers of a special film. Carbon (carbon fiber) is applied using nano-spraying methods with a layer thickness measured to one micron, and is insulated on both sides with a thin but very durable polymer film with high dielectric properties.

Carbon strips are connected to copper bars, which serve as conductors for supplying voltage.

Heating carried out by infrared rays from a heated floor is, by its nature, no different from natural heating by the light of the sun. Only the floor temperature is brought to 30÷35 degrees and directed from bottom to top.

Fluid-electric designs

Electric-water heated floor developments combine electrical heating of filaments with subsequent heat transfer through a coolant - water, located in a sealed tube made of plastic with high-strength mechanical characteristics.

The entire structure is assembled in the form of a seven-core cable using chromium-nickel alloys for filaments and a sheath coated with silicone and Teflon.

The silicone layer can withstand temperatures up to 280 degrees, having high dielectric properties. The Teflon coating prevents water penetration and is highly resistant to chemicals.

The liquid filling the cable successfully withstands even twenty-degree frost without freezing, but it quickly boils when electric current passes through the threads. During its boiling, heat is transferred faster to the environment. This provides .

The transfer of heat from the heating filaments into the boiling liquid and further into the warm floor environment protects the chromium-nickel alloy from overheating, protects it from burnout, and allows it to be used for a long time.

Since when a liquid boils inside a sealed shell, it creates high blood pressure gases, then to reduce it it is used special system absorption, reducing this impact and ensuring safe operation.

Tubular cable housings made of structured mesh polyethylene have:

resistance to cooling at low temperatures;

resistance to cracking;

high impact strength.

Design and composition of electric heated floors

The room that will be heated must be protected from constant drafts and heat leaks. For this purpose, all heating elements are mounted only on a layer of thermal insulation, which prevents energy loss from heating the floor slabs and escaping into the atmosphere.

A heating cable, made according to one of the listed schemes, is located on a heat-insulating layer and secured with mounting tape. Inside its snake, at the same distance between the turns, a corrugated tube is laid out with a temperature sensor placed in it, which will control the degree of heating of the floor.

This tube is sealed at one end. It is designed not only to accommodate the temperature sensor, but also to allow it to be conveniently replaced in case of breakdown.

All laid heating elements together with this tube will be filled with cement-sand screed. Its thickness depends on the cable design and must be carefully applied in an even layer. Voids are not allowed. Ceramic tiles are glued on top or another floor covering is installed.

At a convenient height for working on the wall of the room there is located, which controls the operation of the heated floor automatically. When connecting it, you will need to connect wires from:

power cable; electrical panel;

heating elements;

temperature sensor.

For execution hidden wiring it is necessary to provide cable channels or carry out gating of walls.

Connection diagrams for underfloor heating elements to electrical wiring

It is important to remember that the installation and assembly of the circuit must be completed by checking the operation of electrical equipment under voltage before filling the heating cables with a fixing solution. At this stage it is easier to troubleshoot any problems that have arisen.

Restarting the work will be carried out after the solution has completely hardened in a month. Previously, the screed will not harden and the cable will be damaged.

An example of connecting a heated floor, which includes two sets of heating cables and one thermostat with a sensor, is shown in the picture.

IN electrical panel from circuit breaker RCD is connected. It protects the entire circuit from possible leakage currents through electrical equipment housings that are connected.

The temperature sensor is connected by cable to a temperature regulator, which is connected to the power circuits via an RCD and, at the same time, controls the operation of the contactor through a separate cable. Contactor output circuits using distribution box connected to heating elements.

Including a contactor in the circuit allows you to simultaneously control the operation of several heating sections and reduce the load on the electrical circuits of the thermostat.

The simplest thermostats, mechanical or electric type allow you to set only the temperature limits for regulating the heating of the floor covering.

More sophisticated electronically controlled models have the ability to use a time-based weekly schedule to operate the heaters at user-defined times of day. Due to this, electricity consumption for floor heating is reduced when the owners are absent from the apartment.

Choosing a floor covering

a natural stone;

ceramic tiles;

porcelain stoneware

They best transfer heat into the room through themselves. The use of wood, parquet, laminate and other materials is also allowed. However, they have poorer heat transfer and can reduce the heating effect.

Coating deformation

Heating elements create temperature changes at which the floor covering slightly changes its size. To avoid its deformation, small gaps should be created for the laminate elements. You cannot press it tightly against the walls and attach it to the baseboard. When exposed to heat, the floor should expand freely and remain completely level.

Floor insulation

The choice of material for it allows for rational use of electricity, since it affects heat losses. In order to create comfortable heating, foil insulation consisting of foamed polymer materials with a layer thickness from 3 to 10 mm. Its use saves electricity from 10 to 20%.

The use of hard grades of expanded polystyrene with a layer thickness of 3 cm and foil coated with polymer can reduce losses by up to 30%.

Electricity consumption

The operating efficiency of any electrical structure is determined by the amount of electricity spent on it. In order for the underfloor heating system to satisfy your needs, define tasks for it, which can be:

constant heating of the room;

floor heating only in the morning and evening, when the owner is at home;

maintaining a stabilized temperature during the daytime for a comfortable stay on the floor for small children;

any other conditions.

Determine the area of the room and calculate the approximate energy costs for 1 hour of operation or a day, a week, a month. To do this, you can use average operating data of a resistive heating cable to create comfortable conditions:

in dry rooms 120 W per 1 m2 is consumed;

in wet rooms - 140 W per 1m2.

For example, a room 2 by 3 meters will consume 2x3x0.12=0.72 kW in one hour of operation of the heated floor. With continuous operation for 10 hours, the electricity consumption will be 7.2 kW.

The electricity consumption of film infrared floors and water-electric floors is slightly more economical.

Maintainability

Although manufacturers guarantee the operation of heated floors for a long time, it is best to foresee the occurrence of breakdowns of individual parts and eliminate them by replacing them at the project stage. To do this, the method of connecting a temperature sensor with a thermostat should prevent the opening of a dried cement-sand floor screed when the need arises for their repair.

Replacing the film on an infrared floor should not create unsolvable issues with difficult disassembly of the floor covering.

For liquid-electric modules, replacement of the liquid and heating element can be done through a special installation box. It is mounted on the finishing floor screed line. And if the integrity of the pipe is damaged, a small volume of leaked liquid will indicate the location of the damage. It is simply cut out after opening. Then apply the couplings and connect the double-sided fitting.

To increase comfort in the house, many property owners install heated floors. In our article we will get acquainted with the varieties of such structures, describe how to choose heating elements and carry out their installation.

According to experts, electric floor heating comes in two main varieties: cable and film (infrared). Next, we will briefly look at each of the described technologies. As the name suggests, the first design uses a cable as a heating element.

The wiring is laid manually at a certain pitch, and near the enclosing structures the cables are mounted at a shorter distance relative to each other, in warmer places less often (when using film, this scheme is not used).

Cables can be single or double-core, although the latter variety is used more often. Experts note that the energy consumption of the heating element will depend entirely on the thermostat settings. The design of an electric heated floor can include self-regulating cables that set the heating temperature regardless of the controller settings.

A special feature of using infrared flooring is the fact that the emitted thermal energy not transmitted air masses, and to surrounding objects that absorb and give off heat. Thanks to these qualities, it is possible to achieve uniform heating of the premises. A heating element such as a film has a small thickness compared to the cable, which affects the size of the screed and the height of the premises. In addition, infrared heated floors are much more effective than their predecessor.

The film can be laid under any type of floor covering. If the heating system is mounted under tiles, then the base base must be leveled with sheets of plasterboard or plywood. This is due to the fact that the materials in question have low thermal conductivity and this will improve heat transfer. The main disadvantage of infrared flooring is the increased cost compared to its analogue.

How to choose electric heated floors

The choice of any of the described space heating systems is influenced by many factors. First you need to pay attention to the use of the structure - as the main source of heating or as auxiliary element. In the first case, it is recommended to use heated cable flooring, which is most often installed under the tiles laid in the bathroom.

When using such a system, the apartment owner or country house can save a significant amount of money on heating costs. It should be noted that the additional thickness of the screed in the described design will make the heating of the surface more uniform. The system has one small drawback: laying cables is much more difficult than installing film.

If a heated floor is used as an additional heat source, then it is recommended to use electric mats for its installation. A similar heating device is often used in small rooms that do not have central heating. According to experienced ones, infrared flooring can be installed under laminate, as well as under linoleum and other types of flooring.

The second nuance of choice is taking into account the area of the room where the heated floor will be installed. For the system to work with maximum efficiency, its area must cover at least 70% of the usable surface. It is not advisable to install heating elements in places where furniture is installed. In this regard, the layout of the rooms must be done in advance before installing the floor.

How to choose a warm floor so that it does not affect the load on the electrical network? Special attention you need to pay attention to the operating modes of the system. You can control the surface heating temperature using a thermostat. Also make sure that the electrical network of the apartment or country house can withstand the load from the heating system. For every square meter of heated floor, from 100 to 160 watts of power will be consumed. If the heated floor is used as the main heat source, the power increases to 180 watt/m2.

Cable heated floor for the bathroom

As we have already said, a “warm floor” system can be installed in virtually any room of the apartment, but it is especially necessary for the bathroom. When taking a shower in winter, a person’s feet move on cold tiles, which causes some discomfort and not only this, but also the possibility of catching a cold. Ceramic tiles are considered the main type of bathroom flooring. This material is always cold, but it can be heated to a certain temperature.

Principle of operation

Cable underfloor heating begins to work after turning on the thermostat to a certain temperature. After connecting the system to the power supply, the cable begins to warm up, which transfers heat to the screed and tiles. Electricity consumption depends on the set temperature, but to quickly warm up the surface, the regulator needs to be set closer to the maximum position, then set the required indicators. The generated heat will be repelled from the substrate and begin to warm up the screed, and then the tile. After some time, the flooring will become warm and comfortable to move around.

Preparing the base

You can lay the cable yourself, but the first stage of such work will be careful leveling of the base. The fact is that heating elements must be laid on a perfectly flat surface. In addition, the base layer is cleaned of debris and construction tools, remove all present contaminants.

If for some reason the base surface turns out to be uneven, then it is necessary to remove all the bumps with a hammer drill or other tool. Holes, cracks and chips are filled with cement-sand mortar; if necessary, the base is leveled using a screed. If the base layer consists of wooden boards or plywood sheets, all unevenness is also hidden using quick-drying mixtures.

Leveling the subfloor prevents damage to the heating system during operation. The laid cable may run into bumps or fall into holes, which will lead to interruptions in the power supply. It has been noticed that such breakdowns are quite difficult to eliminate.

Substrate

After the base layer has been leveled with a screed, you can begin laying the underlay or insulation (usually penofol is used for this purpose). This material plays a huge role in the design of heated floors; its surface reflects heat rays in the right direction, making the heating process more economical. Penofol is made in the form of a self-adhesive gasket with a foil coating up to 14 micrometers thick. Such a product has a minimum thermal conductivity coefficient, which is 0.05 W/m*C.

The material in question is supplied to hardware stores in rolls; it is laid on the surface of the base in such a way that the foil is directed towards the top (repels heat rays). The joints of the panels are taped with construction tape. When working with penophenol, make indentations from walls and corners of rooms within 5-10 centimeters.

Cabling

After laying the substrate, you can proceed to next stage works, cable installation. This element is placed on a mounting tape, which is pre-fixed to the base surface. Some manufacturers may supply the market ready-made designs, in which the heating cables are already installed in the frame with a certain pitch. Such products are supplied to hardware stores in the form of rolls.

The mounting grid can also be supplied separately from the cable. Such a structural element increases the strength of the entire system and makes it possible to lay conductors with a certain pitch in a zigzag direction. In most cases, the distance between the turns is chosen as a multiple of 20-25 centimeters.

Thermostat installation and connection

Next, you need to install a thermostat in the “warm floor” system and connect all the parts. A device such as a temperature sensor is installed in any convenient location outside the bathroom. The thermostat is usually mounted at a height of 30 centimeters from the floor surface; it is connected to the heating elements using a wire that is installed in a corrugated tube.

Now you can check the performance of the system using a tester for this purpose. If everything is fine, you can start installing the screed. The leveling layer is usually made of cement-sand mortar or quick-drying mixture. In any of the above cases, the thickness of the screed should be in the range from 3 to 5 centimeters.

To achieve a perfectly leveled base for the future floor covering, the solution is poured into the spaces between the previously placed beacons. After this, the mixture is leveled using the rule. After carrying out such work, the integrity of the system is checked with a tester and the solution is left until it reaches brand strength. This usually happens within 28 days.

Energy consumption

The heating elements are connected to the network only a month after the screed is completed, since overheating of the material can cause cracks to appear on the surface. Electricity consumption per m2 of coverage will depend on the power power cable, as well as the density of its laying. Such indicators can vary from 100 to 200 W/m2.

Price of cable heated floor

Many owners of city apartments or country real estate are interested in the price per m2 of heated floors. IN in this case It is necessary to take into account the cost of materials and labor costs of workers. Thus, the price of an average quality thermostat ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 rubles, the cost of mats with cables laid depends on the area:

2m2 – 2800 rubles;
3m2 – 5300 rubles;
4m2 – 8000 rubles.

The cost of the specialist’s services should be added to the specified data. Professional builders They will charge about 450 rubles for their work for each square meter of installed heated floor.

Infrared heated floor

This type of heating has a beneficial effect on human health, and this is confirmed by numerous user reviews. The fact is that the heated surface emits heat in the infrared range and this is better perceived by the body. The room temperature may be several degrees lower than standard values, but this is not felt at all, which ultimately leads to energy savings. Another advantage of infrared flooring is ionizing radiation, which leads to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Despite the huge number of advantages, the heating system in question has one significant drawback - its high cost.

Device

Infrared heating can be done using a special film or rod mats. These two elements are made in the form of rolls with conductive bars made of copper or silver. The stress is transferred through these tires to areas with sealed carbon fiber, which helps to release a certain amount of heat. The strips are divided into several sections, which have dividing lines. Using these designations, it is possible to cut the element into smaller parts, which is very convenient during installation. The width of standard products, depending on the manufacturer and brand, ranges from 50 to 100 centimeters, the thickness of the film varies from 0.2 to 2 millimeters.

We have figured out the installation of a heated floor, now we will familiarize ourselves with the procedure for its installation. In this case, the film can be laid on a pre-leveled base without a backing. If the heating system is used in the bathroom, sheets of plasterboard or plywood are laid for protection. Installing the film will not be particularly difficult; even an inexperienced builder can handle the installation of a heated floor, and make the floor in small room possible in one working day.

At the initial stage of work, it is necessary to draw up a scale plan of the premises, highlighting the areas where the furniture will be located. The next important nuance of installing the coating is the choice of location for fixing the thermostat. Wiring is connected to this element of the system, a temperature sensor is connected and film heater. Next, the rolls are placed on the base surface in such a way that they cover the usable floor area as much as possible and do not intersect with each other.

Electricity consumption

One of the important nuances of choosing a film floor is the energy consumption per m2 usable area. In this case, there are two options for choosing heating systems. If the coating is used for additional heating of the room, then a film with a power of 150 W/m2 will be quite sufficient. In the case when the system is used as the main source of heating, more powerful models are needed, at least 250 W/m2. The maximum power ratings of a modern heated floor are 400W/m2.

Another factor in selecting power is the type of coating used. This is especially true for the floor in the bathroom or kitchen if it is made of ceramic tiles. Ceramics absorb heat well, so if the surface is not warmed up enough, the surface will feel cold to a person’s feet.

Film laying

At the initial stage of installation, it is necessary to lay expanded polystyrene slabs about 1 centimeter thick along the perimeter to a height of up to 10 centimeters (the insulation will prevent the release of heat through the enclosing structures). The insulation is also laid on the base surface; to increase the efficiency of the system, foil is laid on the coating. This material will direct heat flow upward, which will ultimately reduce financial expenses for heating.

Next, according to the diagram drawn, the film is laid on the surface, while the rolls should be guided with a copper strip downwards. The top part should have a matte rather than shiny finish on the product. When laying each of the structural elements, make sure that air does not accumulate between them. If necessary, the rolls are cut according to the marked marking lines (indicated by a dotted line and a scissors symbol).

According to experts, it is best to install the mats if they are turned with the part with the contacts towards the location of the thermostat. When laying, place the strips so that there is a gap of several centimeters between them. If linoleum is used as a floor covering, the distance between adjacent mats is chosen as a multiple of 1 centimeter. Please note that tires must not touch or overlap each other under any circumstances.

When all the elements are laid on the surface, you can begin connecting the heated floor. This procedure is usually carried out using the cable that comes with the heating system. A contact is installed on a copper or silver conductive strip in such a way that one part of it is on top, the other is below the core. We install contacts on all tires and crimp them with pliers. On the side of the film opposite to the location of the thermostat, the bus is covered with insulation. After this, all the strips are fastened together and the surface of the insulation using tape.

Installation of a thermostat

Next we move on to installing the thermostat. They make a groove in the wall and run conductors from the film covering. Under one of the strips, a recess is made in the insulation material for the sensor. After fixing to the surface, this device is connected to a thermostat. The conductors are stripped and fastened to the contact part, the exposed areas are carefully insulated.

Connecting the entire system

Connecting the electrical supply to the thermostat must be done by a qualified specialist. After applying current, the system is tested; for this, the temperature on the device is set to within 30 degrees. After some time, check the fastening of the contact part and the quality of heating of the strips. If no problems are found, you can begin laying the topcoat.

Ceramic tiles can be laid on a small layer of adhesive (within 1-2 centimeters), but a plastic film must be laid under the parquet or laminate flooring, which will be used as waterproofing. If the coating is soft, then the surface of the subfloor can be leveled using sheets of plywood or OSB boards. These elements are attached to the surface using dowels or screws. When fixing such parts, it is necessary to ensure that the fasteners do not fall into conductive strips. After this, installation begins soft covering, carpet or linoleum.

Price

As we have already said, infrared heated floors have a significant cost, let's look at this issue in more detail. So, the price of a thermostat, depending on the model, will range from 3,000 to 4,000 rubles. The film itself has the following cost: 2m2 - 3800 rubles, 3m2 - 5500 rubles, 5m2 - 9000 rubles. The cost of a master’s services (if the work is carried out by a highly qualified specialist) is from 500 rubles/m2.

A special feature of using infrared flooring is the fact that the released thermal energy is transferred not to air masses, but to surrounding objects that absorb and release heat. Thanks to these qualities, it is possible to achieve uniform heating of the premises. A heating element such as a film has a small thickness compared to the cable, which affects the size of the screed and the height of the premises. In addition, infrared heated floors are much more effective than their predecessor.

How to choose electric heated floors

The choice of any of the described space heating systems is influenced by many factors. First, you need to pay attention to the use of the structure - as the main source of heating or as an auxiliary element. In the first case, it is recommended to use heated cable flooring, which is most often installed under the tiles laid in the bathroom.

When using such a system, the owner of an apartment or country house can save a significant amount of money on heating. It should be noted that the additional thickness of the screed in the described design will make the heating of the surface more uniform. The system has one small drawback: laying cables is much more difficult than installing film.

If a heated floor is used as an additional heat source, then it is recommended to use electric mats for its installation. This type of heating device is often used in small rooms that do not have central heating. According to experienced ones, infrared flooring can be installed under laminate, as well as under linoleum and other types of flooring.

The second nuance of choice is taking into account the area of the room where the heated floor will be installed. For the system to work with maximum efficiency, its area must cover at least 70% of the useful surface. It is not advisable to install heating elements in places where furniture is installed. In this regard, the layout of the rooms must be done in advance before installing the floor.

How to choose a warm floor so that it does not affect the load on the electrical network? Particular attention should be paid to the operating modes of the system. You can control the surface heating temperature using a thermostat. Also make sure that the electrical network of the apartment or country house can withstand the load from the heating system. For every square meter of heated floor, from 100 to 160 watts of power will be consumed. If the heated floor is used as the main heat source, the power increases to 180 watt/m2.

Cable heated floor for the bathroom

Principle of operation

Preparing the base

Substrate

Cabling

After laying the substrate, you can proceed to the next stage of work, cable installation. This element is placed on a mounting tape, which is pre-fixed to the base surface. Some manufacturers can supply the market with ready-made structures in which the heating cables are already installed in the frame with a certain pitch. Such products are supplied to hardware stores in the form of rolls.

Thermostat installation and connection

Next, you need to install a thermostat in the “warm floor” system and connect all the parts. A device such as a temperature sensor is installed in any convenient place outside the bathroom. The thermostat is usually mounted at a height of 30 centimeters from the floor surface; it is connected to the heating elements using a wire that is installed in a corrugated tube.

Now you can check the performance of the system using a tester for this purpose. If everything is fine, you can start installing the screed. The leveling layer is usually made of cement-sand mortar or a quick-drying mixture. In any of the above cases, the thickness of the screed should be in the range from 3 to 5 centimeters.

Energy consumption

The heating elements are connected to the network only a month after the screed is completed, since overheating of the material can cause cracks to appear on the surface. Electricity consumption per m2 of coverage will depend on the power of the power cable, as well as the density of its installation. Such indicators can vary from 100 to 200 W/m2.

Price of cable heated floor

Many owners of city apartments or country real estate are interested in the price per m2 of heated floors. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the cost of materials and labor costs of workers. Thus, the price of an average quality thermostat ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 rubles, the cost of mats with cables laid depends on the area:

2m2 – 2800 rubles;
3m2 – 5300 rubles;
4m2 – 8000 rubles.

The cost of the specialist’s services should be added to the specified data. Professional builders will charge approximately 450 rubles for their work for each square meter of installed heated floor.

Infrared heated floor

Device

We have figured out the installation of a heated floor, now we will familiarize ourselves with the procedure for its installation. In this case, the film can be laid on a pre-leveled base without a backing. If the heating system is used in the bathroom, sheets of plasterboard or plywood are laid for protection. Installing the film will not be particularly difficult; even an inexperienced builder can handle the installation of a heated floor, and you can make a floor in a small room in one working day.

At the initial stage of work, it is necessary to draw up a scale plan of the premises, highlighting the areas where the furniture will be located. The next important nuance of installing the coating is the choice of location for fixing the thermostat. Wiring is connected to this element of the system, a temperature sensor and a film heater are connected. Next, the rolls are placed on the base surface in such a way that they cover the usable floor area as much as possible and do not intersect with each other.

Electricity consumption

One of the important nuances of choosing a film floor is the energy consumption per m2 of usable area. In this case, there are two options for choosing heating systems. If the coating is used for additional heating of the room, then a film with a power of 150 W/m2 will be quite sufficient. In the case when the system is used as the main source of heating, more powerful models are needed, at least 250 W/m2. The maximum power ratings of a modern heated floor are 400W/m2.

Film laying

At the initial stage of installation, it is necessary to lay expanded polystyrene slabs about 1 centimeter thick along the perimeter to a height of up to 10 centimeters (the insulation will prevent the release of heat through the enclosing structures). The insulation is also laid on the base surface; to increase the efficiency of the system, foil is laid on the coating. This material will direct heat flows upward, which will ultimately reduce financial costs for heating.

When all the elements are laid on the surface, you can begin connecting the heated floor. This procedure is usually carried out using a cable that comes with the heating system. A contact is installed on a copper or silver conductive strip in such a way that one part of it is on top, the other is below the core. We install contacts on all tires and crimp them with pliers. On the side of the film opposite to the location of the thermostat, the bus is covered with insulation. After this, all the strips are fastened together and the surface of the insulation using tape.

Installation of a thermostat

Connecting the entire system

Ceramic tiles can be laid on a small layer of adhesive (within 1-2 centimeters), but a plastic film must be laid under the parquet or laminate flooring, which will be used as waterproofing. If the coating is soft, then the surface of the subfloor can be leveled using sheets of plywood or OSB boards. These elements are attached to the surface using dowels or screws. When fixing such parts, it is necessary to ensure that the fasteners do not fall into conductive strips. After this, they begin laying soft coverings, carpet or linoleum.

Price

When planning renovations or alterations to a room, people decide in advance on the choice of materials for renovation. Usually it is this point that causes particular difficulties. There is so much information around... how to decide and choose the only right solution? What should an electric heated floor be, for example?

Varieties

Which type should I choose? Scientific developments And modern technologies allowed us to create several modifications of the classic electric heating surfaces. They look and function with some variations, however general principle one: power source - electricity.

All of these varieties have heating elements, with the help of which the top coating is heated. Important aspect choice - installation with or without a screed. Which option is better to choose? Let's figure it out.

Advantages over other types

What are the general advantages of electric heating over other types?

Electric cable heating has many advantages. The main task during installation is to choose the option that is suitable for you in terms of energy consumption, installation method, and budget.

How to lay and connect an electric heated floor

Flaws

What are the disadvantages of this option?

Cable floors

What is classic cable surface heating? It operates using a special heating cable covered with a screed, which releases heat when connected to the network. The cable can be single-core or two-core. When choosing, you should focus on the following parameters:

The next criterion that is worth paying attention to is the power of the system. additional heating, it ranges from 150 to 110 W/sq. meter. This indicator directly depends on the square footage of the room in which the heating is installed. The higher the power, the more it heats the surface and, accordingly, the more electricity is wasted.

Another important point: cable pitch width when installing the system. The cable must be laid in such a way that when the surface warms up, there are no large cold areas left. They will not only create discomfort, but can also damage and warp the floor covering.

An obligatory part of cable electric heating is a thermostat, which will allow you not only to control the temperature, but also to heat the surface gradually, which is very important if laminate is used as a floor covering. This option goes well with tile or tile flooring in bathrooms and kitchens.

Mats

Electric mats are a modified heated floor that can be used to facilitate the installation process. They are a dense mesh base on which the cable is attached. In this case, there is no need to calculate the step width. It is enough to roll out the mats in the desired direction, fix the mesh and carry out minimal screed. What's good about this option?

Modern companies specializing in such equipment produce a large number of varieties of electrical mats with various additional characteristics: with single- and two-core cables, in the form of a sandwich with a thermally insulating substrate that does not require screeding, and so on.

Installation of Electrolux heated floors

Significant disadvantages can be called high cost and energy consumption of such heating. Which option is better to choose depends on your financial capabilities.

Infrared rod floor

Another type of electrical cable mats is infrared rod or carbon. Rod heated flooring consists of carbon rods connected by a polymer conductor. They are sources of infrared radiation. The power of such a mat is from 130 to 160 W per square meter. meter, advantages in comparison with electric mats:

When installing rod mats, a layer of screed, or rather an adhesive base, only 3 cm thick is required.
Not a source of electromagnetic radiation.
The system regulates the heat generated: when the surface overheats, the carbon rods stop generating it in a limited area. This prevents the system from overheating under furniture or household appliances.

The disadvantages include the high cost of carbon mats, as well as the rapid failure of carbon rods: according to user observations, there is a high probability of the rods burning at the junction with the conductor.

Which option is better: carbon rod or electric cable? In 70% of cases, craftsmen note the low reliability of carbon heating.

Film floor

Infrared film heated floors are presented with a unique film coating. This is a thin mat with heating elements located inside. It has a large number of advantages compared to cable predecessors:

The disadvantages include: