Electric heating with warm floors – choice and installation

Selecting the ideal heating solution is essential for maintaining a warm and inviting home. Warm flooring combined with electric heating is becoming more and more of a popular and cost-effective choice for homeowners. In contrast to conventional heating systems that depend on forced air or radiators, electric warm floors provide a more uniform heat distribution across the space, fostering a cozy atmosphere from floor to ceiling.

When selecting electric heating with heated floors, there are a number of things to take into account, including the area’s dimensions, energy efficiency, and installation needs. Electric warm floors, in contrast to certain heating systems that call for large ductwork or heavy radiators, are installed beneath the flooring surface, saving up important space and offering a seamless heating solution.

The energy efficiency of electric warm floors is one of their main benefits. Electric warm floors can help cut down on energy use and heating costs by heating the floor directly as opposed to heating the air. Furthermore, a lot of electric warm floor systems include programmable thermostats, which let homeowners adjust the heating schedule and use the least amount of energy.

Careful preparation and experience are needed for the installation of electric heated floors. To ensure proper function and safety, it is imperative to work with professionals who have installed these systems before. A qualified installer can help homeowners with every stage of the process, from choosing the best kind of electric heating system to preparing the subfloor and installing the heating elements.

All things considered, warm flooring combined with electric heating provides a contemporary and effective way to keep houses toasty and cozy all year round. For homeowners looking to upgrade their heating systems, electric warm floors are an appealing option because of their energy efficiency, space-saving design, and luxurious warmth.

Types of electrical TP

Electric heaters for heating floors come in four different varieties that you can purchase from construction supermarkets and specialized online stores:

• resistive and self -regulating cables;
• cable mats;
• thin polymer film;
• Carbonate rods.

Citation. Goods are offered for sale as a completed set of fixed power. A room thermal regulator, which is a sensor with a corrugated tube, is purchased in order to regulate the temperature automatically. A power cable with copper cores is also required to connect a heating circuit to the main power supply.

Every type of heater has a different set of features and installation techniques, and each is utilized under specific circumstances. Thus, weigh each option independently.

Features of heating cables

The following materials make up the ETP’s flexible conductor (the device is depicted in the diagram below):

• heating core (occurs 1 or 2);
• internal insulation made of heat -resistant plastic type FEP, TXLP or PVC;
• screen layer of aluminum foil or copper braid;
• external shell of PVC polyvinyl chloride;
• Additional Grounding City.

Note: Any electric conductor operating at a voltage releases electromagnetic radiation, which is blocked by the screen.

The heating section of a single-core cable terminates in two cold ends, or annexing couplings. Because the two-core type is connected on one hand, installation work is significantly reduced.

Due to its inherent resistance, which is chosen from the specific heat transfer of 100–150 W/m² of floor area, the typical resistive section warms up. In contrast, a self-regulating cable modifies resistance in response to temperature by covering a semiconductor matrix that lies between the two livestocks. These products are reasonably priced, starting at $10 at a meter linear.

The following characteristics of the cable heating sections:

1. The conductor is afraid of overheating and requires heat removal over the entire surface, the critical temperature threshold is 90 ° C. Exception – self -regulatory cable that can reduce heat transfer with an increase in temperature.
2. The finished circuit cannot be shortened and the end couplings will not be repaired – the resistance of the section will fall, the temperature of the cores will increase. How much internal isolation will last with extreme mode – it is not known.
3. Heat transfer with 1 m² can be adjusted by reducing or increasing the pitch of the layout of the conductors. But you need to understand that the heated area will also change, the optimal power is 100 W/m².
4. Most cables are designed for “wet” installation-pouring a cement-sand mortar with a height of 3 cm above the outer shell (minimum).
5. The heating section cannot be laid on top of thermal insulation, like water TP pipes. The material will reflect the heat stream, the cable will begin to overheat. Therefore, the base is made concrete.

Note: Every rule has an exception. Some manufacturers, like DEVI, produce cable sections for laminate or parquet flooring that can be installed "dry."

The shapes of heating cables function flawlessly in damp spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and showers. If there was never a high degree of protection regulator in the apartment, all you would need to do is set the RCDs (30 mA).

The following is a list of reputable companies that make high-quality floor electric heaters:

• DEVI (production of Denmark – Poland);
• Nexans (France);
• Shtoller (Germany);
• Teplolux (Russia);
• Profitherm (Poland).

On the Heating-Systems website, you can become thoroughly acquainted with electrical heating systems.

Cable mats

These heaters use the same cable, which is fastened to a sturdy, 0.5-meter-wide cavron grid. There are several positive variations:

• Smaller diameter compared to resistive sections – 3 … 3.5 mm;
• fixed distance between loops;
• enhanced external insulation.

Mats are simpler to lay by hand than with a traditional cable. There is no need to apply a screed on top because the heating components are integrated right under the tile. In contrast, heat transfer from heaters is worsened by a thick monolithic layer.

A crucial aspect. A fan can be used to cut the grid between the wire’s hinges in order to lay out an electric cable, or it can be turned 180 degrees to roll a roll in a different direction.

Drawbacks of using cable mats

• The cost of electric heaters is higher in comparison with the classic sections;
• You can not configure the layout step for your needs;
• With the help of mats, it will not be possible to organize full heating – there will not be enough specific power per 1 m².

Film warm floors

This type of TP is created using super-tank (0.4 mm) polymer film as a base. After applying hearing carbon pathways to the surface, a protective layer tears them from above. Features of film ETP:

• heat transfer from 1 meter of square – 130 … 230 watts, depending on the type of product;
• Thermal width is 50, 80, 100 cm;
• The melting temperature of the base is 110 … 130 degrees;
• The styling method is “dry” installation directly for the flooring – linoleum, laminate, carpet, parquet board.

Since the carbon pathways release radiant heat, the manufacturers refer to the film as infrared. Another concern is the physical impossibility of infrared radiation passing through the carpet into the room. However, our goal is to unbiasedly present the advantages and disadvantages of the heaters, not to dispel myths.

Benefits of a carbon sheet:

1. The material is thin, very compact.
2. TP is mounted easier than cables, put and connect the film on your own.
3. The stripes are allowed to cut across, the permissible step is indicated by the manufacturer.
4. Acceptable price.

Among the drawbacks, two standouts are the potential for overheating and the restricted range of use (you can’t use an infrared film underneath tile adhesive or an infrared film on screed). Weak adherence to the smooth surface and contact with a cement mortar are the causes (the exact effects are uncertain).

To be clear. New varieties of self-regulating ETPs went on sale; these units automatically decreased the heating intensity when the operating temperature rose. Caleo Platinum film, for instance.

Finally, it is inconvenient to lay out the material in small spaces because of its fixed size. For illustration, the heater is 500, 800, and 1 meters in length, and the corridor is 1300 mm wide. Must cut the film into pieces and guide each power wire separately.

Rod heaters

The elements are constructed with carbon-heating rods connected to two parallel power lines. Consequently, mats are placed beneath the screed or tile, but they only serve as a self-regulating surface. She keeps the ETP from overheating.

It is still unknown how effective rod floors are in compared to other possibilities. The manufacturer directly states the incompatible technical specifications we provide in the table:

Take note. Note that energy consumption is only 24 W per linear meter, and heat transfer of 1 m. P. is declared at the level of 116/138 W. Despite the widely known fact that electric heaters use 1 kW of energy to produce 0.98 kW of heat.

Users claim that rod TP is not very dependable. While the contour keeps working, individual elements burn out and some parts of the floor get cold. Additionally, homeowners report inadequate surface heating. Products are obviously incomplete.

Choice recommendations

ETP is almost always bought to heat bathrooms, especially those in apartments. Complete electric heating systems are not financially viable since, in contrast to water systems, cable contours cannot be connected to gas boilers. Thus, the recommendation is to mix conventional radiator heating with heaters.

The best electric warm floor to select will depend on the operating environment:

1. For a comfortable heating of the tile in the bathroom, a resistive cable or mat is suitable. The second option is preferable, the costs are approximately the same.
2. Cable sections should be put under the screed – self -regulating or inexpensive resistive. If the ETP has heating the house, then the installation interval is selected with a calculation of 120-150 W/m².
3. Tap the film under the coating in living rooms and corridors. Keep in mind that “dry” installation is cheaper to do with your own hands. If the heat released is not enough, the rolled material can be mounted into the ceilings and even walls, as masters do in the photo.
4. The acquisition of core mats for filling is a risky undertaking. If you really liked the indicated heaters, then choose products of serious manufacturers, for example, Caleo.

In addition to the ETP, a thermostat that maintains the surface temperature and guards against circuit obstruction is purchased. Any device, mechanical or electronic, can be used to control a small area. Sensory or programmable thermostats are more convenient to use when controlling the heating of three to five rooms.

The thermostat’s place of manufacture is irrelevant; a mix of manufacturers is perfectly fine.

Calculation of heating power

Any ETP’s operating mode affects both the amount of heat transfer and electricity consumed.

• The floor surface temperature does not exceed +26 ° C (comfortable heating);
• Floor contours operate in the main heating mode.

In the first scenario, a water system heats the apartment or private home; certain rooms have heated electric floors, which are solely for comfort. These types of spaces include bathrooms, balconies (loggia), hallways, and bathtubs.

About 70 watts of heat per square meter of area will be needed to raise the coating temperature to 26 degrees. Let’s reserve something: we are discussing an insulated ceiling, and 200–250 W/m2 will easily transfer to the cold balcony’s concrete floor.

Citation. The book "Water heating systems" by IN. Dersotilova contains ready-made data on heat consumption; an article in our resource explains the calculation process.

By multiplying 70 watts by the area of the heater to be placed, one can easily determine the overall energy consumption given the specific power. Non-disclosure: A comparable technique ignores the finish coating’s and screed’s heat resistance. This leads to the recommendation: choose an ETP based on the quadrature provided by the product’s manufacturer for a comfortable heating experience. The lowest value is 100 W/m².

For instance. The 2 m2 tiled floor space in the bathroom needs to be warmed. When using a resistive Deviflex 18t cable with two cores as a heat source, a ready-made set of 310 watts that is intended for 2.1 m² is used. According to manufacturer data, the circuit will be 18 meters long.

In order to implement electric floors for the primary heating, we perform the subsequent computation:

1. We determine the thermal losses of the room in any convenient way – by area, volume of the room or following the methodology of SNiP.
2. We draw the plan of the room with furniture, then calculate how much it takes to place (in m²). We take away the resulting figure from the general quadrature and find out the free area where the ETP can be laid.
3. By value, heat loss we select the finished heating element of suitable power from the line of finished products.
4. Find out the interval of laying the heating wire – divide the quadrature of the free section of the room by its length.

One more computation example. The diagram above depicts a 6 m² bathroom with two pieces of furniture and plumbing fixtures. 5 square meters. The remaining 3.5 m² require 600 watts of heat to be distributed for heating. Choose the 37-meter-long, 622-watt Deviflex cable for heat transfer from the catalog. The stacking step counts as follows: 3.5 / 37 = 0.095 ≈ 10 cm.

Suggestions. The passport’s specified power is sufficient to heat the laminate, linoleum, and tile coatings. Speak with the manufacturer’s manager when selecting electric heaters for thick carpet or parquet flooring.

Instructions for the installation of cable and mats

Set up supplies and parts before you begin work:

• temperature sensor;
• thermal regulator;
• corrugated pipe of the sensor;
• mounting metal metal (or plastic);
• island, heat -assembly tube;
• Copper power supply.

Suggestion made. The wiring section is dependent upon the contour power consumption. Consult the table to determine the necessary vein size.

Insulate the balconies where they overlap before installing an electric heated floor. If not, the economical energy use is invisible. Use an extrusion polystyrene foam (foam) substrate with a thickness of 20 to 50 mm and a density of 30 to 45 kg/m³ as a thermal insulation material. Insulate every room where an ETP is intended to be installed, if the threshold height permits.

The preliminary screed device and insulation layout are what make up the preparation; it is not appropriate to lay the insulation’s cable. After that, we carry out the directives as follows:

1. We mark the site for the heating section – draw lines with an indentation of 100 mm from walls and furniture. Ideally, we draw a cable laying track, mark the sensor installation point (between the hinges).
2. We carry out a deepening in the wall, mount a box of thermostat, bring the main power line to it. Cut the furrow, install there a corrugated pipe under the sensor.
3. With dowels we fasten the mounting stripes to the floor. We lay out the cable with the required interval, fix the clamps on the tape.
4. At the level of the floors, we connect the end wires to the “cold” sections of the section, bring them to the box. We stick the sensor into the corrugation, the end is closed with a plug (so that the solution does not hit).
5. We are convinced of the reliability of the compounds – measure the contour resistance from the box with a multimeter, check with the passport.
6. Prepare the cement-sand solution M150, pour a screed 3-6 cm thick (above the surface of the section). Installation of a thermostat and trial launch we make after a full hardening of the monolith.

The installation of mats is done in a similar way. The styling technology is a little bit different; instead of using mounting stripes, the roll is just laid out on the ground. The mesh mesh is cut when the direction needs to be changed. The video provides a detailed depiction of the work course:

Electric heating with warm floors offers an efficient and cozy solution for heating your home. With this system, heat radiates evenly from the floor, providing comfortable warmth throughout the space. Choosing electric heating with warm floors provides flexibility in installation, as it can be easily implemented in both new constructions and existing homes. The installation process involves laying heating cables or mats beneath the flooring surface, whether it"s tile, laminate, or even carpet. This method not only maximizes space utilization but also eliminates the need for bulky radiators or vents, offering a more aesthetically pleasing interior design. Additionally, electric heating with warm floors can be controlled with precision, allowing for customized temperature settings in different rooms to suit individual preferences. Overall, opting for electric heating with warm floors ensures efficient, cost-effective, and luxurious warmth for your home.

ETP device from infrared film

The concrete surface alignment and insulation with a unique material that has been foamed with polyethylene 4–6 mm (foam, isolon) are included in the preparatory stage. The use of insulation devoid of aluminum foil is a prerequisite.

This is how installation technology appears:

1. Roll the rolon thermal puffs and lay it down a copper strip down. If necessary, cut the heater into size, focusing on the factory lines. From furniture and walls, retreat 10 cm.
2. Neighboring canvases are allowed to be placed with an overlap – on the width of the transparent edge. Glue the joints with tape.
3. Close unused contacts on the ends of each canvas with pieces of bitumen isolation. At the points of connection of the wires, install special clamps (come in the kit), fix them with pliers.
4. Suite the wires to the contacts, insert the bare ends into the nests and burn. Then the connection is isolate with 2 bitumen stripes.
5. Attach the temperature sensor with a bitumen patch to the black path on a film (below). Cut the recess in the insulation where the meter will hide. Previously connected clamps must also be drowned.
6. Make in thermal insulation grooves for wires leading to the thermoregulator mounting point. Put the cables in the furrows, swing from above with tape.
7. Install the thermostat on the wall, connect the wire veins. Installation is over.

Suggestion made. Lay the coating only after inspecting the electric circuits with an ohmmeter after assembling a film ETP. You only need to turn on the floors and try to heat them with your hands to get by without any electronics.

Place a layer of protective polyethylene film over the heaters prior to the finish coating device. We immediately apply a laminate or parquet to a film, and we construct a hard plywood backdrop underneath soft coatings like carpet and linoleum. If not, during operation, the ETP will be quickly sold. In the video, the installation process is demonstrated:

Choosing the right system	Consider your budget, energy efficiency, and space requirements.
Types of electric heating systems	Explore options like radiant floor heating, electric baseboards, and electric wall heaters.
Installation process	Hire a professional for proper installation to ensure safety and efficiency.

Warm floors combined with electric heating provide a contemporary and effective way to keep your house toasty throughout the winter. It ensures uniform warmth distribution over the whole floor surface by using radiant heat, removing cold spots and increasing comfort.

The adaptability of electric underfloor heating is one of its main benefits. It is suitable for almost any room in the house and can be installed in a variety of flooring types, including tile, laminate, and even carpet. Warm floors can be easily incorporated into your design whether you’re remodeling your kitchen, living room, or bathroom.

Furthermore, compared to conventional heating techniques, electric heating systems are less complicated to install and require less maintenance. You may enjoy a cleaner, more streamlined interior design and save valuable space since you won’t have to worry about large radiators or ductwork. Furthermore, programmable thermostats are a common feature of electric underfloor systems, which let you alter the heating schedule and maximize energy savings.

When thinking about installing electric heating in your house, it’s critical to select the best system and installation technique for your needs and financial situation. You can make sure you choose the right heating mats or cables for your type of floor and receive knowledgeable assistance throughout the installation process by speaking with a professional installer.

To sum up, warm floors combined with electric heating provide a practical, affordable, and cozy heating option for contemporary homes. With its adaptability, simplicity of installation, and energy-saving capabilities, electric underfloor heating is becoming a more popular choice among homeowners looking to maintain cozy and welcoming living areas all year round.

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