Features of heated floors
Warm floors significantly improve the microclimate of the room, and therefore the comfort of our rest is much better than traditional radiator heating.
The numerous advantages of using underfloor heating make you think about installing such an installation. When making such a decision, you should know that there are different types of heated floors, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Which to choose? It all depends on individual needs and expectations. There are various air, water and electric heated floors. All types of underfloor heating provide high thermal comfort and uniform heat transfer.
Note! In the case of radiators, all the heat goes up, and with underfloor heating it is concentrated near the floor. The underfloor heating thermostat controls the temperature in the room and the floor and sets them as programmed.
To implement such a solution at home, you need to decide on a specific technology, determine the size of the room, installation method and individual preferences regarding the operation of the heating system.
Which heated floor to choose?
A warm water floor is one of the most frequently chosen solutions. If you need to heat a large floor area, it is better to purchase a water installation. It consists of a system of pipes through which hot water flows. This type of installation is more complex and requires more investment at the very beginning. An expensive installation will quickly pay for itself with low operating costs. It is due to low energy consumption and minimal energy losses.
This system is based on placing under the floor heating pipes made of copper, plastic or multilayer metal pipes (aluminum or copper), covered with a plastic sheath through which water flows, evenly distributing heat.
Water heated floors work with many heat sources and are effective, but in unused rooms it requires maintaining the temperature at an appropriate level to protect the installation from freezing. Can work with all energy sources, including oil, electric, gas boilers, heat pumps, solar collectors.
It is better to think about the heating system of your home at the design stage. However, if a water heated floor is not included in the project, this does not mean that it should be completely abandoned. A simple and easy installation system for water heated floors allows installation in old buildings.
Electric heated floors are the easiest and cheapest to install, but more expensive to operate compared to other options. They consist of a system of cables, mats or heating foil that transfer the accumulated heat into the room.
They work great in bathrooms, but when installing them in a bathroom, you need to remember to maintain distance from freestanding plumbing fixtures and appliances on the floor.
This type provides the greatest freedom in temperature control, and is more versatile than hydronic, as it allows you to install heated floors in a bathroom or apartment being renovated. The heating elements are located just below the floor surface, so the system works faster than water heating.
High comfort of use and full control over the system, from remote activation to automatic temperature control, are also important. Electric underfloor heating can be programmed using thermostats or temperature sensors, the start time and the desired temperature.
Additional Information! Installation is cheaper than other types, and it can be carried out not only during the construction of a house, but also during renovation work, but the cost of operation depends on electricity prices, so installation will not be beneficial for everyone.
Air heated floor is the most innovative and least known type of heated floor. The pipes are placed directly in the foundation slab or ceiling, which means that this heating system cannot be installed in a finished room.
This is a reliable system, and its possible failure will not lead, for example, to flooding. Unfortunately, its use requires a fairly long heating time and high thermal inertia.
The system creates a closed chain of heating channels within which heated air circulates. The heat source in this case is furnaces or air heaters.
Interestingly, this type of underfloor heating is called accumulative, since one heated foundation slab releases heat for up to several hours. The entire system is maintenance-free, trouble-free and functional, but it is not the cheapest to install.
Warm floors have many advantages.
Walking barefoot on a heated floor is comfortable, but a heated floor, like everything, has its advantages and disadvantages. It is discreet, economical and works well with both modern smart home systems and installations based on renewable energy sources.
Usually it complements the classic heating of the house, although there are cases when electric underfloor heating is the only type of heating in the house. This is a system for both small apartments and large houses.
Advantages of heated floors:
- ensures uniform temperature distribution in the room;
- convenient and effective;
- does not cause air movement, which eliminates the phenomenon of dust raising;
- facilitates interior design (no traditional radiators);
- may be the only way to heat a house or maintain an existing one;
- associated with low maintenance costs and a long warranty period;
- provides simple installation and temperature control;
- can be installed in any room.
Disadvantages of heated floors:
- higher installation costs than radiators;
- slow heating and cooling, no control options;
- arrangement of the apartment according to the distance between the pipes – heavy furniture cannot be placed on them;
- underfloor heating will only work well in rooms with little heat loss;
- if an element located under the floor fails, expensive repairs await;
- high installation and operating costs,
Despite these disadvantages, a heated floor evenly distributes heat over the entire surface, provides high thermal comfort and safety of use, allows you to design the interior more freely – you don’t have to worry about the location and unsightly appearance of radiators.
Installation of heated floors
There are different ways to lay pipes under a screed. Despite the fact that a heated floor seems like a simple design, the design and installation of a heated floor should be done by a professional.
Installation of a heated floor system begins with leveling the surface. This is an extremely important stage, since any violations in the structure over time can lead to irreversible damage, which can only be eliminated through major repairs.
Note! It is important to ensure that the floor is properly cleaned and dried. This will prevent the appearance of fungus, for the development of which ideal conditions are created at higher temperatures.
Electric heating mats should not be placed under furniture or directly under plumbing fixtures such as shower trays or bathtubs.
Floor finishes must be used correctly. What materials are suitable for heated floors? The most important factor is the thermal conductivity coefficient. The best options are ceramics and natural stone. These materials are characterized by good conductivity and low thermal resistance coefficient.
Classic parquet or carpeting insulates heat much better, resulting in lower heating efficiency and higher maintenance costs. At the same time, the tile behaves best when used with a heated floor: when exposed to heat, it does not deform, does not shrink, and does not emit substances harmful to health.
