What Pipes To Choose For A Water-type Underfloor Heating Device

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

• Pipe requirements
• Pipe laying methods
• Metal-plastic pipes
• Polypropylene pipes
• Cross-linked polyethylene products
• Stainless and copper products
• Quantity calculation
• The perfect solution

The installation of a warm floor in the room instead of classic heating radiators allows you to bring comfort and coziness to the room, as well as take full advantage of the entire area. It acts not only as the main, but also as an additional option for heating in the apartment. But at the same time, it is very important to perform high-quality installation so that the service life reaches its maximum threshold. In this case, the material used in the work is of no small importance, in particular the pipe for the warm floor. Their choice should be approached with all responsibility.

Pipe requirements

Installation of a warm floor is not one of the very simple methods of the device. But if you understand the technology, then the time spent is reduced. It should be understood that pipes for hot and cold water supply cannot be used in operation. Heating elements must withstand pressure drops, temperature indicators, as well as bacteriological and chemical stress. Even polymer or metal-plastic-based pipes will be able to serve for several decades.

For pipes, other requirements must also be met:

• Elasticity. They must be bent by hand, but at the same time be stable and remain intact around the entire perimeter. This will allow for high-quality installation, as well as calculate their number more accurately.

  

  During operation, they should not break, crack.
• Tightness and reliable insulation. The heating system must be protected against oxidation processes.
• Cast iron pipes should not be used. This is all provided for by building codes and regulations.

It is best to pay attention to well-known manufacturers. As a result, you will get not only high-quality installation and all products, but also receive compensation if a defect is detected during operation.

Pipe laying methods

The choice of pipes should be guided by the most common methods of laying them. It can be a concrete screed, hence the name of the concrete method. In addition, the pipeline can be installed on timber log systems, as well as on rough floors. The main thing is that all preparatory activities are carried out at a high level.

Installation can be carried out without the use of cement. The topcoat used in the work rests in this case on sheets of aluminum, as well as on a layer that absorbs moisture. In the latter case, we are talking about foamed polyethylene or ordinary cardboard.

Metal-plastic pipes

The main components of metal-plastic pipes are aluminum and polyethylene. Even when heated, such products will not change their appearance and parameters. The main thing is that the temperature should not be more than 110 degrees. Water in a warm water floor system usually warms up by no more than 55 degrees. In addition, this type of pipe can be easily bent at the required angle. Everything will depend on the radius of the pipe outside.

The bending angle of the pipe is equal to the outer diameter of the pipe, which is multiplied by 8. Reliability is not affected in any way.

Metal-plastic has such qualities as:

• Ecological cleanliness.
• Resistant to corrosion as well as chemical environments.
• Insignificant specific gravity.
• Excellent thermal insulation properties. When moving, for example, water through a pipeline, it is not perceptible by ear during operation.

It is impossible to ignore minor defects that can be encountered when using a metal-plastic pipe as the main one for a warm floor. Constant temperature changes can adversely affect the condition of the product walls.

If you bend the pipe several times, then there is a high probability that the aluminum layer of the material will be damaged and fail. Consequently, all the basic qualities will be lost.

The pipes must not be twisted or bent about their axis. There are several options for welding aluminum tape. It can be "butt" or "overlap". The work uses ultrasound. As a result, it remains only to attach polyethylene elements to a special glue outside and inside the tube.

The most common pipe diameters are 16 and 20 mm. In this case, the walls will have wall thicknesses of 2 and 2.25 mm, respectively. As for the weight of each running meter of material, it will be 115 and 170 grams, depending on the above diameter.

Each product has its own marking, which displays information about the manufacturer, a certificate of conformity, production date, the diameter of the pipe walls, as well as their thickness. In addition, the nominal pressure, batch number, as well as the specific grade (sewn PE-X and regular PP-R) are displayed.

Polypropylene pipes

They can be used when the ambient temperature is not lower than +10 degrees. In addition to the low cost, the material is characterized by solidity, which they acquire after heat sealing. Pipes are capable of serving for about 25 years, as they have a sufficient level of strength and reliability.

It is allowed to warm up the liquid inside such elements up to +95 degrees. Due to the fact that they have a small bending radius, they have found little use in underfloor heating systems. Heating in this case in the room is reduced. Additionally, you will also have to purchase welding nozzles and facers.

If you already use polypropylene pipes for the underfloor heating system, then you should choose the PN25 marking, referring to the number of reinforced, perforated with aluminum foil. Usually the outside diameter is from 21.2 to 77.9 mm, and the wall thickness is at least 4 mm and reaches 13.3 mm. So the final choice will depend entirely on the contractor and the characteristics of the underfloor heating in the room.

Cross-linked polyethylene products

There are two main types of XLPE pipes:

• PEX. The material is based on modified polyethylene. As a result of the production process, products are obtained that can withstand temperature extremes. The long-term use of the products is achieved due to the anti-oxygen barrier. The entire range of products can be found on the construction market. In this case, there will be various parameters and technical data, which makes it possible to carry out all types of work on the installation of a warm floor without problems. It is the PEX marking that is most often used when equipping an under floor heating system.

  

• PE RT. It is also based on polyethylene, which has such positive qualities as the ability to lay in the winter at low temperatures. The strength and reliability of the entire structure remains at the required level. A water heat-insulated floor loves a pipe diameter of 16 and 20 mm more. At the same time, the pipe for underfloor heating with the PE RT marking is distinguished by excellent flexibility, they can be bent if necessary. In simple terms, the entire installation process is no more difficult than assembling a children's designer. Even a beginner will be able to cope with such a task the first time.

  

Stainless and copper products

The metal elements of the pipeline structure include materials such as stainless steel and copper. First, decide on all the qualities of copper materials.

Copper products were popular before and now do not fade into the background. This is due to the full compliance with the requirements of the underfloor heating system, which is arranged in the room. Among the positive aspects, a high degree of heat transfer can be noted. The copper material itself is considered a heat conductor, which allows it to be used for heating systems of various levels. In addition, the likelihood of traces of corrosion on the product is almost excluded, both inside and outside the pipe for heating a warm floor. Due to their high plasticity, they can fit in absolutely any option, which will be chosen as the main scheme.

During the installation process, there is no such precaution when using copper pipes, since they can easily withstand mechanical stress of a certain degree. But it is worth noting that it is not uncommon to purchase pipes in a plastic braid. This further protects the pipes from external influences. Still, the main disadvantage is the high cost, which somewhat repels the bulk of consumers who want to arrange a water-heated floor system. So it's hard to say which is the best pipe for a warm floor suitable in a given situation.

Now let's move on to stainless pipes for a warm water floor. They are presented in the form of corrugation. Despite the softness of the material itself, their strength and reliability remains at a high level. There will definitely not be any corrosion on the product during operation. Flexibility allows the installation of a water-type underfloor heating in any conditions and in various options.

A variety of fittings can be used to connect the pipes together. Regardless of this, the strength of the entire structure remains at a high level, and the joints are tightly connected. The main disadvantage, like that of copper products, is the high cost, which is only slightly lower.

All these characteristics will tell you exactly which pipes for a warm floor to choose and what is better to buy, that the heating system has served for a long time.

Quantity calculation

When you have decided which pipes for underfloor heating to buy for work, you need to calculate the required number. For this purpose, a laying scheme is drawn. It is best to use graph paper in such a difficult matter. It should display a room to scale. In addition, those interior items that will remain in place after installation should be reflected on paper. It is best not to install a water heated floor under them. These areas are excluded from the general. All the space that will be empty must accommodate the pipe laying scheme.

The easiest installation method is “snake”. But right away it is worth remembering its main drawback, when hot water enters one section of the room and exits on the opposite. Consequently, the heating of the area near the inset will be greater than in the distant one. For an even distribution of temperature in the room, a "spiral" scheme is used.

There are requirements that are met during the calculation. The maximum section of a homogeneous pipe on one circuit should not exceed 60 meters. Otherwise, the heat carrier in the pipes will greatly lose temperature before leaving. There will be almost no efficiency from the operation of such a system. If the room has a large area, then it is best to make several sections where to lay a separate contour.

In the drawing, there should be a distance of about 15-20 cm near the walls, and between adjacent areas should not be more than 35 cm in order to achieve uniform heating of the floor in the room. All this should be reflected on paper to scale.

A pipe diameter of 16 cm warms up a distance of 10 to 15 cm in both directions. In this case, the distance between the elements should not exceed 20-25 cm.

When a competent drawing is made, it is very easy to calculate the total length of the warm water pipes used for the system. After measuring it on the diagram, multiply by the set scale, relative to the area of the room. If there is no experience in drawing up drawings, then it is better to involve a specialist in the work.

The perfect solution

If you look at all the characteristics of the products presented above, then we can say that the best pipe for a warm floor is copper. But most of the performers leave them aside due to the complexity of installation and high cost. If you have an appropriate budget, it is better to pay attention to them.

What pipes for underfloor heating are most common? Here, the leader is metal-plastic pipes. Everything is due to the low cost, as well as easy installation. All fittings can be connected without welding. In addition, plastic products are of interest, which are distinguished by the absence of an aluminum interlayer. True, their properties and qualities are somewhat reduced.

It is difficult to categorically say which pipe for a warm floor is better. Here everything will be connected with the specific system of the heating device, as well as the requirements for them. Before the start of all work, a specialist in this direction, as well as a consultant from a hardware store, can come to help. There should be no rush to buy. It is better to consider all possible options and weigh all the pros and cons.

Video:

Video:

Video:

Video: