During the cold months, are you sick of seeing chilly floors? You may have found the answer you’ve been looking for in a water-warm floor. It’s not just comfortable underfoot; it’s also a very economical and effective way to heat your house. With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to take charge of your indoor comfort by learning how to install a water warm floor system in your house.
Although installing a water warm floor system may seem difficult, don’t worry! With the correct direction and a little do-it-yourself attitude, you can confidently take on this project. You’ll quickly be able to enjoy the opulent warmth of a heated floor by following our easy to follow instructions.
It’s crucial to comprehend how a water warm floor system operates before beginning the installation process. In essence, it entails pumping warm water through a system of pipes that are hidden beneath the flooring. Heat is transferred from the moving water to the floor, which then radiates warmth throughout the space. Not only do your feet stay warm, but this soft, radiant heat also contributes to a steady, cozy temperature throughout the room.
The energy efficiency of a water warm floor system is one of its main advantages. Radiant floor heating evenly distributes heat throughout the space, in contrast to conventional forced-air heating systems, which may cause uneven heating and energy loss. In the long run, this can result in lower utility bills in addition to reducing energy consumption. You’ll also have more freedom to arrange the furniture and the layout of the room because the floor emits the heat instead of vents or radiators.
It’s time to dig in and begin the installation process now that you have a basic understanding of how water warm floor systems operate and their advantages. With our thorough instructions and practical advice, you’ll be ready to take on this project and turn your house into a warm and inviting haven.
Device | Step-by-step Installation |
Water Warm Floor | 1. Prepare the floor surface by cleaning it thoroughly. 2. Install the insulation layer to prevent heat loss. 3. Lay down the water pipes evenly across the floor space. 4. Connect the pipes to the manifold, ensuring proper alignment. 5. Fill the system with water and check for leaks. 6. Install the thermostat for temperature control. 7. Cover the pipes with a protective layer, like concrete or tile adhesive. 8. Test the system to ensure it"s functioning correctly. |
We’ll walk you through the steps of installing a water-based underfloor heating system in your house in this article. You’ll discover how to warm your floors to create a comfortable and energy-efficient space with simple to follow steps and instructions. We’ll go over everything, including the fundamentals of the system’s operation, the supplies and equipment you’ll need, and a thorough explanation of the installation procedure. This guide will assist you in using your own hands to add warmth and comfort to your home, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.
- Features of the preparation of the premises
- Requirements for the room
- Requirements for the base
- How to choose and calculate pipes
- Types of pipes
- Pipe size calculation
- Selection of the laying circuit of the contour and its installation
- The choice of a collector-mixing unit
- Video on the topic
- Made a warm floor on the ground, the whole technology in one video. Part 13. DIY house from scratch.
Features of the preparation of the premises
Installation has its own technological features because the structure is heavy and has a large length of pipes and connecting nodes.
Because of this, each layer must be laid precisely in accordance with the directions. However, we will first examine the aspects of the room’s setup.
Requirements for the room
It is advised that private buildings be constructed with water-warm floors. In multi-story buildings, there is a risk of flooding of the apartment from below in addition to a heavy load on the ceiling.
Furthermore, the coolant contour connects to the overall heating system, though this is typically not its intended use. This may result in cold risers in your apartment building or one next door.
This explains why the appropriate authorities are reluctant to provide the necessary permits for the installation of this system in multi-story buildings.
These days, new construction frequently has two systems installed: one for conventional heating and another for heated floors.
Making a water-warm floor yourself, even while the house is still being built, is the ideal solution. When putting in a structure in a completed home, consider the following:
- the height of the ceilings, since such a structure leads to a significant decrease;
- doorway size – their required height not less than 210 cm;
- The strength of the base.
Furthermore, the heat loss must not exceed 100 W/m2.
Requirements for the base
How to properly An even and pure black coating is a requirement for installing a water floor. If the housing is older, the base needs to be leveled and the old floor screed removed.
Although the process is lengthy and complex, it is essential. The base is then completely cleared of dust and debris.
A level base is necessary for the water floor to function properly; deviations of no more than 10 mm are acceptable. If any flaws or cracks are found, they must be fixed quickly.
Installing heating elements directly on panel ceilings is an option if you own newly constructed housing.
How to choose and calculate pipes
Prior to beginning independent work on the hydropolis’ construction, you should determine the ideal diameter size and select the appropriate pipe type.
Types of pipes
These days, a wide variety of pipes made of different materials are produced with the intention of being laid into water floors.
Experts advise choosing plastic pipes of the stitched PEX or PERT type when installing independently. PE-XA, which has the highest stitching density (85%), is the best choice.
This allows for the safe mounting of axial fittings with a supervisory end in concrete structures. Furthermore, when these pipes break, it is easy to repair them by heating the fractured area with a construction hairdryer and returning the pipes to their original shape.
Go through the article: In certain cases, it’s essential to join the pipes in the screed, repair damaged pipelines, or extend pipelines; learn how to accomplish these tasks.
Since the PERT contours lack a memory feature, they can only be used with zange fittings, which shouldn’t be concealed within the screed. However, the connecting units will only be on the collector if the system is mounted from whole pipes, in which case these pipes are ideal.
When installing PE-XA or PERT water systems—which can be installed indoors or outdoors—with a layer of polyovenilelene, experts advise using this model. Installing pipes with an inner layer Evoh is preferable.
By selecting a contour PE-XA, you can conduct your own testing. After breaking the pipe segment, use a construction hairdryer to warm this area. A high-quality product will return to its original shape.
Furthermore, metal-plastic pipes are frequently installed because they are inexpensive and simple to install, which is another reason why they are frequently used.
Certain copper pipeline products are more costly than others and need to be protected from alkaline exposure when concrete solution is poured.
Composite pipes are another type that is suggested for warm floors. consist of two foil-between-the-stitched polyethylene layers. A stratification of the contour may result from the presence of heterogeneous material, which when heated has a different expansion coefficient.
You need to consider the following when selecting a model:
- Brand (Rehau, Tece, Kan, Uponor) is a quality guarantee;
- marking;
- certificate of conformity for products;
- take into account the coefficient of thermal expansion of pipes;
- the cost of components necessary for installation.
Pipe size calculation
There are three primary pipe sizes made for water floors:
16 and 20 mm are the most widely used installation dimensions.
It is necessary to perform the size calculation prior to purchasing the heating circuit. It is preferable to trust these experts if you are unsure that you can complete the task correctly on your own.
For this, you must choose:
- with a circuit of the water floor water;
- with plots of the floor where furniture will be placed, and the plumbing is mounted (pipes under furniture are not installed).
A product with a 16 mm diameter ought to have a circuit that is between 20 and 120 mm long, but no longer than 100 meters. In other words, no one should take up more space than 15 square meters because doing so will result in insufficient system pressure.
A large room is divided into multiple contours. Although there can be a difference of up to 15 meters in the aisles, they should be the same size. It is acceptable to lower the standard laid step of 15 cm to 10 cm when there is adequate thermal insulation.
Using a step-by-step procedure:
- 15 cm. – it will require 6.7 meters of the heating element per 1 square meter;
- 10 cm. – 10 meters.
In addition, heat loss, system power, pipe material, ceilings, and flooring are considered when calculating the meter of pipeline materials for the water floor.
The standard formula for determining the size of the circuit – the heated area in square meters must be divided by a step of laying in meters. To this indicator add the size of the curls and the distance to the collector.
Selection of the laying circuit of the contour and its installation
It is important to consider that the liquid cools as it moves along the contour, necessitating the installation to start from the outside walls when selecting an installation plan and creating a step. This will lessen the chance of cold air entering the heated space.
The configuration of the heating element determines the amount of heating in the space:
- “Snake” is the easiest way for independent installation, the degree of heating decreases gradually;
- "Snail" is more complicated, but uniform heating of the room with internal walls is carried out.
The laying scheme and calculation data are considered when installing a warm water structure. If the contours are longer than 100 meters, you will need to divide them into multiple sections. The standard laid step is 15 cm. Every room should also have its own outline.
Only after cliffs are removed or the floor’s heating system is repaired are chases or fittings installed.
In addition, preparing the calculation and the diagram, the hydraulic resistance is taken into account, it depends on the number of turns, the larger they are, the higher the resistance. Each circuit connected to the collector must have the same given value.
The choice of a collector-mixing unit
The number of contours that are intended to be mounted directly affects the collector selection (see Types, Collector Installation and Operation Principle, Connection Scheme, and Adjustment). Since these exits will match the water floor’s design, the device should have them.
After it has stabilized, the device returns the heated coolant to the system and permits adjustments and supplies it.
It is impossible to modify the structure’s operation using the shut-off valve that is the only feature of the simplest corrector model.
The more expensive devices have adjustment valves, which allow the water flow intensity to be independently adjusted for every contour.
A drain valve for emergencies and an air-outer valve are also required features of any collector. Only all of the valves should be configured in accordance with the necessary specifications for the device to function properly.
It is important to note that inexpensive collectors are not placed more frequently. Nevertheless, it is preferable to purchase a model with servo drives and mixing units if you are not in need of savings. With the help of this gadget, you can automatically regulate how hot the water that is supplied to the water floor gets.
The collector is placed either next to or directly in the heated room. A specially designed cabinet with a standard size of 50 by 50 and a depth of 12 to 15 cm is made in order to install the device.
It is positioned above the warm water floor’s surface. It happens frequently that the collector cabinet, hidden in the wall, does not detract from the interior design of the space.
To improve comfort and energy efficiency, installing a water-based underfloor heating system can be a satisfying do-it-yourself project for homeowners. This contemporary heating solution can be successfully installed in your home by according to a step-by-step guide.
First and foremost, it’s critical to comprehend the parts and arrangement. A manifold, a pump, a thermostat, and pipes usually make up the system. To ensure the best possible heating distribution, the layout must be planned, including the manifold’s location, pipe spacing, and thermostat placement.
Next, preparing the subfloor is crucial for a smooth installation process. This involves ensuring the subfloor is clean, level, and properly insulated to prevent heat loss. Proper insulation not only enhances efficiency but also prevents moisture buildup, which can damage the flooring over time.
The next step is to install the piping system after the subfloor is prepared. To guarantee that the pipes are installed securely and uniformly, this step demands accuracy and close attention to detail. Installing the manifold, which regulates water flow, should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The pump is connected to the manifold after the pipes have been laid. Effective water circulation throughout the system is ensured by correctly connecting the pipes. You can also adjust the temperature to your preferred level of comfort by installing a thermostat.
Before applying the last surface to the floor, it is crucial to test the system to make sure everything is operating as it should. Pressurizing the system, looking for leaks, and modifying the thermostat settings as necessary are all part of this process.
In conclusion, installing a water-based underfloor heating system is a do-it-yourself project that is doable for homeowners with rudimentary construction and plumbing knowledge, even though it does require careful planning and execution. Through meticulous attention to detail and adherence to a step-by-step guide, you can reap the rewards of a comfortable and warm home while cutting down on energy usage and utility expenses.