Modern space heating systems using underfloor heating are becoming increasingly popular in post-Soviet countries. Until recently, this innovative heating system was widely used in Europe, but has now become available in our country.
How to choose a heated floor? Now on sale you can find high-quality heated floors from Russian manufacturers at affordable prices, who regularly improve their designs to please customers.
Which heated floor to choose - water or electric!
Warm floors vary depending on the heating system used. Today, two types of floors are produced and installed - water and electric.
However, they differ from other heating systems in one common feature - the presence of a low-temperature heater. It allows you to evenly distribute heat over the entire surface of the coating, warming it up to 30 degrees Celsius.
This home heating system is a multi-layer assembly (prefabricated) structure. A concrete base is poured into the first layer, then waterproofing and thermal insulation are laid. A cement or concrete screed is installed on top of the thermal insulation layer, which includes heating elements.
The heating means can be an electric cable, which converts current into heat, or copper water pipes through which water circulates.
It is important to note that installing water-based underfloor heating will require complex installation work, the cost of which is quite high. However, the advantage of such a system is its low energy consumption during operation. Therefore, for a country house where the heating area is large, water floors will be the most beneficial.
But do not forget that maintaining such a system is quite an expensive undertaking. Because if there is a leak, it is difficult to detect quickly.
Which heated floor is better
When asked which underfloor heating is better, undoubtedly, greater preference is given to heating systems with electric cables, which have already proven themselves to be practical and safe heating systems for modern homes around the world.
They are convenient and easy to install. Installing electric floors is much cheaper. They can be laid in any part of the house and under any floor covering (tile, wood, laminate, linoleum).
Thanks to economical energy consumption, heated floors with cables are attracting more and more buyers. With this type of heating, the entire space is heated evenly and continuously.
Since the heated air flow spreads from bottom to top and covers the entire room, regardless of the location of the furniture. As you know, when heating using a conventional radiator or convector, hot air does not enter closed areas.
In addition, heated floors provide a feeling of constant warmth and comfort, even when the room temperature drops. There will never be drafts or air vortices with microdust particles in the room.
First of all, this is due to the fact that the heated floor has a low operating temperature. While the surface of the radiator battery heats up to 70 degrees Celsius.
Temperature and air sensors allow you to maintain the required comfortable temperature in the room at different heights. At head level, the temperature is kept in the range of 18-24 degrees Celsius, at floor level – from 24 to 27. This smart organization of heating with vertical heat distribution also reduces electricity consumption.
The use of heated floors for heating is justified not only economically, but also aesthetically. Since standard and familiar wall heaters (radiator batteries) take up a lot of space and often simply spoil the appearance of the interior.
It should also be noted that an electrically heated floor operates in 2 modes: comfortable floor and full heating. At the same time, it is possible to organize heating not the entire surface, but only the necessary part of it. The standard power consumption of a heated floor per 1m2 is 90-150W. But it depends on various factors, so it is almost impossible to calculate the optimal power for a room.
Now, having a general understanding of the radiator heating field, it becomes obvious that in modern life such a heating system is simply a necessary element of home improvement.
With proper use, it will serve its owner for many years, creating a cozy, comfortable atmosphere in the house. It is worth remembering that when choosing home heating, you need to take care not only of warmth, but also of the health of your loved ones.
Floor heating systems are used as a leading or additional heating method; from curiosities, they have turned into proven and reliable options, which are increasingly chosen by owners of city apartments. Before installing electric heated floors, you need to find out how to choose the best option from the store consultants or by reading reviews on the forums.
Basically, heated floors come in two varieties - water and electric. It is difficult to definitively answer the question: water or electric underfloor heating - which is better, since each of the systems has advantages and disadvantages.
Water heated floor
Water heating, consisting of a circuit of pipes in the floor screed, is connected to the heating. It is considered a fairly effective and inexpensive way to heat a room. However, it requires labor-intensive work, debugging, the purchase of expensive equipment, and permission from management companies. Therefore, when choosing water or electric heated floors, many people prefer electric systems. They are easier to install and less prone to breakdowns.
Electric heated floor
Among electrical systems you can choose heating cable, mats, film. The choice will depend on the price per m2 of warm electric floor, electricity and installation costs. Having considered the basic principles of operation and recommendations of manufacturers, you can settle on the optimal system.
Heating cable
Convenient and easy to install and operate floor heating method. A heating cable is similar in appearance to an electric one, but the essence of its work is to convert electricity into heat. Cables can be single- or double-core, which affects the way they are connected. When considering the prices of heated electric floors, you need to take into account the installation costs - they install the cable in a screed over 2cm thick.
This type of heating cannot be combined with linoleum, parquet, or carpet, but such warm electric floors under tiles or porcelain stoneware are perfect. It is possible to save on electricity due to the fact that heat is retained in a thick screed, which means you can maintain the desired temperature level from time to time, rather than keeping the system constantly on.
Heating mats
The mats come in convection and infrared mats. Rolled convection mats are a type of heating cable, which is described above. As for infrared mats, the working element in them are rods arranged in parallel. The ends of the rods are connected to the electrical wiring. If one of the rods fails, the warm electric floor will not heat only in this area, and the rest of the system will continue to operate. Infrared mats can be installed regardless of the location of furniture in the interior, unlike other systems.
Film floor
When choosing which electric heated floor is better, you should pay attention to the infrared film, the thickness of which is 0.5 mm. The peculiarity of the system is that it must be protected from moisture, so “wet” laying of the coating on top is excluded. This type of warm electric floor under linoleum, parquet and laminate is most often chosen. Heating is carried out only when turned on, the rest of the time the room is cooled. This and other systems are equipped with thermostats and sensors to maintain optimal temperature.
When the question arises of how to choose warm electric floors, the cost should also take into account the costs of additional devices, installation, and flooring.
Which gender to choose
Before choosing warm electric floors for laminate or other covering, you need to read reviews and recommendations from professionals. For example, a film is chosen for linoleum, since a thick cable will deform the surface. The next point is the power of the heater. The price of 1 m2 of warm electric floor and the cost of electricity during operation will depend on this. It is important to indicate in what role it will play - if in the form of the main heat source, then you need to buy a warm electric floor that is powerful enough.
Next, add up the cost of the thermostat and the price per square meter for a warm electric floor. Cheaper thermostats are represented by mechanical models that are not very functional. It is better to choose a thermostat or programmer. The latest device is the most modern, allowing you to set the necessary system operating parameters, reducing energy consumption. You can program the operation of the heated floor for a day or each day of the week separately, as is more convenient.
Features of laying heated floors
Most often, electric heated floors are installed under tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, and balcony. Often a warm electric floor is installed in a bathhouse. There are several installation options, each different in its own way.
The first option is installation in a screed, on top of which a floor covering is provided. This method is chosen for cable heating, laying waterproofing and insulation under it so that the heat does not escape.
The second option is installation on top of the screed, with porcelain tiles laid on top. Suitable for apartments on the second floor and above. It is important that the tile itself and the adhesive are protected from heating elements.
The third option is laying under the covering. It is used only for heating film, on top of which there will be linoleum or laminate. Foamed polyethylene and foil are laid on the existing screed, and waterproofing is used if necessary.
Regardless of which warm electric floor to choose, in each case, before starting work, a diagram is drawn up and the location of the heating elements is distributed.
In addition, areas where heating is not required are identified, in particular, where there are radiators, etc. After drawing up the diagram, the amount of materials is calculated, the price per meter of warm electric floors and the equipment that will be needed to control the system are taken into account. It is better to trust installation to specialists.
Advantages of heated floors
Warm floors are valued for their ability to create the most comfortable indoor microclimate. Heat rises from bottom to top, and the air gradually cools. Near the floor the temperature will be about 25 degrees, at the height of a person’s head – about 18. Moreover, there are no drafts at all with such heating.
Another advantage is the ability to zone heating, for example, in the area of children's games or family recreation areas. Where there is no particular need for heating, even at the design stage the arrangement of heating elements is “thinned out”, rationally using electricity for its intended purpose.
The next advantage that distinguishes an electric heated floor from a water one is that there is no need to coordinate its installation with management organizations. You also won’t have to buy additional equipment, make massive screeds and subsequent repairs to the room. Therefore, when calculating how much a warm electric floor under tiles costs, we can say that the price is much lower than for a water floor.
An important advantage compared to water floors is high safety. Options with burst pipes and flooding of neighbors below are excluded. Installing an electric floor takes less time and costs less. Yes, for those who decide to buy an electric heated floor, the price of its operation will be higher than when connecting water heating, but this is the price for increased comfort and safety.
Electric floor heating is easy to control, adjustment accuracy is possible up to 1 degree. It is possible to connect it to the “smart home” system or program it for economical electricity consumption, taking into account low night electricity tariffs. Therefore, the issue of the high cost of operating such floors remains in doubt. More precisely, it has been tested - with proper calculation of the system, installation and adjustment, and the presence of thermal insulation in the apartment, energy bills do not go beyond reasonable limits.
What to buy for heated floors?
When planning to buy a heated floor, you immediately need to provide for the choice of control and monitoring devices (temperature regulator, temperature sensors). These devices can be included with mesh mats and cable systems, but can also be sold separately. Be sure to check how long the cable from the thermostat to the temperature sensor is. It is better to have a spare length; it is easier to cut off the excess, but extending pieces of cable is risky.
The thermostat is chosen depending on the budget. Simple models only allow you to adjust the temperature. More complex and expensive ones measure the temperature near the floor and in the room, allow you to adjust modes, program settings, and can be controlled remotely. Manufacturers give recommendations on choosing the power of a thermostat, which must be taken into account when purchasing.
You definitely need to take care of safety. You need a separate 220V line from the meter, and not from the home outlet. The cable cross-section should be from 1.5 mm² for a standard system or 2.5 mm² for powerful systems. A circuit breaker is installed in the electrical panel; it is better to add an RCD to it.
Considering the listed advantages and disadvantages of different types of heated floors, you can choose the one that is most suitable for your tasks and finances. It is better to get advice from specialists who will install heating equipment.
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 have made it possible to create several modifications of classic electric surface heating. They look and function with some variations, but the general principle is the same: the power source is electricity.
All of these varieties have heating elements, with the help of which the top coating is heated. An important aspect of choice is 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 additional heating system; it ranges from 150 to 110 W/sq.m. 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: the 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 not only control the temperature, but also 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 screeding. 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 double-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 include the 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:
When choosing a system for organizing the main or additional heating of their home, property owners ask themselves the question: “How to choose warm electric floors?” Simple tips and detailed reviews about manufacturers will help you find out the answer.
Underfloor heating systems are becoming increasingly popular. From an auxiliary solution for increasing the comfort of apartments, they have turned into a full-fledged source of heating for suburban real estate. Heating elements are modernized and improved every year. Manufacturers are offering customers more and more different powerful heating solutions, which are increasingly difficult to navigate when choosing. How to choose the optimal heating design for your needs?
Advantages of electric heated floors
- Versatility of design. Possibility of use in residential and non-residential buildings as both an auxiliary and a main source of heating.
- They don't spoil it. All structural elements are hidden from prying eyes and do not violate the integrity and aesthetics of the interior.
- Precision temperature control. Using a thermostat, you can regulate the room temperature with an accuracy of 0.1 degrees.
- Easy to install. Some types of systems can be installed independently, without the help of specialists.
- Durability. If the operating rules are followed, electric heating systems will last for decades.
Electric underfloor heating: a system characterized by durability
- Uniform heating. The heat on the surface is distributed evenly, which allows you to fully warm the room.
- Possibility of partial repair. If the heated floor fails, only the damaged area can be replaced without affecting the integrity of other structural elements.
- No additional equipment. Unlike a water floor, which requires the installation of a boiler, an electric floor does not require any auxiliary devices.
- Safety of use. The temperature of the heating element does not exceed comfortable and safe limits for humans, which eliminates the possibility of burns.
Types of electric floors depending on the type of heating element
Based on the type of heating element used, the following types of electric floor systems are distinguished:
- Film. The base heating element is the film layer. Installation of such a structure requires a minimum of effort - the film is laid under any modern floor covering, filling with a cement screed is not required. Suitable for use under laminate, parquet, linoleum. It is only important to observe the temperature regime recommended by the manufacturer for each finishing material. There are 2 popular options for heated floors:
- Carbon film. Lavsan film, between two layers of which a mesh of resistive material is laid. Available in ready-made rolls that can be cut into sheets of suitable size. They emit heat, mainly consisting of infrared waves. Such heaters warm the room and have a beneficial effect on the entire human body, making it healthier. The disadvantages of the system are its high cost and the likelihood of overheating in areas with installed furniture and appliances.
- Bimetallic heaters. Construction of 2 layers - aluminum alloy and copper alloy. They also emit infrared waves and are produced in the form of rolls divided into small sections. Suitable for arranging floating floors, not installed in a layer of tile mixture or cement.
- Heating mats. A heating mat is a thin cable laid like a snake on a nylon mesh. Finished products are equipped with a thermostat and are completely ready for installation. The canvas is easily cut into pieces of suitable sizes, which allows the system to be used in rooms of any shape and area. It is possible to organize a warm floor from mats at any stage of construction, even when the floor level has already been raised; the heating elements are very thin and do not require the application of a layer of cement.
Installation diagram of heated floor heating mats: even a beginner can handle installation
Installing the structure is extremely simple - even an inexperienced specialist can handle the task. The mat can be laid directly under the laminate “dry” or under the tiles, after first applying a thin layer of special glue to it. The disadvantages of the systems include their rather high cost and the possibility of using them exclusively as an additional, not the main, source of heating.
- Cable. The design is based on a single- or double-core cable. It is laid in a snake pattern on the metal base of the mounting structure and covered with a layer of cement screed. It has a lower cost compared to heating mats. The cable is laid at different pitches, ensuring maintenance of a certain temperature even in cold rooms.
Installing a system from a cable of standard thickness requires a mandatory layer of screed, at least 3 cm, so such floors take longer to warm up. The thin cable does not require a cement layer and combines the advantages of heating mats and cable systems. A professional and careful approach to installation is required.
Advice. When choosing a suitable system taking into account the cost criterion, calculate not only the price of the floor itself, but also the costs of installing it and pouring the screed (if the design requires it).
Cable underfloor heating: a solution with many advantages, but demanding installation
How to choose the right electric floor heating
To determine which floor heating system is suitable for your home, evaluate the following selection criteria:
- Energy consumption. Each type of electric floor element converts electrical energy into thermal energy with a very high efficiency, almost one to one. However, despite the efficiency declared by the manufacturer, the degree of insulation of your room should also be taken into account. In houses with thin, cold walls, heat loss will be very significant, so energy consumption increases in proportion to the increase in the number of on/off cycles. In this case, it is worth choosing the most expensive and powerful systems that will pay for themselves during operation.
- Purpose. For standard rooms in insulated buildings with screed, cable floors are suitable; for bathrooms, it is preferable to use rod heating systems. In rooms where there are no plans to pour screed, it is advisable to install film floors.
- Reliability and durability. Cable systems are recognized as the most durable; leading manufacturers guarantee up to 20 years of uninterrupted operation. Rod and film floors have not yet been sufficiently tested, as they are relatively new products on the construction market.
- Price. You should not choose the cheapest solution, because you are buying a system for many years. If it fails, you will have to compromise the integrity of the floor covering, spend money on building materials and replace failed heating elements. It is better to immediately trust trusted manufacturers. Flooring brands REHAU, DEVI, CALEO, UNIMAT and affordable solutions from Teplolux are popular.
You should choose a heated floor based on the type of room, manufacturer and energy consumption of the device
Above were the main important nuances that you should pay attention to when purchasing a heated floor. Of course, there are individual cases, however, most often, the listed characteristics are enough for the corresponding coating to serve for many years.
Advice. By purchasing systems from trusted manufacturers, you receive not only a quality guarantee, but also the opportunity to take advantage of service repairs and maintenance.
Modern underfloor heating systems can completely replace conventional risers and radiators. Over time, more and more powerful and easy-to-install structures appear, which change the usual ideas about organizing heating in an apartment and house.
Video: How to choose an electric heated floor
You can provide warmth and comfort in your home or apartment if you use electric floor heating. It is in demand due to the fact that the control system for such a floor allows you to use electricity wisely, and this makes heating profitable from an economic point of view.
Types of electric heated floors
Electric floors are divided into the following types according to which heating element is used:
- cable;
- film;
- rod-shaped
On sale you can find cable heated floors in the form of an ordinary coil, sections and mats, which are made of flexible mesh. Compared to other models, the mats use a smaller diameter.
Electric cable flooring is only convection. Film and rod types are heated using infrared radiation.
Each type has installation nuances and restrictions on use. Depending on which installation method can be implemented in the room, a warm electric floor with the appropriate characteristics is selected. Let's figure out which underfloor heating is better, film or cable, what advantages and disadvantages they have.
Cable electric floor
Quite often a cable is used for heating. For the production of heated floors, resistive and self-regulating types are used. There are single- and double-core resistive cables. The second type is most often used due to its structure. As a result of the system's operation, electromagnetic radiation occurs, and a two-core cable can make it a little weaker.
The design of self-regulating models is many times more complex than a simple heating cable. They can find areas where overheating has occurred and reduce the supply of electricity or turn off the power completely.
Key points for installing cable heated floors
Regardless of the kind of heated floor used in the apartment, electric or any other type of installation, the installation is carried out almost the same way. Let's look at the main steps using a simple heating cable as an example.
When installing any type of electric floor, the first step is to determine where the thermostat will be located. A hole for the device and a channel are cut into the wall, into which the wires necessary to connect the system and sensor will be laid.
Then the floor surface is prepared. It must be cleared of all kinds of debris and leveled. Next comes thermal insulation. Heating sections are laid out on top of it and secured with mounting tape.
Electric cable underfloor heating allows you to choose any gap between the elements. There are places in the premises where stronger floor heating is needed, for example, near a cold outer wall. In this case, the interval between sections can be made smaller than in the warmer parts of the room.
Under no circumstances should heating cables be allowed to cross during installation.
After installation is completed, the electrical wires are connected. Next, an internal sensor is installed, which should be placed in a corrugated pipe. This will help protect the device from possible damage. A tube with a sensor and a wire connected to it is laid between the heating cable. Now you need to check how the system works. If the resistance of the sections and the sensor matches the data specified in the technical data sheet, you can pour the concrete screed.
The flooring can be laid after 3 days. Only after the concrete screed has completely dried, which will take approximately 28 days, will it be possible to turn on the warm electric floor.
You can make an electric heated floor in an apartment yourself, because its installation is not very difficult. The main thing is to perform all the necessary steps correctly. But, if you are not sure that everything will be done as expected or you don’t have the necessary tools, then you can use the services of specialists in this field.
Heating mats as an option under tiles
Heating mats are a variation of the classic cable heated floor. They have the same heating element - cable. The difference is that in the production of mats, types with a smaller diameter are used. This floor is sold in finished form: the cable is attached to a flexible fiberglass mesh. Most often, such mats are chosen for ceramic tile floors.
The back side of the mesh, as a rule, is adhesive, which is very convenient, as it allows you to almost instantly fix the structure to the surface. Therefore, in this case, the electric floor is installed without using construction tape. After laying and fixing the heating mats, all necessary wiring connections and system checks should be made. Next, the structure is filled with cement mortar and ceramic tiles are laid.
Infrared electric floors
In the underfloor heating market, infrared floors with carbon heating rods are gradually gaining popularity. Its widespread use is currently limited only by its relatively high cost. This option for maintaining the optimal temperature in the apartment is the most harmless to human health. People who use rod-based floor heating most often leave positive reviews about it.
Infrared flooring can be installed even in places where there is furniture, which you can also not be afraid to move during operation. The carbon rods are self-regulating so they never overheat. The carbon mat is installed using screed or glue. It can be laid under ceramic tiles or any other floor covering.
In order for the system to work more efficiently, it is necessary to first lay a heat-reflecting film backing on the floor. Special holes should be made in the insulation, which are necessary to improve the adhesion of the glue or concrete screed to the subfloor. Electric underfloor heating must be evenly distributed over the entire area. Using the existing connecting wire, the mats, if necessary, can be cut into pieces of the required size. When all work on laying and checking the system is completed, the surface can be filled with a thin layer of cement-sand screed or glue.
Film heated electric flooring is the easiest to install. There is no need to carry out preparatory work on the surface arrangement. This type of heated floor is laid on a heat-insulating substrate, and the selected floor covering is laid on top of it.
Electric floor control
The system is connected to the electrical network and controlled using a thermostat. This device monitors floor and air temperature by reading data from internal and external sensors. The main ones are internal sensors. Their installation is carried out in a screed or under the finishing coating during the installation of a heated floor (more details: " "). Additional sensors monitor the air temperature. They are usually installed on the wall.
The simplest thermostat has the function of maintaining a set temperature in the room. When the set values are exceeded, it turns off the power supply, and when the system cools down, it turns it on. Programmable thermostats have a more complex design. They allow you to set the required algorithm for heating the room. Some models already have several standard programs that take into account day or night, weekends or weekdays.
They themselves are able to turn on the power before the owners come home and turn it off while no one is there. There are models of thermostats with remote control via the Internet or mobile phone. This function is very convenient, because if plans suddenly change, the apartment owners can change the program settings from a distance.
Warm electric floor as the main and additional heating system
In order for the room to maintain a comfortable temperature only thanks to the “warm floor” system, it must occupy a significant part of the floor surface, that is, at least 2/3 of the entire area.
If the room is filled with a lot of furniture, then the system will not be able to perform its task in full. In addition, a power density of at least 150 W is required.
It is more advisable to use such floors as an additional method of heating a room. They are also suitable for heating glazed loggias and balconies, rooms located on the ground or first floor of a building.
The most rational option would be to use electric heated floors in the bathroom. After water procedures, you no longer have to stand barefoot on cold tiles, and it will also eliminate high humidity in this room.
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