How to independently lay pipes for a warm water floor

During the cold months, are you sick of seeing chilly floors? Perhaps installing a warm water floor system is the answer you’ve been searching for. It’s not only warm underfoot but can be surprisingly energy-efficient as well. But installing pipes for a system like that could seem intimidating. Do not be alarmed! You can do this project yourself if you have the proper instructions and a little do-it-yourself attitude.

It’s important to comprehend how the system operates before getting into the specifics of installing pipes for a warm water floor. Warm water is essentially circulated via a system of pipes that are installed beneath the floor. The floor radiates warmth into the space as it warms up, fostering a cozy atmosphere. It’s similar to walking on top of a massive, unseen radiator!

Correct pipe placement is a critical component of a warm water floor system installation. For effective heat distribution, these pipes must be fixed firmly and evenly spaced. Here, preparation is essential. It is necessary to plan the pipe layout, considering the dimensions and configuration of the space, along with any obstructions such as fixtures or furniture.

However, you don’t have to be an expert plumber to complete this task. Anyone with some basic DIY skills can do it, given the right tools and a methodical approach. Furthermore, knowing that you installed something as necessary as heating in your house with your own two hands gives you a sense of satisfaction.

From which material it is best to choose pipe rolling materials

You can use items from the following materials to arrange water floors:

  • copper;
  • stitched or linear polyethylene;
  • combinations of aluminum and polyethylene or polypropylene;
  • Polyethylene composite and polyvinyl evereral (fiberglass).

The best properties are found in copper pipeline. He is the most resilient, has the maximum thermal return, and is impervious to corrosion. However, installing copper products requires additional equipment, which adds to their cost. Such a system also needs to be shielded from alkali.

Selecting the layout of heated polyethylene flooring is the best course of action. It can be linear (PE-RT) or stitched (re-).

  1. High level of thermal conductivity.
  2. Long -term wear resistance.
  3. Increased flexibility.
  4. The internal walls are smooth, thanks to this they are clogged with deposits very slowly.
  5. The material does not corrode.
  6. He can withstand repeated freezing of the coolant.
  7. Independent installation of such elements of the network is simple, since for their proper styling, the use of special tools and devices is not required.

The most trustworthy PE-X-A. The highest transverse stitching density (85%) is found in this material. He has a noticeable "memory" effect as a result. Put differently, following thermal expansion, the network’s constituent parts always revert to their initial configurations. This enables the use of axial fittings with rings, which can be firmly seated in a screed.

Analogs of PE-RT do not exhibit the "memory" phenomenon. They exclusively use tsanovo type fittings as a result. It is not permitted for them to push. All mating, however, will occur on the collector when the system’s contours are laid out over entire regions. PE-RT is warranted in this instance.

Additionally, producers use the composite to create pipes for the water floor. In this instance, the polyethylene layers are upper and lower, and an aluminum foil (pee-x-pi-x or pe -rt-under-rt) is bonded between them. Iron strengthens the components of a warm water floor and obstructs oxygen flow.

Because alumoplasty is heterogeneous, it does not exist. Stratification of the material may result from varying rates of thermal expansion of the metal and polymer.

Consequently, polyethylene products reinforced with polyvinyl e. It considerably lowers the amount of oxygen that enters the water coolant through the pipe walls. This reinforcement may be found between polyethylene layers or as the top coating. It is better to choose option number two.

Pipes of the following sizes can be used to lay water-warm flooring:

  • 16 × 2;
  • 17 × 2;
  • 20 × 2 mm.

In our guide on how to lay pipes for a warm water floor, we"ll walk you through the process step by step so you can tackle this project independently. First, we"ll discuss the materials you"ll need, such as PEX tubing and insulation. Next, we"ll cover how to plan the layout of your pipes effectively, taking into account the size and shape of the room. Then, we"ll dive into the actual installation process, including methods for securing the pipes and connecting them to your heating system. Throughout, we"ll provide practical tips and tricks to ensure a successful installation, from proper spacing between pipes to avoiding obstacles like furniture or fixtures. By following our guide, you"ll be well-equipped to create a cozy, energy-efficient warm water floor in your home.

How to calculate the meter of elements for the assembly of the system?

It is necessary to calculate the water floors prior to their installation. A system of systems with water contours is compiled for this purpose. Things to consider when doing the math:

  1. Where furniture will be located, floor equipment, the technique of pipe does not need to be installed.

The contours with a 16 mm section should not be longer than 100 meters. For the warm floor device, the 20 mm pipe length shouldn’t go over 120 m. The heating network’s pressure will be low otherwise. As a result, no more than 15 m2 should be occupied by any one circuit.

  1. The difference between their length should be no more than 15 m. In other words – they need to be made approximately one length. The volumetric room should be divided into several heating branches.
  2. The optimal step of laying the pipes of water warm floor is 15 cm, if you use effective thermal insulation. With severe climate and frequent frosts from -20º and below, the gap between the turns of the outer walls decreases to 10 cm.
  3. At the intervals of 15 cm between the pipes, their costs are about 6.7 m per 1 m² of floors area. When installing with a step of 10 cm – 10 m.

Waterfloor installation schemes

A "snake," "snail," or combination of the two can lay a heated floor pipe.

The easiest way to lay a water circuit is with a snake. Loops are used to carry it out. This installation plan works best in a space that has been split up into functional zones where different temperature settings are intended to be used.

Hot water will suffer half the area when the first loop is installed around the room’s perimeter and a single snake is launched inside. The coolant will circulate in another area of the room after cooling down. It will be cool in it as a result.

A double snake is another variation of this kind of scheme that is employed. The supply and reverse water branches follow her around the entire space, side by side.

The distribution of the corner snake’s turns represents the third iteration of this scheme. In corner rooms with two external walls, it is utilized.

It is possible to install the snake’s coils uniformly. In this instance, though, the water loop bends will be sharply curved.

The circuit’s simple snake-shaped pipe layout for the heated floor is its main benefit. It is simple to plan and install.

  • temperature difference in one room;
  • The bends of the pipeline are too cool, which, with a small step of laying, can lead to breaks.

Another name for the installation of a water floor is a "shell" or "spiral." According to this plan, the supply and reverse branches are positioned throughout the space and run parallel to one another along the spiral. From the room’s center to the walls’ edges, installation is completed.

The room’s center supply branch terminates in a loop. It then travels from the center of the room along its perimeter all the way to the collector, parallel to the return with her own hands. You can lay a double snail along a room’s cold exterior wall (features of the scheme, pros and cons).

The following benefits come from using a snail to lay warm floor pipes:

  1. The room warms up evenly.
  2. Hydraulic resistance in the system is small.
  3. The installation of a shell requires less consumption of materials than a snake.
  4. The bends of the turns are smooth, thanks to this, the step between the turns can be taken less.

Slugs: intricate design and time-consuming setup.

Not every room is rectangular; in fact, a room may contain two cold exterior walls. You can use your hands to combine the contour styling to make it warmer.

The supply pipe loops are positioned along the exterior walls of the room to increase its strength. The ideal mounting angle for them is nearly a 90º angle.

The methods of installing a warm water floor

There are two types of warm water floor pipe laying methods: flooring and concrete.

In the first example, a layer of screed encloses the heating network. This process costs a lot of money in labor and time. The thickness of the concrete coating determines how long it will take to dry. Only after the concrete has fully strengthened—roughly 28 days—can the floor’s facing cover be installed on it.

The flooring method makes use of prefabricated materials. Such a warm floor laying with your own hands happens quickly because there isn’t any wet work involved. But because the materials required are costly, setting up a system becomes more expensive. The base is utilized in the flooring method:

  • polystyrene insulation;
  • Wooden modular or rack panels.

Installation of contours for profile thermal insulation mats

The simplest way to set up the floor heating system is in a similar manner. In this case, polystyrene insulation slabs serve as the water floor’s foundation. The size of these laying mats is 30 × 100 × 3 cm. They have low columns and grooves installed. Underfloor heating pipes are clung to these fasteners by hand. They are covering them with the final coating.

Concrete screed is not necessary when using this method. The slabs must be laid before applying a finish coating such as linoleum or floor tiles. The sheets ought to be at least 2 centimeters thick.

Modular and rack types of warm water floors

These kinds of systems are mostly found in wooden homes. Pipe laying is done on lags or roughly on the floor.

Pipes are laid using prefabricated chipboard panels in the modular system. They are 2.2 cm thick. The modules include channels for pipes and aluminum plates to be fastened. This method of installing insulation mounts it inside a wooden floor.

Stripes are positioned every 2 centimeters. Strips of 15–30 cm in length and width are used, depending on the distance between the pipes:

So that the heat is not lost, the plates are equipped with pipe latches. If the floor covering of the floors will be linoleum (see which linoleum and which warm floor is better to choose, the instructions on how to lay it) on the pipes should be laid one layer of gvlv stoves. When the finish lining is laminate, parquet, you can do without it.
RECECTION OF NATIONAL systems is almost identical to the modular. The difference is that instead of panels, it uses planks with a width of 2.8 cm.
The interval between the rails in the modules should be at least 2 cm. The rally system is laid only on the lags. The step between them should be 40-60 cm. How thermal insulation material in this case is used polystyrene foam or mineral wool.

The sequence of laying pipes in a concrete screed

Installing a heating network in a concrete screed is currently the most popular method, despite its complexity. The technology appears as follows:

  1. First, the base is prepared. The draft floor is cleaned from garbage, if there are influxes, bugrs on it, they are removed by a perforator.
  2. Then waterproofing is laid on the flooring of the room.
  3. After that, thermal insulation is installed on top of it.
  4. Further, the laying rules require between pre -calculated areas and mount the compensation (damper) tape around the perimeter of the room of the room.
  5. The reinforcing mesh is mounted.
  6. According to the selected scheme, the pipes of the warm floor are laid. They are attached to the reinforcement with their own hands using harpoons.
  7. To check the system, it is filled with water and is crimped.
  8. Then the guide beacons are installed.
  9. Lastly, a cement-sand screed is poured.

Find out what steps need to be taken if TP pipes need to be combined.

Laying a warm water floor on a reinforcing mesh and without it

Pouring warm floors with a concrete screed can be done two ways: either with reinforcement and fasteners or without them.

  1. If polystyrene mats with grooves for contours are used as a heater, then the grid can not be used. Concrete can be filled immediately after laying a warm floor.
  2. Когда используется обычный утеплитель, то нужно использовать тонкую металлическую либо полимерную сетку для армирования и фиксации контуров. It should be slightly lifted over thermal insulation material.

The choice of the optimal step

The type of room (find out how far apart the hinges should be), the room’s thermal losses, and the estimated heating load all affect how far apart the pipes should be laid. A step is typically between 10 and 30 cm. It may be either constant or variable:

  1. With a heating load, less than 50 W per meter is square, the contours are laid with your own hands with a constant step of 20-30 cm.
  2. With a large heating load (from 80 watts per square meter and more) the recommended distance between the turns is 15 cm.
  3. In other cases, a variable step is used. For example, along the external walls through which the largest heat losses go, the distance between the loops of the network is made the smallest (10 cm). In the internal sections of the room, the gaps between the turns of the network increase (20 cm).

When designing heating, the number of turns with the lowest step is computed. Large rooms are where a distance of 25–30 mm is most frequently used. They employ the 20 mm cross section contours for coolant delivery.

Step Description
Gather Materials Collect all necessary materials like PEX tubing, manifold, insulation, and tools.
Plan Layout Decide where to install the pipes, considering room layout and furniture placement.
Prepare Surface Clean and level the floor surface where you"ll lay the pipes.
Install Manifold Mount the manifold, the central control unit for the system, on a nearby wall.
Lay Insulation Place insulation boards or foam panels on the floor to prevent heat loss.
Lay Pipes Start laying PEX tubing in a serpentine pattern across the floor, securing it with clips.
Connect Pipes Connect the pipes to the manifold, ensuring proper alignment and sealing.
Pressure Test Fill the system with water and pressurize it to check for leaks.
Cover Pipes Once everything is secure, cover the pipes with a protective layer, like cement or self-leveling compound.
Finish After the covering is dry, you can proceed with flooring installation.

Installing warm water floor pipes is a cost-effective and useful method of heating your house, distributing cozy warmth throughout the area. You can do this project on your own, saving money and time, by following a few simple steps. Success requires both having the appropriate resources and understanding the process.

First and foremost, it is imperative that you design the layout of your warm water floor system. Take into account the rooms’ dimensions and layout, as well as any furniture or obstructions that might affect where the pipes are placed. Optimized efficiency and uniform heat distribution can be guaranteed with a well-designed plan. Before moving forward, take precise measurements and draft a thorough blueprint.

Next, assemble all the instruments and supplies required for the installation procedure. This consists of, among other things, PEX tubing, a manifold, insulation, pipe clips, and a pipe cutter. Purchasing premium components will extend the life and efficiency of your warm water floor system. To avoid needless delays, make sure you have everything you need before beginning.

Make sure that the pipes are properly aligned and spaced when you lay them. Make sure the right clips or straps are used to firmly secure the pipes to the subfloor. Maintaining optimal energy efficiency and minimizing heat loss also requires proper insulation. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when insulating the subfloor and the pipes.

When the installation is finished, thoroughly test the system to look for any leaks or problems. Pressurize and add water to the system to make sure everything is working as it should. After you’re happy with the outcome, you can install the hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring material over the pipes.

To sum up, installing warm water floor pipes is a doable do-it-yourself project that can greatly raise the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. You can reap the benefits of a warm and inviting living area for many years to come with proper planning, the right materials, and careful attention to detail during installation.

Video on the topic

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Michael Kuznetsov

I love to create beauty and comfort with my own hands. In my articles I share tips on warming the house and repairing with my own hands.

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