How To Install A Warm Infrared Floor

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

• Principle of operation
• Application area
• Advantages
• Models
• Control systems
• Foundation preparation
• Laying scheme
• System connection
• Test
• Types of flooring

All living quarters must have a certain level of heat for a comfortable stay. For this, there are several main types of heating, among which infrared floor heating has practicality and efficiency in operation. It has a number of positive qualities. The installation process does not take much time and does not require serious costs. Most importantly, the result is a warmed-up base that is pleasant to walk on.

Principle of operation

The infrared warm floor has no novelty. But a little earlier, such systems as electric and water underfloor heating were in demand. Everything in them depended on the coolant and the order of heating the room. In infrared floor heating, infrared radiation is used to supply heat to the room. This allows you to transfer heat to objects in the room, from which the air is already heated.

The basis of the system is carbon paste, which is sealed inside a polyester film. Sometimes you can find such a name as carbon floor heating, which is what came from the components.

Its principle of operation is that voltage is supplied to the emitters through copper conductors. In this case, the contacts cannot burn due to the presence of silver plating. To connect to the network, it is enough to use the thermostats that are part of the system.

You should also decide on the technical characteristics that an infrared warm floor has. In addition, it is they who can suggest the required amount of material for the heating device.

The width can vary from 50 to 100 cm. The floors are realized in rolls up to 50 m and the thickness of each sheet is from 0.23 to 0.47 mm. The film can have different power consumption from 25 to 35 W / h. A temperature of 33 degrees is created on the surface of the film. Much will depend on how your system is configured.

Application area

Infrared film underfloor heating can act as a primary or additional heating system. In the first case, the film must cover at least 70 percent of the entire subfloor area in the room.

In the northern regions of the country, it is better to refuse it, since the best option here is additional heating or emergency heating.

You cannot cut the thermal film at random. For this, there are special sections to create the length of the required amount. Most often, the marked areas for the cut are located at a distance of about 25 cm from each other. All the little things and nuances should be clarified before buying so as not to spend extra money.

In addition to living quarters, an infrared film warm floor can also be installed in household buildings, in which there is no possibility of central heating. They can be garages, sheds or greenhouses. It is actively used in the cold season to heat the porch or prevent the pipeline from freezing.

Advantages

An infrared warm floor has a number of positive qualities for any type of floor covering. The most basic ones should be highlighted here:

• Completely safe for humans and others.
• Installation can be performed under any type of flooring. In addition, there is such an opportunity if there is a stretch ceiling in the room. The surface where the installation of such a system is carried out can be not only strictly horizontal, but also vertical, tilted, and all any other options.
• It is possible to instantly dismantle the system and then install it in another place. This is very important if you often move or create a different layout in the room.

• Carbon has excellent thermal conductivity.

  

  As a result, energy consumption is significantly reduced. Any other types of heating in the house will cost much more to maintain.

• The connection of all elements is parallel, which provides high reliability when using an infrared heated floor. If even one of the sections gets damaged or fails, all the rest will function fully.
• Installation can be carried out on its own without the involvement of specialists. It is not necessary to fill the screed or lay the tiles under the glue.

Models

When underfloor heating is performed under the laminate, the instructions from the manufacturer must be followed without deviations. It is in it that all possible nuances are spelled out that will lead to errors in the installation of a warm floor. There are two main infrared floor heating systems:

1. Film. The film allows you to protect the entire system from moisture ingress, as well as from possible electrical breakdown. Its weight is approximately 0.5 kg, which does not affect the overlap. Consequently, even old buildings can be equipped with infrared floor heating. Additionally, the film can be installed on the walls in the room and even on the ceiling.

2. Rod. Its composition is such that it can be arranged in a screed or in glue under the tile. The core model is suitable for rooms with high humidity, which can be bathrooms or kitchens.

   

   During its operation, almost no electromagnetic radiation is generated. The difference from the film model is that there is no fear of overheating, the presence of self-regulation properties. Bulky furniture can be installed on top of the core model, which films cannot afford.

Film films are additionally divided into carbon (heating strips are connected in parallel, after which they are sealed in a lavsan film) or bimetallic (base - polyurethane, heating elements - an alloy of copper and aluminum).

When choosing one or another option, the ceiling height remains practically unchanged, which cannot be said about other possible systems that require a device with a thick structure.

The structure of the rod model looks like this: composite material for heating elements. As the temperature rises, the graphite, which is a component of this model, increases and the gap between the grains increases. There are fewer points of contact, resistance begins to grow and power decreases, which can be independently calculated.

Control systems

Thermoregulators are used to control infrared underfloor heating. This is the name of a special device that allows you to control all possible functions of the heating system. It is used to turn on the system and turn it off, allows you to monitor the temperature indicators not only of the sub-floor and the air in the room.

You can program a specific operating mode. It is these regulators that can somewhat reduce power consumption.

When the warm floor under the laminate, according to the instructions, reaches a certain temperature, the system stops working. But over time, the sensors give a signal that the temperature has dropped below the permissible level. The heating system starts again here.

The following models of thermostats are distinguished:

• Electronic. They are characterized by high accuracy of readings. At the same time, it is very simple and convenient to operate it.
• Electromechanical. They are among the reliable and at the same time cheap options. Ideal for bathrooms or industrial environments.
• Programmable. Differ in complexity and high cost. They are necessary if there is a desire to create complex algorithms in the operation of an infrared heated floor. This option is most suitable for residential premises (cottages, country houses).

Thermostats should be installed in places that allow them to be conveniently used in work. Often - on the walls in the room. The main thing is to correctly and efficiently carry out the installation of the entire heating system.

Foundation preparation

Laying an infrared floor under a laminate, as well as under another type of flooring, requires very high-quality preparation. The base should not only be flat, but also clean. There are permissible limits for the height difference, but not more than 3 mm. To check the levelness of the surface, a building level is used. If necessary, make its careful alignment in all possible ways.

When this is done, you can start laying the waterproofing layer. The material for this may differ depending on the floor covering that will act as the finish. It is best to buy a technical cork for ceramic tiles. All other floor coverings are not as demanding. But it is better to use special insulation for the infrared floor heating system. Lay the metallized side up. The joints are glued with adhesive tape.

Laying scheme

Before starting the installation, you should think about the location of the thermostats. From the floor level, it is usually fixed at a distance of 15 cm. After that, you can start thinking about the scheme for laying the infrared heated floor film. The absence of installation of the system under bulky furniture or household appliances is taken into account.

A distance of 10 to 40 cm from the walls must be maintained for the first row. The footprint on the sub-floor should be 70 percent for primary heating and 40 percent for additional space heating.

System connection

The infrared underfloor heating film is laid out on the basis of the previously selected scheme for thermal insulation. If it is necessary to choose the exact length, it is cut in certain areas, which are marked on the material. The infrared floor is installed under laminate and other flooring with the copper side of the contacts down towards the wall where the thermostat is located.

A contact clip is connected to the edge of the copper strip, after which the wires themselves. In those places where the film was cut or the contacts were connected, it should be treated with bitumen mastic, specially designed for infrared floor heating. The number of contacts will decrease in proportion to the increase in the length of the heating system curtain. But it should be borne in mind that the strip can be a maximum length of 8 meters. Some contacts will be located inside the film as well. The distance between the panels must be at least 5 mm. All of them should be located on the base of the floor parallel to each other.

A temperature level sensor is connected to the bottom of the film. Moreover, it must be qualitatively isolated. When the flooring is made on the base of the film, and all the contacts are connected, you can start installing the thermostat. It is better to run some of the connection wires into the floor plinth to hide them from view. Next, the system is connected to the mains.

Test

When the infrared film underfloor heating is connected to the network, you can start testing it for performance. This is done before the flooring is laid. Normal operation should include the absence of sparking, at the junction of the contacts, the temperature should not rise until overheating, the film along its entire length heats up equally and at one temperature level.

When the system has been tested successfully, a polyethylene sheeting should be installed for additional waterproofing. Then you can start laying the flooring.

Types of flooring

It is worth noting that an infrared warm floor can be performed under any type of floor covering. Due to this, it can be attributed to the universal methods of heating in the room. In addition to classic ceramic tiles, you can choose laminate, wood and soft materials like carpet or linoleum.

The most common option is an infrared heated floor under the tiles. This is due to the high thermal conductivity of not only the warmest floor, but also the floor covering. In addition, the main areas where tiles are used, such as the bathroom or kitchen, require additional heat supply. But in this case, it is best to choose the core system of the underfloor heating device. In this case, you can even resort to "wet" installation. Installation can be carried out, including under porcelain stoneware. Most importantly, a heat-reflecting substrate is used to improve the overall performance of the system.

During the installation of the underfloor heating system, there is some rise in the floor level. For the system to work properly, the adhesive layer, including the thickness of the mat used, must be 20 mm. Otherwise, the quality of the warm floor will not be achieved. The tiles will be well attached, but the base of the floor will not heat up evenly.

For other types of flooring, the film method of the device is suitable. And they are not particularly demanding. But at the same time, you will have to abandon the implementation of a concrete screed or other option, as well as glue.

For carpet or other soft flooring materials, there is a very important point - a plywood sheet or fiberboard should be laid on the top of the entire heating system of an infrared warm floor.

It should be noted that the film is very sensitive even to local overheating. This leads to the fact that it is forbidden to put bulky furniture on it. So you should first think about where the interior items will be placed in the room.

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