Which is better to choose an electric heated floor: film, cable, mats? Pros and cons of each. Warm electric floors - pros and cons Electric water heated floors health disadvantages

The most common option today is considered to be a warm water floor, the use of which allows you to completely warm up the floor surface to the required temperature, without having visual heating devices. In addition, parquet, laminate or linoleum can be laid on top of such a system without any problems. You can read more about warm water floors here (http://www.a-comfort.ru/montazh-teplyh-polov.html)

Warm floor – effective solution among all the options that contribute to heating the room. This system has gained great popularity due to the fact that installation does not require much effort and time. A warm water floor is a structure, or rather a network of pipelines through which water flows, heating up to 35 degrees Celsius. This type of heating is often preferred by urban homeowners, since there is no need to use water from the central heating system. But such a system can also be installed in country houses in which a heating boiler and a special water pump are installed. The "warm floor" system can work not only from gas boiler, but also from heat pump.

Such heating has many advantages that make it possible to distinguish a water-heated floor from a radiator heating system.

The heat is distributed evenly throughout the room, making your stay in the room comfortable.

Very often, the feet freeze first from the cold, and with the help of an installed water heated floor, this problem can be eliminated by providing warmth.

Cold air rises.

Saving energy consumption, which is very good when the room area is large.

If such a system is installed by specialists, the customer pays only for their work and the materials used. After this, you will not have to spend money on maintaining the heated floor.

IN winter period The system helps to heat the room, and in summer - cools it.

When installing a “warm” floor system, you can forget about heaters and radiator pipes.

But, no matter how good everything is, such a system also has a number of disadvantages that need to be considered in more detail:

The main disadvantage when installing a water floor is that if there is a need to obtain a relatively low heating temperature, you need to have the presence mixing unit, working in conjunction with a water pump, which creates forced circulation of water flowing through the pipes.

In addition, often the use of a water heating system can lead to the fact that the overall pressure in the central heating of the house begins to decrease.

It is important to know that after the water passes through the loop pipes, it enters another room in a cooled form, which leads to insufficient heating.

Today, it is possible to install a water heated floor only with permission from the responsible authorities, who must give their consent to use. Do not connect yourself this type heating without the necessary sanctions.

It is best to consult with specialists who install and maintain water heated floors before installing such a system.

But in general, it should be noted that such a heating system will become an indispensable assistant during the cold season. Besides the fact that it is hidden from prying eyes, consumes little electricity, so it also surpasses many heaters in quality.

expert.ru

The concept of water heated floor means a pipeline diagram laid in a layer concrete screed. Heated by a boiler or boiler, the coolant circulates through the pipes and heats the floor.

1. System Description
2. Consumer Opinions
3. Conclusions

Peculiarities

In private houses and cottages, water-heated floors are increasingly being used, the opinions and reviews of buyers about which are ambiguous. To decide on the rationality of using such a design, you should understand some of its features:

• Warm floors are part of a water heating system, so they can be installed in country houses and cottages or new buildings if they have heat exchange risers or autonomous heating. In apartments of houses old building this type Underfloor heating is prohibited.
• The design is a “layer cake”, quite complex in execution. Installation requires certain experience and a high degree of qualification.
• When pipelines are damaged, a leak occurs, and the location of the breakdown is difficult to identify. To repair the area, it is necessary to dismantle the floor.
• Not all types of finishing coating are suitable for heated floors.

What are the reviews from users?

“The process of installing built-in underfloor heating is truly an amazing thing, I did it in my home. I hired contractors for installation - the floors turned out like something out of a fairy tale. General heating operates at minimum mode, the rooms are warm and cozy. The bathroom is absolutely classy, ​​there is no such dampness and the water dries quickly on the tiles. Even with the heating turned off, the cold floor does not cause any discomfort.”

Igor, Moscow.

“I installed heated floors throughout the entire area of ​​the apartment to use as the main option without radiators. I laid ceramic tiles on top in the hallway, bathrooms and kitchen, and laminate flooring in the rest of the rooms. Room thermostat regulates the operation of the boiler, while the system copes well with heating - economical and comfortable view heating".

Anatoly, Nizhny Novgorod.

“In the house, I heat the entire first floor only with a water-heated floor system - there are no radiators. Very warm even in severe frosts. The main disadvantage is the price. Laying technology and materials are much more expensive than batteries, plus special thermostatic mixing pump groups. It’s better to hire specialists to carry out the work – this is also an additional cost.”

Konstantin, Volgograd.

“Heated floors have increased comfort compared to radiator heating - this is undeniable, but they also have a number of disadvantages. I have floors like this in my bathrooms, hallways and bathhouse. At temperatures below 25 °C, I heat the floor in the bathhouse to 30-35 °C - it’s hot for the feet. I visit the house periodically, so I lower it to 15 °C. The radiators can warm up the house to 22 °C in 4 hours, and heated floors in 8. In the summer I encountered the problem of a cold tiled floor.”

Alexander, St. Petersburg.

“I have a big house, I installed heated floors in all the rooms. They didn’t turn it on the first year, they started it up only the next year – the winter was harsh. The radiators were turned off, the temperature in the rooms remained 21-22 degrees - it was warm to walk on the floor even without slippers. The average monthly gas consumption turned out to be 1.7 times less than with radiator heating.”

Danil, Samara.

“I have been installing floors under the floor for quite some time. parquet board. I would like to note that the maximum temperature on the surface of the parquet should be no more than 27 ° C, and you should definitely avoid laying a warm water floor under the furniture. With good ventilation and insulation external walls the temperature in the room will be 24-25 degrees, taking into account floor heating to 27 °C without additional heating sources.”

Maxim, Moscow.

Let's sum it up

The main role in the effectiveness and feasibility of using a warm water floor is played by the finishing coating (linoleum, ceramic tiles, laminate, parquet or engineering boards). You should choose materials with medium or high thermal conductivity, otherwise all the heat will be “extinguished.” Ceramic tiles are considered the most heat-conducting option, but some reviews indicate excessive “coldness” outside the heating season.

According to reviews, the system of warm water floors under laminate can only be used by paying special attention to the choice of finishing coating:

• load class 31-33, thickness 8-10 mm;
• the presence of special pictograms or inscriptions on the labeling - “Underfloor heating” or “Warm Wasser”, “H 2 O”;
• safety class E0-E1.

The following are suitable for installation on a water floor system: Quick-Step Creo (Belgium), Tarkett Woodstock Premium (Russia), Pergo Living Expression (Sweden), Classen Futuro Harmony (Germany) and others.

Many people consider underfloor heating as their main heating system without the use of radiators, but for such a design to be effective, all steps must be taken necessary measures for thermal insulation of walls and roofs of a building. Owners of private houses and cottages note the rationality of warm water floors for the first floor of a building with a basement. Warm water floors create increased comfortable conditions in the premises of a house and apartment at the expense of large surface heat transfer.

Related articles:

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Electric heating

Advantages of electric floors

This system, as the name suggests, runs on electricity.
It uses cables made of special alloys as a heat conductor. The current passing through the wires heats the cables, and from them the surface of the floor and more are heated. The ability to organize several temperature zones is the main advantage of an electric heated floor. The first zone is directly above the floor surface (+24°), the second is 1.5-2 m from the floor (+22°) and the third is under the ceiling (+20°). This regime fully meets the needs of the human body.

Warming up the room and distributing temperature flows in the room with a traditional radiator and warm electric floor

Electric floors are designed for long-term operation. They are less susceptible to external mechanical impact, which distinguishes them favorably from water floors.

The electrical "warm floor" system has the following advantages:

1. It can be used indoors in conjunction with central heating.
2. Since the air is heated by thermal radiation, the air in the room does not become dry.
3. Does not require additional equipment As a result, costs are reduced.
4. Thanks to thermostats and temperature sensors, you can control temperature regime and set it as you wish.
5. Installation of film heated floors does not require major repairs to the base, and the installation mesh of heating mats can be cut if necessary.

An interesting fact is that, according to scientists, the use of infrared floors not only reduces energy costs, but also increases human immunity. Under the influence of infrared rays, microorganisms and cells vibrate. Due to this, vital processes are stimulated, and well-being improves. It's up to you to believe this statement or not.

Disadvantages of electric floors

Electric floor is not suitable for large premises, since the efficiency of using electricity as heat is quite low.

The larger the area of ​​the room, the greater the energy consumption for heating it. Water systems here look more economical. In addition, styling electrical elements(cable or film) is not possible under furniture due to the high risk of their failure due to overheating. However, the rod floor shown in the photo does not have these disadvantages.

Cables in heated floors warm up evenly, but this is their disadvantage: this can affect the arrangement of furniture and the choice of finishing floor covering. Thus, cable floors will work best with self-leveling floors, tiles and ceramic tiles, film - with laminate or linoleum.

Resistive heating cables cannot be cut. Therefore, before installation, you need to accurately calculate the length of the wire.

The negative aspects of using an electric floor include:

• Increased energy costs.
• When using the electrical system, it is inevitable that electromagnetic radiation, which can negatively affect the health of particularly sensitive people and the environment in the room.
• Installation without your own hands is quite expensive.
• Laying wires requires precise calculation of the pitch, so it will be difficult to do without some experience.
• The cable floor is laid in a screed. If you are renovating old apartment, then the costs of refurbishment of floors will increase.
• Infrared floors are expensive.
• Heating mats should not be placed under household appliances and large furniture.

Only by considering all the positive and negative qualities of the electrical underfloor heating system can you decide which better view use: cable, matte or film.

Water heating

Pros of water floors

Water heated floors are a modernized design of water heating. Water enters the pipes from the autonomous heating system. A mandatory requirement is the presence of a pump, since without it the liquid will not be able to circulate through the system.

A significant advantage of a water floor is the low cost of the coolant. Low cost water provides high quality space heating.

Water heated floors have the following advantages:

1. Can be installed under almost any floor covering, including natural parquet.
2. Reliability of system operation.
3. Electricity costs are significantly reduced.
4. Possibility of use as the main heating system, which allows you to abandon visible heating sources (batteries, convectors, etc.).
5. Installing a water floor is cheaper than installing an electric one.

Cons of water floors

Like any heating system, water floors are not without certain disadvantages:

• It cannot be installed in an apartment building without permission from the relevant authorities. The fact is that if such floors are connected to a central heating system, then temperature losses for the remaining apartments increase. It is prohibited to connect to a common heating system without permission from housing and communal services.
• They require the purchase of additional equipment (circulation pump, manifold, mixing unit, etc.).
• Damage to communications is possible, which will lead to leaks. Therefore, when purchasing pipes, you must first figure out what material they are made from and which one is better suited for the “warm floor” system.
• Complex installation that requires certain skills in laying pipes, pouring and leveling floors.
• Because the water floor is flooded cement-sand mortar, in the event of a breakdown, the entire screed will need to be dismantled.
• A competent calculation of the system power is required. In case of errors in the project, the consumer risks being left without heating.

polprofy.ru

A water heated floor is a room heating system from a boiler or from a boiler. The pipes are laid on the base and must be filled with concrete screed.

Advantages of water heated floors

The main advantage of this design is that the room is evenly heated and heat loss is significantly reduced, which means fuel is used economically. In addition, you don’t have to install radiators, which will give you the freedom to implement many design ideas.

Warm floors of this type are most often installed in country houses or cottages, as well as in apartments with autonomous heating. If there is no automatic boiler, it is better not to make water heated floors. IN ordinary apartments, such a floor cannot be made, since it is prohibited by law; in this case, electric heated floors are installed.

Disadvantages of water heated floors

The disadvantage of water heated floors is that leaking pipes can lead to the need to break the floor, although the service life of pipes that are used today is 50 years. In addition, you cannot lay any floor covering on the floor; ceramic tiles are best suited, as they have high thermal conductivity. In this case, parquet would be an unsuitable covering, since wood transfers heat very poorly.

Technology for laying water-based heated floors

Water heated floors are installed only inside cement screed. To install it correctly you need lore, skills and experience. An important step work is to carry out all the necessary calculations. It is very difficult to do this yourself, since it takes into account the dimensions of the room, what the floors are made of, the presence or absence of insulation, what power the boiler is using, as well as the diameter of the pipes and the type of flooring.

Conclusion

If you decide to make a water heated floor, it is better to entrust this work to professionals, otherwise there is a risk that you will not get the desired result.

sof-trans.ru

Warm water floor - the main differences from other types of heating

The “warm floor” heating systems that exist today are divided into two subtypes: electric and water. According to the method of application, such systems can act as the main source of space heating or be auxiliary heating equipment. Electric heating elements are often used for local heating of technological rooms, balconies, loggias, bathrooms and toilets. On the contrary, a water heating circuit can be installed throughout the entire apartment or used in one of the rooms, for example, in a children's room.

This heating option is usually chosen in corner rooms, where there is a high probability of cold zones appearing. Thanks to its operating principle, this heating option is able to provide the most comfortable temperature conditions. Despite the fact that, in comparison with other heating methods, water heated floors have their pros and cons, in the general context this type of heating deserves more attention. In any case, there are always aspects and situations in everyday life that allow one to evaluate the advantages of the system, or, conversely, that indicate the technical imperfection of the chosen option.

For reference: a floor equipped with a water circuit allows the use of a wide variety of floor coverings, unlike electric mats.

For example: in order to maintain normal circulation in a home heating system using heated floor technology, you will need to install not only a pipeline, but also install additional equipment. Circulation pump, manifold - mixer, whole set three way valves(by the number of water circuits), all this is mandatory attributes and accessories in this case, regardless of the heated area. Availability special devices will avoid a drop in coolant pressure in the central heating circuit and prevent interruptions in circulation hot water household use.

It should also be remembered that such a system is prohibited for installation in an apartment building, which was originally designed for district heating. For private sector residents and owners country houses On the contrary, this option is preferable to traditional heating options.

You need to know that in order to implement this type of heating in your house or apartment, considerable costs will be required associated with a large amount of work and consumables. The drawings and diagrams show the temperature conditions inside the room, achieved as a result of using a thermal curtain and when operating the heated floor covering of the system.

It is clearly visible on the basis of what principle heating is carried out internal space. In the case of a water floor, the heat source is located in the lower part of the room. Due to this thermal energy spreads evenly over the entire floor area, transmitting to air masses circulating inside the living space required heat. When using radiator heating, during which internal air exchange occurs due to convection, the floor is the coldest place in the living room.

Insufficient heating, especially in corner rooms and with a large glazed surface, is compensated by installing additional heating devices. A water floor is fully capable of solving this problem, uniformly heating the entire internal volume of the room. The aesthetic side of the issue is also important. The absence of heating radiators has a positive effect on the quality of the interior of residential premises. A warm floor distributes heat evenly throughout the entire space, thereby heating all objects in the room.

For reference: the most acceptable indoor temperature for comfortable stay+ 18 0 C. By heating the coolant in the water heating circuit to a temperature of +35-45 0 C, the optimal heating temperature of the floor covering is 25 0 C. Accordingly, the lowest floor layer of air heats up more strongly, while the upper layers have a comfortable temperature.

Warm floor design. Scope of application

The main advantage that you should pay attention to when studying a heated floor heating system is cost-effectiveness and high efficiency. Interior large area, especially in private houses, designed for autonomous heating, can be successfully heated in this way. Even the installation and arrangement of heated floors in all residential premises of a large multi-room residential building will be a completely profitable enterprise. For that category of citizens who have water gas heating or expect to use solid fuel units, a water floor is almost an ideal solution to the issue of organizing heating.

Comparison of this heating scheme with electric floors inappropriate in this case. The last option, even taking into account the comparative ease of installation and ease of operation, is clearly inferior to a water floor in terms of economic indicators. An electric floor can be installed in individual places where there is a need to heat small areas.

Before summing up the advantages and disadvantages of a water heated floor, let’s try to understand its design and technological features.

The basic principle of operation in this case is as follows:

• heat source - coolant liquid, boiler water, which can flow into a pipeline laid in the floor;
• heated water can come either from the riser of the central heating supply line or from an autonomous heating device.

Thanks to design features and new technologies, today there are several ways to equip heated floors. As an ideal floor covering, it is best to use ceramic, concrete or combined materials(tile, decorative stone, concrete screed). The advantages and disadvantages in this situation are subjective. Ceramic tiles or concrete screed have high thermal conductivity, and accordingly, when heated by the heated coolant, they transfer heat better into the room. Conversely, laminate, parquet, and linoleum are convenient and comfortable floor coverings that play the role of additional insulation, reducing the intensity of heat transfer in internal spaces.

The efficiency of a warm water floor directly depends on the quality of the layer cake, i.e. on the composition of the underfloor heating substrate. The substrate usually includes:

• Waterproofing;
• Metal mounting mesh;
• Thermal insulation;
• Damper tape;
• Dry or wet screed.

Note: As a rule, the traditional thickness of a layer cake varies in the range of 50-150 mm. The final parameters of the cake are determined depending on the diameter of the pipes for the water circuit, the thickness of the floors, the quality of the floor covering and the power of the underfloor heating system.

The main operating tool in this case is a pipeline made of metal-plastic pipes. United in individual fragments or sections (contours) of pipe are laid on a cushion, after which they are connected to collectors through which coolant is supplied to the heating circuit and returned.

The design of the heating system also contains the operating principle. The distance between the screed and the floor covering is where the warm water circuit is laid, through which the entire surface of the floor is heated to the required temperature. Due to insignificant heating (the optimal heating temperature of the coolant is 35-45 0 C), the “warm floor” heating system is low-temperature.

Obvious advantages of heated floors

If you do not take into account installation difficulties, heated floors are rightfully considered one of the most effective heating systems. The low-temperature operating mode of heated floors can provide real and significant savings in heating costs. On average, 20-40% compared to the radiator heating option. The absence of overheating of the air mass indoors ensures good saturation of the internal space with positive ions.

Other obvious advantages include the following qualities:

• high environmental safety of the system, full compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards for heating residential premises;
• the main part of thermal energy is transferred as a result of thermal radiation, which has a positive effect on the human body;
• real heat savings in residential buildings with high ceilings(up to 50% for ceiling heights of more than 3 meters);
• the absence of open wiring and radiators greatly simplifies interior decoration residential premises;
• real subsequent savings in heating costs compared to electric heating (on average 5-7 times);
• Unlike electric heated floors, a water floor does not produce a powerful electromagnetic field that negatively affects the well-being of the inhabitants of the home.

Obvious disadvantages of this heating system

The main drawback that can overshadow you if you decide to install heated floors in your home is rather the presence of administrative prohibitions on the use of such a heating system. You can get around the prohibitions if you are focusing on a small heating area and you have a ground floor. Otherwise, the situation is fraught in the future administrative fines and restoration of dismantled equipment.

The second argument that can be attributed to the disadvantages of this heating system is the lengthy and painstaking installation of the equipment. The disadvantage of a water floor during installation is the involuntary weighting design features buildings. Due to the layer cake used for the substrate, the weight of the ceiling can increase by 10-15%, which is extremely dangerous for residential multi-storey buildings old building.

Following installation and installation technology, homeowners will have to face quite large financial costs. Unlike electric floors, water heated floors are labor-intensive in the process of maintenance and repair. In terms of safety, a water floor is inferior to other home heating options.

Conclusion

There are many advantages to this heating system, but there are also some disadvantages when it comes to heated floors. However, the situation looks as follows. In any case, if you decide to install warm water floors in your house or apartment, the advantages that you will receive in the future will clearly outweigh the disadvantages. High efficiency, cost-effectiveness and practicality are the main advantages of this heating system.

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Peculiarities

Water heated floor systems are a fairly new solution in the field of built-in heating systems. The peculiarity is that the coolant in this case is heated water circulating through pipes laid in the floor, which transfers heat radiated through the decorative flooring into the room.

At the same time, the efficiency of water heated floors is high; this type of heating seems to be extremely economical, allowing one to reduce the cost of heating a home to a comfortable temperature by 20-30, or even 50%. It's all about the temperature of the circulating fluid, which, as a rule, does not exceed 50⁰C, and often 40⁰C is enough.

Why? It's simple. The floor in the room in the case of a heated floor is a solid convective surface emitting heat. At the same time, the floor covering remains pleasant and comfortable, without posing a risk of burns, and the air in the room is heated evenly over the entire area.

Unlike traditional heating radiators, a heated floor immediately warms up the air to comfortable temperatures below (22-24⁰С), while at head level the temperature is already somewhat lower (18-20⁰С), and an overheating zone does not form under the ceiling, and no empty heat loss occurs. This property is one of the advantages of water heated floors, as it provides optimal “healthy” heating that promotes comfort and health.

Like any type of heating, water heated floors, of course, have their own advantages and disadvantages. And this must be taken into account when deciding whether to install this type of heating system.

The undoubted advantages of water heated floors include the following:

1. Economical– compared to radiator heating from 20-30% to 60%. When heating water to low (30-50⁰C) temperatures using gas in autonomous systems, especially with large heated areas, a water floor is even superior to an electric floor in terms of operating costs (up to 5-7 times more economical).
2. Safety, because the pipes with the coolant, firstly, have a low temperature, and secondly, they are completely hidden. This eliminates the risk of injury and burns.
3. Comfort, ensured by uniform heating of the air and pleasant tactile sensations when walking on the floor barefoot.
4. Aesthetics, because the built-in system solves the problem of hiding or camouflaging unaesthetic radiators and opens up wide horizons for the implementation of design ideas for remodeling and interior arrangement.
5. Smooth and soft heating, safety for capricious floor coverings due to gradual heating and low temperatures, absence of thermal shock (in the case of installing a thermostat and the ability to control the temperature of the coolant).
6. No generation of harmful electromagnetic field and oversaturation of air with positive ions.
7. Water heated floor does not dry out the air in the room.

While listing the advantages of water heated floors, it is worth analyzing its disadvantages:

1. Labor intensity of installation– to lay a water floor you will have to start major renovation with leveling and thorough preparation of the subfloor surface. The system consists of several layers various materials, including waterproofing, cement-concrete screed and decorative flooring.
2. Significant initial costs for installing a hydronic floor option- approximately 5 times higher than electric or traditional radiator. However, with active use, water heated floors demonstrate high efficiency and pay for themselves.
3. It is impossible to install heated floors, for example, on stairs and in small corridors. In such areas, additional installation of radiators is required.
4. The likelihood of a leak and the difficulty of eliminating it– to find damage and repair the pipeline, you will need to completely dismantle the floor covering and remove the screed.

Due to the risk of leakage and, accordingly, flooding of neighbors below, water-heated floors are not recommended for installation in multi-storey buildings. Also, when connecting water-heated floor circuits to the central heating system, there is a high risk of pressure drop in the system throughout the house and a sharp decrease in heating efficiency.

Is it enough to analyze the information on the query “water heated floor advantages and disadvantages” to make a final decision, especially if people with poor health live in the home? On the one hand, if the difficulties do not frighten you, but the advantages captivate you, it is worthwhile to critically evaluate them again.

The point is that she main feature and the advantage of this type of heating, namely, constant elevated temperature flooring, which allows you to “keep your feet warm” all the time, may also have a downside.

Namely, to provide negative impact on the vascular system of the legs, because blood constantly flows to the “warm” legs, putting a constant load on the veins and expanding them.

Therefore, it is recommended to install a water or electric floor in rooms with periodic and short-term presence of people there, or to limit the time they walk on the floor or stay on it.

The question of whether heated water floors are harmful to the general physical condition and well-being cannot be answered unambiguously. The air in the room is not overdried, there is no improper mixing of layers, but in the case of heated floors it is difficult natural ventilation. In order to avoid air staleness, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often and take care of forced ventilation.

Conclusion

Water heated floor is an effective alternative to radiator heating and good option for first floors, private houses. However, making a decision about installation requires a scrupulous analysis of the pros and cons.

Choosing a heated floor

Description of the types of heated floors, their pros and cons, as well as tips for choosing a heated floor...

The use of heated floors is common not only in cold latitudes, but also in areas with a continental climate. This heating system allows you to heat the rooms evenly; be independent from housing and communal services, save space in the room, and also warm floors have a positive effect on the human body.

There are two types of heated floors: water and electric. The second type of heated floors is divided into two more methods of electric heating: convection electric floors and infrared.

So should you choose electric or water heated floors?

Advantages of water heated floors

The advantage of water heated floors is their efficiency, since they are connected to a common heating system and can significantly reduce energy costs for heating the room. Can be used to heat water different types fuel and energy. If you live in a private house or cottage, when installing a water heated floor, you will have to take care of heating boilers in advance, since the load on them increases significantly.

In an apartment building with central heating, installing a water-heated floor is quite problematic. If your apartment does not have individual heating, it will not be possible to install a water heated floor.

Disadvantages of water heated floors

The disadvantage of water heated floors is the reduced service life if the heated area is more than 60 square meters. The next disadvantage is its complexity and high cost of installation. When installing it, you will have to fork out for pumps, filters, and pipes. And yet, if one section or segment of the pipeline is damaged, it will not be possible to disconnect only part of the system, since the pipelines are connected in series. And if the boiler that heats the water stops working, then the water-heated floors will simply be useless.

Electric option is the most popular way of arranging heated floors. Cable system heating has increased reliability, and high value resistance allows the cable to heat up even at low current, giving off heat to the floor covering.

Advantages of electric heated floors

An electric heated floor is easy to install; it can be laid in a concrete screed, and the screed can be decorated with a special parquet board or ceramic tiles. The heating temperature can be set using a thermostat, which is easy to control. You can adjust the temperature in each room individually. Electric heated floors do not require after-sales service, and they are quite durable. With proper operation, the service life can be 50 years.

Disadvantages of electric heated floors

But, despite all the advantages, it is worth saying a few words about the disadvantages of electric heated floors. They require significant energy expenditure when heating large areas, which means heating a spacious house or apartment can cost a pretty penny. In this situation, it is more profitable to use water heated floors. An electromagnetic field is also formed, but due to the shielding braids it is insignificant.

Both water and electric floors have their pros and cons. The main thing when choosing is to take into account many factors: your budget, the size of the room and even the location of the furniture in the room. Taking into account all the nuances, you can choose what you need.

Repairing an apartment without the proper skills is quite a difficult task, and yet, quite often, out of all types of repair operations, homeowners undertake wallpapering the walls. Read the instructions on how to hang wallpaper yourself...

If we have not made heating systems with water heated floors before, then it will not be right to immediately take on the practical implementation of our desires. You need to first pay attention to some theory. Well, at least learn about the pros and cons of heated floors. Perhaps the disadvantages will be such that you won’t want to have such a heating system in your home at all.

What are the advantages of water heated floors compared to radiators?

Disadvantages of water heated floors

1. The heat loss of the room where the heated floor is installed must be less than 100 W/m2.

   Conclusion: with higher heat losses, you will have to either insulate the house or install combined heating (water heated floor plus radiators).

2. It is not always possible to install water heated floors in apartment buildings, where single pipe systems heating. Well, or at least you need to know how to make such a connection correctly and without any conflicts with neighbors or utility workers (this is discussed in detail in the article about installing a water-heated floor in an apartment).
3. Large thickness of concrete screed over a warm floor. If such heating is on the second floor or higher, then the floor level will rise by ~10 cm. On the first floor or on the ground floor, the total is more - by 14-20 cm. In other words, when planning to heat a water-heated floor in an old apartment (house), be prepared to other global works related to the reinstallation of doors. And one more thing: concrete screeds for a heated floor will increase the load on floors and other structures... are you sure that they will withstand? What is your confidence based on? Think about it.
4. Installation of a water heated floor and materials for it are more expensive than for radiator heating. True, these expenses are then paid off by saving energy resources, as I wrote about above.

There are several other disadvantages of heated floors that must be taken into account. I will list them.

1. Any heated floor (not necessarily water) is not best system heating for rooms in which people are constantly present. Surprised? I'll explain why. Alas, almost everything in the world has a downside.

So, contrary to the same well-known saying (or proverb? - I can’t remember what the difference is), your feet do not always need to be kept warm. I mean, not all the time! Blood rushes to heated areas of the body, this is well known to everyone. And the legs, being warm all the time, do not rest, the veins do not rest... The result is a disease of the veins due to their constant expansion.

Conclusion: you need to stay in a room with a heated floor for a limited time. That is, do such heating in the hallway, bathroom, in any passage corridor, in the bathhouse, in the dressing room... where you are rarely or for a short time.

2. I mentioned the lack of mixing of air layers in the advantages of a warm floor. But this is also a minus, because it is impossible to provide normal natural ventilation. But with radiators, natural ventilation is possible.

   Conclusion: when designing heated floors, design and forced ventilation with all its “charms” (connection to the power grid, noise, additional expenses... this is for you in continuation of the theme of efficiency), otherwise the air in such a room will be stale.

3. Not every material can be used to cover a heated floor. Therefore, you need to know the following.

   It is necessary to distinguish between two concepts that are similar in sound, but different in meaning: “comfortable floor” and “warm floor”. What's the difference?

   What's the difference?

   The comfortable floor has a temperature of 20…22 degrees and is only suitable for off-season use. But in real winter cold it will not cope with heating. And then you will need additional heating (radiator, air, or something else). Wood is quite suitable for covering a comfortable floor.

   But in warm floor The coolant heats up to 55 degrees. And you can’t cover such a floor with wood! Tree from high temperature will crack. But if you don’t heat it, then, again, such a heating system won’t cope in cold weather.

   And although there is a separate section about coverings for heated floors, I will say a few words here. As coverings for heated floors, you need to take only natural materials: carpet made from natural material, ceramic tiles, linoleum - also from something natural, and not from PVC, parquet and parquet boards, etc.). Non-natural materials contain different harmful substances, which will evaporate when heated... however, they evaporate even without heating. Do you need it?

Well, I believe that now, knowing all the pros and cons of water heated floors, you will be able to make an informed choice, and not “because that’s it.” Next we will consider the question energy saving when heating with water heated floors.

heating with water heated floor

In the last few years, people are increasingly equipping their homes with underfloor heating systems, preferring electric or water installations. Surely, every potential user of such heating element It will be interesting to know what the pros and cons of heated floors are. This is what we will discuss in our publication.

Installation of internal heating systems

Before talking about the pros and cons of heated floors, you need to understand what we are talking about in general. Therefore, it would not be a bad idea to familiarize yourself with general characteristics this device, its implementation and capabilities. Once you figure out what a heated floor is, reviews of which are quite different, you can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of such an installation yourself.

So, among the variety of such heating units, only two categories can be distinguished - electric and water. And if everything is more or less clear with the latter, they work by circulating hot water through a pipeline laid on the floor surface, then electrical units are divided into several more subtypes, characterized by the type of thermal element:

• heating cable;
• infrared film heat source.

It is these models of eclectic floor heating devices that reviews are usually shared. So let's take a little closer look at each of these options.

Cable heating source

It is immediately necessary to clarify that the coolant used is not a simple cable, which we are accustomed to using for laying electricity in the house. We are talking about a specific material where, due to the circulation of currents, a transformation occurs electrical energy to thermal.

Hidden heating blocks with a similar thermal element are simple. A cable is laid on a layer of heat and vapor barrier, filled with concrete mixture, according to a special scheme, which is additionally fixed using cement mortar. During operation, electrical energy is converted into thermal energy, as a result of which, as current passes through the cable, it begins to release heat, which warms up first cement base, and then a decorative covering, which can be tiles, laminate, parquet, etc.

As for the shortcomings of this type of heaters, then, according to experts, there is only one - the need for a rather bulky screed, the thickness of which should be less than 30-40 mm. This, in turn, causes the floor to be raised, which in apartments with standard ceilings 260 cm is unacceptable.

Thermomat

Reviews of such warm floors are mostly positive. This option is also based on cable coolant, but unlike the previous option, it has a slightly smaller diameter and is also not mounted as separate element. Thin heating fibers are already sealed with several layers of special fabric, for the installation of which there is no need to fill thick concrete base. As a rule, thermomats are placed on the floor surface, on top of which there will be a decorative covering. Therefore, in this case, an adhesive composite is used as a fixing screed, the thickness of which does not exceed 10 mm.

In this case, a special film base, inside of which conductive elements are located, acts as a coolant. So, when an electric current flows, the film begins to emit infrared radiation. This option is good because first of all the floor and all objects in the room are heated - wall coverings, furniture, etc. The latter become additional heat sources, releasing secondary heat from themselves. This system is the most advanced and progressive; it is installed directly under the floor covering.

VIDEO: Features of installing an IR system

Advantages of underfloor heating systems

First of all, it is worth noting clear advantages this heating option in front of traditional wall-mounted radiators. And the most important thing that I wanted to say right away is ensuring comfortable temperature conditions for the floor surface. So, during battery operation, the air masses in contact with it are heated, after which, hot air rushes upward. When it cools down, it sinks down and as soon as it reaches the level of the radiators, it warms up again and rushes upward. As you can see, the peculiar circulation does not provide heating of the floor surface. Whereas in the case of a hidden source, heated air currents They begin their movement directly from the surface itself, which provides the most comfortable conditions for our feet.

One more undeniable dignity of such units is the heating area, because the batteries heat only the space closest to them, and hidden heat elements guarantee uniform heating of the entire area of ​​the room.

Now let's talk about the hidden advantages and disadvantages heating systems. A small flaw would be that optimal temperature for humans it is 25-28°C. By means of a thermal surface block, the lower part of the room is heated to a height of up to one meter. Then the heated air masses begin to gradually cool, which is characterized by somewhat cool conditions in the upper part of the room. However, it is worth noting that such separation does not cause discomfort to people living in such premises. In addition, if such equipment is used as an additional source, then such a flaw will not be noticeable at all.

The huge advantage of nodes hidden heating is the ability to adjust the temperature conditions in the room. If necessary, you can either lower or increase the temperature at any time.

The material will have an important role in the speed of heating and maintaining comfortable temperature conditions in the room. decorative covering, as well as pieces of furniture located in it. Thus, such blocks will not be effective if fabrics with poor thermal conductivity are placed on top of them: linoleum, carpet, etc. Therefore, when designing a unit, consider these pros and cons and decide which material is best to use to avoid heat loss.

One of the main advantages of hidden heaters is their safety. Such installations are not dangerous and will not cause harm, as is the case with classic radiators, which can get burned.

Comparison of different indoor heating blocks

It’s worth noting right away that comparing heaters various systems simple and at the same time extremely difficult. The bottom line is that the use of such heating units is very diverse and in some cases the disadvantages inherent in the heating unit can become an undeniable advantage when putting the unit into operation.

Thus, the disadvantage of cable electrical systems is the need to install an additional wide tie. However, recently this structural element you can play with it from a design point of view, for example, by lighting it along its contour, imagining the screed in the form of a podium. In general, there are many options to make this minus a plus of a heated floor.

The next thing I would like to note is that the cable source, compared to thermomats, consumes much less power under equal operating conditions. This becomes especially noticeable when such heaters are used in conditions high humidity or for heating balconies. In the case of thermal mats, the power consumption can differ by almost two times.

Myths

1. Some users doubt the advisability of installing underfloor heating, being captured by myths. So, the first of them is high electromagnetic radiation, which leads to the development of cancer.

Electromagnetic radiation from heated floors, as well as from any other household electrical appliance, including electric kettle, there is, but it is so insignificant that it is simply pointless to declare its effect on health. If you still want to protect yourself, choose a two-core cable for heating.

1. The second myth relates to indoor air quality, which, due to the constant circulation of warm masses, is constantly dehumidified, there is excess dust in the room, and all this together also causes a crushing blow to health.

To control the temperature in the room, a thermostat is installed, with which you can decrease or increase degrees. As for dehumidified air, this problem equally applies to radiators, so you need to pay special attention to humidification.

VIDEO: Warm floors - pros and cons

The concept of a water heated floor refers to a pipeline diagram laid in a layer of concrete screed. Heated by a boiler or boiler, the coolant circulates through the pipes and heats the floor.

In private houses and cottages, water-heated floors are increasingly being used, the opinions and reviews of buyers about which are ambiguous. To decide on the rationality of using such a design, you should understand some of its features:

• Warm floors are part of a water heating system, so they can be installed in country houses and cottages or new buildings if they have heat exchange risers or autonomous heating. In apartments of old buildings, this type of floor heating is prohibited.
• The design is a “layer cake”, quite complex in execution. Installation requires certain experience and a high degree of qualification.
• When pipelines are damaged, a leak occurs, and the location of the breakdown is difficult to identify. To repair the area, it is necessary to dismantle the floor.
• Not all types of finishing coating are suitable for heated floors.

What are the reviews from users?

“The process of installing built-in underfloor heating is truly an amazing thing, I did it in my home. I hired contractors for installation - the floors turned out like something out of a fairy tale. General heating operates at minimum mode, the rooms are warm and cozy. The bathroom is absolutely classy, ​​there is no such dampness and the water dries quickly on the tiles. Even with the heating turned off, the cold floor does not cause any discomfort.”

Igor, Moscow.

“I installed heated floors throughout the entire area of ​​the apartment to use as the main option without radiators. I laid ceramic tiles on top in the hallway, bathrooms and kitchen, and laminate flooring in the rest of the rooms. The room thermostat regulates the operation of the boiler, while the system copes well with heating - an economical and convenient type of heating.”

Anatoly, Nizhny Novgorod.

“In the house, I heat the entire first floor only with a water-heated floor system - there are no radiators. Very warm even in severe frosts. The main disadvantage is the price. Laying technology and materials are much more expensive than batteries, plus special thermostatic mixing pump groups. It’s better to hire specialists to carry out the work – this is also an additional cost.”

Konstantin, Volgograd.

“Heated floors have increased comfort compared to radiator heating - this is undeniable, but they also have a number of disadvantages. I have floors like this in my bathrooms, hallways and bathhouse. At temperatures below 25 °C, I heat the floor in the bathhouse to 30-35 °C - it’s hot for the feet. I visit the house periodically, so I lower it to 15 °C. The radiators can warm up the house to 22 °C in 4 hours, and heated floors in 8. In the summer I encountered the problem of a cold tiled floor.”

Alexander, St. Petersburg.

“I have a big house, I installed heated floors in all the rooms. They didn’t turn it on the first year, they started it up only the next year – the winter was harsh. The radiators were turned off, the temperature in the rooms remained 21-22 degrees - it was warm to walk on the floor even without slippers. The average monthly gas consumption turned out to be 1.7 times less than with radiator heating.”

Danil, Samara.

“I have been installing floors under parquet boards for quite some time. I would like to note that the maximum temperature on the surface of the parquet should be no more than 27 ° C, and you should definitely avoid laying a warm water floor under the furniture. With good ventilation of the room and insulation of the external walls, the temperature in the room will be 24-25 degrees, taking into account heating of the floor to 27 °C without additional heating sources.”

Maxim, Moscow.

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