Installation of underfloor heating systems, where the heating source is water, is not an easy task. To do everything right, will require a lot of financial investment, time and, of course, patience. Also, before starting work, you need to study the principle of the system's functioning and purchase all the necessary components for a warm water floor.
The principle of operation, the device and what is needed for the installation of the heating circuit, this article will tell.
Underfloor heating base
Taking into account small variations: the presence or, conversely, the absence of an additional screed over the insulation and fasteners for pipes, the technology of installing a water floor includes a device of several layers.
Base
This is usually a floor slab. But if the installation is carried out in a private house on the ground, then the following materials, laid in several layers, act as a rough coating:
- Sand filling of any kind. As a rule, its thickness is sufficient at 5 cm.
- A ten-centimeter layer of crushed stone with a fraction of approximately 30–40 mm.
- Waterproofing, which can be arranged from a polyethylene film.
- A rough screed with a thickness of at least 10 cm, which covers all underlying layers. The solution for it is prepared from river sand and fine crushed stone of fraction from 5 to 10 mm.
Pipes
Pipe selection
For laying such systems, pipes made of various materials are used: metal-plastic products, copper or cross-linked polyethylene. Following the tolerance standards, the installation of ferrous metal pipes is prohibited, because when creating a contour, they will have to be welded together, and such connections cannot be walled up in concrete, since there is a risk of pipe breakage at such connections.
Besides, metal pipes, not treated with anti-corrosion compounds, are generally not recommended to be laid in concrete, given their ability to rust quickly.
Thermal insulation
The best insulation for a warm water floor is expanded polystyrene. The choice of material thickness depends on each specific case and is calculated during the preparation process. The material can be either rolled, containing a lavsan base or slab. If pipes containing aluminum are used, it is better to choose rolled polystyrene, as it creates less problems when it comes into contact with aluminum with a concrete base.
Underfloor heating device
The installation process takes place according to the following instructions:
Underlay for pipes
- First, the heating circuit is laid.
- Then comes the installation of insulation under the warm water floor, which can be laid directly on the pipes, because this material is immune to temperature extremes.
- This "cake" ends with a concrete screed with a small addition of a plasticizer to the composition, and reinforced with a fine mesh. The thickness of the poured layer should be no more than 10 cm, taking into account the diameter of the pipes.
Some in, experts, argue that when using a plasticizer, the thickness of the screed can be reduced to 3 cm, and reinforcement can be excluded. It is not right! The mesh must be laid when filling with any compounds. An exception is the minimum screed thickness, up to 3 cm.
Also, when using plasticizers, you must strictly follow the instructions, and, if possible, observe the proportions exactly. If you add too many of them, then as a result, the screed can "burn out" and cracks form on its surface.
Reinforcing mesh, laid on top of thermal insulation. In this case, the load from the weight of people, furniture will be evenly distributed over all turns of the pipeline, without exerting a load on individual parts of the warm floor, and the coating itself becomes more rigid. Also, there are recommendations of incompetent craftsmen for laying the mesh under the pipes. But in this case, its direct purpose disappears - the reinforcement of the screed.
Flooring
Bathroom tiles
According to the instructions, the materials used as floor coverings must be marked accordingly, about the possibility of their use with the underfloor heating system. But, as a rule, today most modern products have such tolerances.
An exception may be some types of laminate.
Electric boiler
The underfloor heating system, first of all, was developed to create a comfortable environment at the level of a person's feet, which is better for his health. In addition, such a system makes it possible to get rid of radiators and numerous pipes supplying hot coolant to them, which has the most positive effect on the interior of the premises. But without the presence of an electric hot water boiler, which can be mounted in any convenient place, even in cupboards in the kitchen, the operation of the "warm floor" system is impossible.
Boilers manufactured in accordance with modern requirements allow maintaining a comfortable temperature and adjusting it if necessary. Their reliable and durable operation is ensured by electronic system management.
Among other things, electric boilers are equipped with a convenient control panel fixed on its front. This allows continuous monitoring of the operating temperature and the power of the heating flow. In the event of malfunctions, the system itself diagnoses and displays them as information on the display.
Functional features of the electric boiler:
Wall mounted boiler
- Silent operation.
- They do not require a separate chimney.
- Minimal need for maintenance.
- Easy installation in a convenient location.
- High energy efficiency, and automatic power adjustment.
- Ease of management.
- Minimum boiler installation costs.
In addition, a distinctive feature of electric boilers from gas analogues is the absence of a fuel combustion process, and, accordingly, the risk of fire. They are very easy to connect to the boiler and can automatically work around the clock.
Coolant control system
The collector is responsible for this, ensuring the operation of several processes: circulation, direction and regulation of the coolant into the system.
The main elements for the stable operation of the system are such components as:
- Circulating pump. This equipment is designed for forced movement of the coolant with the system.
- Regulating valve. Serves to maintain the temperature of the liquid, according to the required parameters.
According to its design features, the manifold is divided into two types: with a two- and three-way valve.
Detailed device
In the first version, the hot liquid coming from the boiler is mixed with the cold one from the "return" of the circuit. Such valves are additionally equipped with a servo drive. Their use allows more efficient regulation of the heating circuit temperature. More often, the servo-valve combination is used in the “smart home” system, but can also be used in ordinary apartments.
Temperature control device
Heating agent temperature control equipment
An indispensable element of any warm floors is a thermostat that allows you to control and maintain the required temperature in the room. The principle of operation is quite simple: after the required temperature is established in the room, a shutdown signal is sent to the thermostat.
This device significantly reduces energy consumption, and allows you to more accurately adjust the underfloor heating system.
Types and purposes
There are several types of thermostats on sale, which differ in the principle of operation:
- Digital. Such products have an electronic display that displays all the information. The temperature regime is set using the buttons on its body.
- Electronic and mechanical. A budget option, the device is configured using a roller, with which you can manually lower or increase the temperature of the coolant.
- Programmable. Such thermostats allow you to more flexibly adjust the temperature schedule, depending on the time of day. For example, the system can preheat the floor at the time of the alarm. That is, when the owners should wake up.
The last option, as you might guess, is the most expensive in terms of both acquisition and maintenance.
Circulation pump
Circulation pump
This mechanism is responsible for the uninterrupted supply of water to the circuit. heating system... For installation, it is better to choose a unit capable of providing a threefold exchange of liquid volume per hour. For example, in country houses, a pump of greater power will be required to provide the entire system with a coolant. Experts advise choosing 3-speed models.
In a multi-storey building, at the beginning of the planning of the system, it is better to immediately install one pump on each separate circuit, or run all the heating pipes through the intermediate manifold of one powerful pump.
Conclusion
That is, in principle, all the components. Immediately before starting work, the choice of the method of laying the pipeline and the calculation of the necessary equipment are carried out. For this, special programs are used or you can ask for help from specialists who will also recommend what is best to use in a particular case.
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Semyon Knyazev
Warm floor is modern way heating or additional heating of your home based on innovative technologies. Despite the fact that this prospect appeared in our country relatively recently, a huge number of various options for such room insulation are already presented on the market. Basically, the choice is between two types of underfloor heating - water and electric, the differences between which are quite significant, although the purpose is the same.
How to decide on the best option?
On the positive side, it can be noted that it is economically profitable, especially if you install such a system in a country house, then all the above disadvantages are simply irrelevant. Therefore, water underfloor heating is an ideal option for the private sector.
Electric underfloor heating is a more "urban" option. The whole point of the system consists in laying a cable, mat or sections under the floor covering, which, when turned on, heat up and give off heat to the floor. This view additional heating is more advanced, since you can adjust the heating temperature at will, as well as program the system to turn on and off at certain hours. Another plus is the ease of installation and the possibility of repair. The disadvantage of such an installation is that it is expensive, as electricity bills rise sharply. That is why the installation of an electric underfloor heating in a country house is impractical. Which option to choose is a purely personal matter.
How are water heated floors arranged?
Materials for water-heated floors include:
Pipes in diameter 16-20 mm;
Multifoil;
Damper tape;
Plasticizer;
Collector group;
Thermoregulators;
Expanded polystyrene;
Pump-mixing block;
Fasteners.
Pipes can be made of various materials - polyethylene, metal-plastic or copper. Modern material - polyethylene, which is famous for its lightness and strength - is used most often. It is a guarantee of no leaks in the floor, resistance to chemicals and endurance of even increased loads due to its flexibility.
Important! When choosing materials for water heated floors, do not forget about a control system that will allow you to set the required temperature regime and reduce the amount of energy for heating water.
What materials to choose for electric underfloor heating?
There are two types of cable - single-core and two-core, of which experts advise choosing the second option, determining this choice not only by the high resistance of the material to various influences, but also because such a cable emits less infrared radiation that is harmful to human health.
Another type of warm electric floor is with the use of a film sheet laid under the floor covering. This is a very common option recently, since it does not require raising the floor level a few centimeters higher, as is the case with cable system... Choosing this option, you can significantly save on the services of professional installers, because the film heating system is quite simple to install and is subject to everyone. When choosing, pay attention to the packaging, which should bear the inscription "suitable for non-professional installation".
It is up to everyone to decide what materials to choose for a warm floor with an electric heating system, but as practice shows, it is the last two options that are more convenient in everyday life and less expensive.
What is thermal insulation?
Thermal insulation is one of the most important elements of a floor heating system. Application thermal insulation materials allows heat to be directed only upward, that is, where it needs to go, and does not allow it to go the other way, in particular, to neighbors. Thermal insulation materials for underfloor heating are available on the market in a wide range.
Until recently, foil-clad polystyrene was most often used as such a heat insulator. These are foam plates covered on both sides with a layer of foil. The main advantage of this material was that it was manufactured in large sheets, which were often used for industrial purposes (it was possible to easily "gird" large-diameter pipes). But for use for other purposes, its suitability for its intended purpose was questioned, for example, it was necessary to settle a plastic wrap from above so that the foil layer did not interfere with direct contact with the concrete masonry.
Currently, thermal insulation materials for warm floors have become improved, as a result of which their functionality has increased dramatically. For example, thermal insulation profile plates made of dense polystyrene foam, which are highly durable and resistant to mechanical damage, are now common. The lower embossed surface has a sound-absorbing property, and also perfectly smoothes all the unevenness of the floor. Very often they use expanded clay backfill, cork agglomerate, extruded polystyrene foam.
Important! You should not save money by refusing to install heat-insulating materials, this can lead not only to incomplete heating of the floor surface, but also to additional costs.
Why is a heat-reflecting material necessary for a warm floor?
When installing a floor heating system, it is very important not to forget about the use of such an important material as a heat reflector. This material significantly reduces the heat loss that can go into the primary sub-floor and also increases the efficiency of the system by 30%.
Council. It is best to use materials based on metallized lavsan film, which not only has high strength rates, but also does not collapse from interaction with concrete.
Heat-reflecting material for underfloor heating is available in various variations. Thermal reflective material with a soft interlayer is best used under floor coverings type of carpet, linoleum. The most commonly used Izolon PPE-3003, Infraflex. When laying under porcelain stoneware, parquet, laminate, ceramic tiles or liquid floors, you need to use a material with a hard layer - this is a technical plug or an isolon PPE-0502.
Important! In no case should you use a material based on aluminum foil.
When choosing a floor heating system, be guided by your own preferences, in this case, this device will bring you real pleasure and give you unique comfort when using.
The use of materials is permitted only if there is an indexed link to the page with the material.
Choosing the option of a water-heated floor as the heating of the floor surface, you must be prepared for the fact that the installation will turn out to be thorough and complex. Of all existing types underfloor heating water floors are really difficult to install, but in the end the developer gets a durable system that will make it possible to save money and achieve increased comfort.
To reduce the cost of installation and the final estimate, you can start installing heating on your own, and for this it will be necessary not only to prepare the surface, but also to purchase everything necessary materials and understand what to do with them.
Self-assembly
As always, preparatory work will be required to prepare the installation of a warm floor.
The first stage can be schematically shown as follows:
- The old screed is completely removed. Dismantling involves cleaning the surface down to the rough base.
- Leveling the floor if there are differences of more than 10 mm.
- Laying a waterproofing layer.
- A special damper tape is fixed around the perimeter.
There is still always the problem of the waste of heat down. To exclude it and direct the heat upwards, it will be necessary to insulate the base of the floor. And here there are some nuances, which depend on where the room is located, on the type of floor, as well as on the central heating system.
Thus, there are three options for insulation:
- If a heat-reflecting material for a warm floor is used in a heating system, which comes as an addition to the main one, then it can simply be polyethylene foam with a reflective foil coating.
- If the underfloor heating is mounted with a floor below, which is also heated, then sheets of expanded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene up to 500 mm in section can be used as insulation.
- And if we are talking about the first floor with an unheated basement, or a floor on the ground, then for insulation it will be necessary to use an expanded clay embankment and foam sheets with a cross section of 50-100 mm.
And after the insulation has been laid, you can put a reinforcing net. Do not forget that the mesh is necessary for normal fastening, which will cover the entire pipe system. The mesh can be welded metal or plastic.
Choice of materials
Before starting to work with your own hands on the installation of a warm floor, you need to determine which materials will go into work, what equipment and elements will be required.
Initially, you can sketch out a list of what must be in a water floor system:
- Boiler for heating water.
- The pressure pump can be built into the boiler.
- Ball valves are located at the boiler inlet.
- Floor pipes.
- Manifold for adjusting the water supply.
- Pipes for laying on the surface.
- Fitting.
As for the pipe material, you can choose pipes from either propylene or cross-linked polyethylene.
Important!
If the choice falls on polypropylene, it is recommended to purchase a pipe with fiberglass reinforcement.
The fact is that propylene has a high linear expansion at high temperatures.
Less prone to expansion polyethylene pipes, therefore, it is this material that receives most widespread in the work on the device of water heating.
When installing a heating device, a diameter of 16 to 20 mm can be used, this is the most adequate and convenient section. In addition, it is important that the pipe can withstand temperatures up to 95 degrees, and withstand a pressure of 10 bar.
As for the collector, this is the branch pipe in which all the pipe taps are located. It is here that all the underfloor heating circuits are connected to the main hot water supply line for heating, and to the chilled water intake.
The manifold uses two branches, which are mounted in a special cabinet:
- The first one distributes hot water.
- The second collects all the chilled water.
The collector system has all the necessary elements for the normal operation of the warm floor:
- Valves.
- Water flow regulators.
- Air vents.
- Emergency drainage system.
Pipes
Pipes, as materials for a warm floor, will have to be calculated for each room separately. The calculation will include both the length of the pipe and the step of its installation on the base surface.
It should be said right away that the calculations must be provided either to special programs or to design companies. There are too many nuances in the calculations, and too many parameters must be taken into account in the calculations.
Flaws, errors in calculations can lead to several problems at once in the operation of the entire system, among which:
- The appearance of a thermal zebra is the name of the floor on which cold and warm areas alternate.
- Insufficient water circulation in the system.
- Uneven heating of the floor surface.
- Heat leakage.
Nevertheless, you can cite the main parameters that affect the calculations:
- Room area.
- The material from which the walls are built.
- The presence of thermal insulation on walls and ceilings.
- Section of a pipe in a water heating system and materials for underfloor heating (polyethylene or propylene)
- Boiler power.
Pipe distribution
Naturally, for the correct distribution of pipes, it will be necessary to choose the optimal route. There are some nuances here. It doesn't matter what material the pipe is from, the simple principle of the loss of water temperature still works. That is, water passing through all pipes gradually loses its temperature.
Therefore, when distributing a pipe, there are certain rules for the circuit:
- The contour starts from the coldest wall, usually the outer load-bearing wall.
- For gradual heating of the floor, the "snake" principle is used in laying the circuit.
- If the room is not connected to an external wall (bathroom, wardrobe, lavatory), a spiral installation is used from the edge of the room to the center.
The step at which it occurs is most often chosen in the range from 10 to 30 cm.And a fairly simple formula works here:
- in places with large heat loss the step is 15 cm;
- in an ordinary room, 30 cm is enough.
In addition to calculating the length of the pipe, it would be good to know hydraulic resistance... The pressure in the pipe increases with the length of the pipe and with the increase in the number of turns. Thus, if several circuits are connected to one collector, the connection instructions suggest driving the resistance to one indicator in each individual circuit.
Advice!
To make it easier to bring to one value, you can divide large contours (and this is the length of pipes for 100 meters) into several parts.
And yet, for each circuit, a solid pipe is needed, in a screed in a warm floor, the use of couplings and joints is unacceptable!
Collector
The collector is usually. Installed in a special collector box and often hidden in the wall. The thickness of the box is about 12 cm, but the dimensions are always selected taking into account the size of the entire collector group, and these are pressure sensors, and air vents, and drains.
Plus, there should be a distance under the group, which will be enough to bend all pipes connected to the manifold. You can even say that the installation of the entire system itself begins with the placement of the collector box.
The collector is placed taking into account the fact that the materials of water heated floors, polypropylene and polyethylene pipes should be located at almost the same distance from the collector group. That is, if the circuits go to two rooms, then the collector is also located in the middle between the rooms.
Advice!
Everyone is trying to "hide" the cabinet in the wall, the main thing is not to do this with load-bearing wall, such "sinking" of the collector can damage the integrity and strength of the wall.
Pipe laying and screed filling
The installation work consists of several points, which can be displayed as follows:
- For installation, special fixing profiles are used.
- The profiles are fixed in the floor with dowels or screws.
- The profile has a slot into which the pipe is inserted during installation.
It is important not to tighten the pipe, remember that it will expand when heated.
- The pipe is laid neatly, unwinding the coil as the entire system is laid.
- If the pipe passes through the wall, it must be "put" in the insulation.
- The contour is connected to the manifold with a fitting or a Eurocone system.
Important!
The price of the pipe should not be the main selection criterion, the high cost is not a guarantee of a successful underfloor heating, it all depends on the installation.
Conclusion
The main materials used in the device are sold in a ready-made package. Pipes, fittings, heat insulator and so on according to the list. However, the main role in perfectly functioning floor heating is assigned to correct installation... Therefore, the video in this article will tell you in detail how to achieve excellent results in floor insulation on your own. "Width \u003d" 640 "height \u003d" 360 "frameborder \u003d" 0 "allowfullscreen \u003d" allowfullscreen "\u003e
For pouring, you can use either a self-leveling mixture or a simple cement screed. In terms of ease of operation cement strainer more preferred option. On the other hand, if you work with assistants, then pouring the floor will ensure the speed of work, quick drying, a perfectly flat surface.
Conclusion
The main materials used in the device are sold in a ready-made package. Pipes, fittings, heat insulator and so on on the list. However, proper installation plays a key role in a perfectly functioning floor heating. Therefore, the video in this article will tell you in detail how to independently achieve excellent results in floor insulation.
