The main types of electric underfloor heating

existing system options

heating cable

Heating using heating cables in the floor heating system has appeared before all others.Despite this, this method is very popular so far, successful competition with more modern heating elements.

working principle is that the prepared surface is laid special wire, which converts electrical energy into heat.For such a system is necessary to pour over the cable a concrete screed thickness of 2 to 5 cm. When the solution hardens, you can start decorating.On top of the heating cable is recommended to lay tiles.How to carry out installation of floor heating under the tiles, read the corresponding article.As for the flooring, laminate and linoleum, their use is limited and need to be discussed in the package individually.

advantage of the heating cable is as follows:

• low cost;
• holds heat even after shutdown, in some extent, saving electricity.

At the same time, the disadvantages of this type of electric underfloor heating are:

• reduced electrical safety;
• complexity repair (it will be necessary to break up the concrete floor);
• complexity of calculating the correct length of the conductor;
• overheats and breaks down when gapping to the screed, as well as if the furniture is placed on the place of occurrence of the conductor.

Most often this type is used when installing heating in the bathroom and bath.

Termomaty

A more advanced form of electric underfloor heating - special heating mats.Products exist in two versions: convection and infrared.

Convection mats are improved cable model, which in this case is fixed on the basis of the net.The material is sold in ready-made rolls, which can vary the width.As in the case of the cable over the mat is filled with concrete screed or tile adhesive, a thickness of 2 cm (note that in this case the thickness is smaller).As a finishing material is also recommended to give preference to ceramic tile.

As for infrared mats, they have established themselves as a suitable form of floor heating to heat the wood surface.In this case, using special heating rods, connected in parallel to power lines.Ideal when combined with floor coverings such as parquet and laminate.

advantage of two alternative types of electric floor heating:

• less laborious styling;
• more than a simple calculation of the necessary area of ​​the material;
• affordable price;
• screed thickness should be less.

main disadvantages are considered:

• complexity of repair of the damaged area in the screed;
• fire hazard (in fact, as in the conventional route wiring located in the wall).

film coating

advanced materials for heating a special film, less than a millimeter thick.Laying of floor heating film necessarily performed "dry", ie without the use of concrete ties.That is why the option of ceramic tiles on top disappears.Most often the film lay on top of the floorboard or laminate.

advantage of this coverage:

• expends less energy;
• does not require special skills of laying;
• preparatory work is minimized - you just need to level the surface;
• for heating wooden floor.

Among the shortcomings release:

• increased material costs;
• film is afraid of water, which requires the creation of high-quality waterproofing;
• fire risk is higher than that of other types of underfloor heating (due to the lack of fire-resistant concrete screed);
• damaged by high mechanical loads (if the top will push hard sofa or wardrobe);
• cools instantly when turned off.

Which species to choose?

As you already understood, depending on whether the tiles will be flooring or parquet, made the choice of a suitable type of electric underfloor heating.

for wood (in the bedroom, living room or hall), it is best to use a cost-effective infrared film.To make a warm floor in the bathroom or in the kitchen, it is necessary to give preference termomatu.Use a heating cable is not recommended, becauseit is more difficult to install and to pour 5 cm screed will take longer.Besides these 5 cm adversely affect the height of the ceiling, making it lower.

That's all that I wanted to tell you about the main types of electric underfloor heating.We hope that now you know which option is best for their own conditions of use!Also recommend that you review video review, which clearly shows what are the types of floor heating systems:

Useful Reading:

• How to choose electric floor
• Economical Systemheating
• house How to make the lighting in the apartment