How To Correctly Choose A Specific Type Of Electric Type Warm Floor

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• Electrical system
• Cable floor
• Film option
• Intelligent electric floor
• Criterias of choice
• Calculator

The number of installed electric type underfloor heating is constantly growing. This is due to their low cost and a wide range of products that can be found on the construction market. But not everyone knows which option to choose a warm floor. In addition to electric ones, there are also water ones. But nevertheless, you should stop your eyes on the first option, where there is a sufficient number of types that can fit, depending on the specific conditions and the chosen flooring option. Even here you need to know which warm floor is the best from the presented ones.

Electrical system

This heating system in the house is most popular in premises such as a bathroom, kitchen, toilet.

The installation process does not require serious effort, and the cost is slightly lower than the water analogue. Installation is best to start in a new building, when they have not yet started finishing work.

In addition to the usual classic heating system, an electric warm floor can also be infrared. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, on which it is worth making the right choice in favor of a particular option. In the classic version, the electric underfloor heating is presented in the form of a heating cable or mat, and in the second case, it is film floors.

The final decision will be influenced by the room itself, the chosen floor covering. Not always only one option will be universal in each specific case. The choice should be approached individually, knowing which electric floor heating is better.

Cable floor

Starting to understand which electric underfloor heating will be better in each specific situation, you should consider the cable floor. The main components of this type of electric underfloor heating, which can be chosen for indoor installation, are electrical wires. But they are made from special component alloys. This is due to the fact that they have the ability to convert electricity into heat, which is subsequently spent on heating the subfloor and air in the room.

The entire heat flux from the arranged system can be controlled. For this, a thermostat is used, which comes with a warm floor. It is also required for indoor installations. Without it, the heating system of the house will not function fully.

Among the main advantages are the following points:

• Over the period of operation, they can function much longer and transfer heat to the room than the water counterparts of the warm floor.
• Low energy consumption during operation. In the process of heating the premises of the house, no more energy is wasted than from ordinary household appliances.
• Versatility. This indicates its ability to be installed under any kind of natural flooring.
• The possibility of overheating the system is excluded with correct operation, since no couplings are used here.

But, despite this, one cannot fail to mention the disadvantages that can be an obstacle for future owners of an electric heated floor. First of all, it is necessary to mention the possibility of electromagnetic radiation from the work of a warm floor. In addition, you will have to spend a little money on the installation process to get a decent result. And the possession of a certain experience in this direction will not be a hindrance.

When buying a heating cable for an underfloor heating system, you should pay attention to such points as checking the certificates of product conformity. The main standard ISO 14000 stands out here. If you are provided with one for the purchased cable, it will be a full-fledged guarantee of the environmental safety of the production of the material. We must not forget about the presence of another certificate - KIMA, which will also indicate the quality of the purchased products.

Film option

This version of an electric underfloor heating is based on the full functioning of a carbon film, which heats up and transfers heat to the inside of the room to warm up the subfloor and air. When the system is connected to power, it emits long infrared rays as well as anions, which are considered negative ions.

Carbon (carbon) paste acts as an emitter in the film version of an electric floor heating, which can be selected in a hardware store for indoor installation. It is applied in the form of curved parallel stripes relative to each other. In addition to curved stripes, they can be even, parallel to each other. If you choose more expensive floor heating options, then the film is applied in continuous.

Copper-silver conductors are responsible for the supply of electric current. All working and main parts of the infrared film are sealed with two layers of polyester. A thermostat is used to connect to the power supply. But which warm floor to choose in a particular situation? There is no universal option, as each case should be approached individually. Turning to specialists, they will give a more detailed answer and tell you what type of heating to choose in a particular room. Indeed, there are not only a large number of species on the market, but also manufacturing firms, each of which wants to lure a larger number of buyers over to its side.

Among the large number of positive qualities of an infrared warm floor, the main ones can be distinguished:

1. Universal for flooring. There are no subtleties here. You can choose ceramic tiles or linoleum, equally distributing it over the base of the floor in the room.
2. It can be made mobile. To do this, it is attached to the carpet in the room from the bottom side. It can be laid in the winter, and cleaned during the summer.
3. Simple installation and resistance to various mechanical influences.

4. Economical and safe to use.

   

But one cannot fail to mention the disadvantages that can repel when choosing:

• The use of a special connector, crimped with a flat press, to provide a contact surface between the wire and the used film.
• Hidden contacts in significant numbers. Before installation, the system is tested for operability. During the process of flooring, everything must be carefully controlled so as not to damage the infrared floor heating.

For specific flooring options, there are peculiarities of laying the film. So, for ceramic tiles, it is imperative to use a special glue designed for the underfloor heating system. The thickness of the adhesive layer must not fall below 15 mm.

This option of underfloor heating is actively used not only for heating the base of the floor in the room, but also for the ceiling and walls. In addition to living quarters, they are actively used in kindergartens, hospitals or hotels. The main component here is healthy warmth. Some refer to it as the best electric underfloor heating.

Intelligent electric floor

Matt heating elements are a modern solution for a better warm floor. This system is very reliable during operation, and also has a high level of environmental safety. It is commonly called intelligent electric floor heating.

The main components of this type of underfloor heating are carbon rods. They are initially connected to each other, after which there is a connection to the network and the thermostat installed in the room.

Let's immediately dwell on the advantages of using mats for indoor heating:

1. Self-regulation effect that allows you to forget about the need to distribute furniture in the room. Even if the mats are covered with bulky objects or household appliances, they will not be able to exert any influence on the operation of the entire system. There will be no overheating or damage to a separate section of the warm floor.
2. A high degree of environmental friendliness when compared with other possible types of underfloor heating.
3. For finishing the carbon rods, you can use a classic screed or tile adhesive. In the latter case, tiles, porcelain stoneware, marble, etc. can be selected as flooring.
4. Installation of the system in rooms with high levels of humidity, on terraces, porches and similar options.

The main disadvantage of the rod-based system is its high cost, which immediately scares off a large number of potential buyers. In addition, there is a very high probability of purchasing fakes on the market. Everyone wants to sell low-quality products under the guise of a global brand.

It is worth noting that the process of installing this type of warm floor differs little from the technology for performing a water heated floor. The pipeline is laid on a previously prepared base in the water floor, and here a heating cable is used instead. On the upper part, it remains only to pour the concrete screed and floor covering.

If necessary, the mats can be cut in the required direction and dimensions. The main thing is to clearly follow the specially designated line on the structure. At the same time, the cable remains intact and without damage. They are most suitable when there is a need to keep the distance between the ceiling and floor unchanged. True, in this case, you should refuse to pour the screed.

Criterias of choice

The choice of electric underfloor heating must be taken with full responsibility. At the same time, specific rules are provided for making a choice in favor of a specific option.

To begin with, it is worth deciding whether it will be the main or additional source of heating in the room. Even here there are points and nuances that are worth paying attention to:

• Characteristics and features of the room where the installation of the selected version of the electric underfloor heating is carried out.
• The presence or absence of "smart" management that allows you to create comfortable conditions without personal involvement.
• Selected flooring option.
• Old electrical wiring in the house. The stress must be withstood by the engineering systems. Otherwise, there will be no efficiency from the work of the warm floor.

Calculator

To make the choice of the heating system and its quantity easier, you should use the underfloor heating calculator. For the final solution, you should choose the floor covering, the room itself where the installation is carried out, the area to be heated, as well as the ability to reduce the distance from the ceiling to the floor in the room. All these data will be processed and, as a result, heating system options from various manufacturers will be provided.

Power indicates the ability to transfer the most heat from the system to the floor. In addition, here you can safely calculate the amount that will have to be spent on installation work, including the cost of purchasing equipment.

All these subtleties and a description of each specific option will help you get an answer to the question of which warm floor will be the best, depending on the installation conditions. There is no doubt that in the end you will get a really high-quality structure that can transfer heat from the base of the floor and throughout the room.

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