How to choose the pipes for floor heating - practical recommendations

Warm water floor is currently one of the most popular ways of space heating.Heated floor with liquid coolant creates a comfortable atmosphere in that part of the volume of the room, where the main vital functions of humans.

an important role in the creation of an effective system of warm water floor playing a pipe through which passes in the thickness of the floor heated coolant.

How to choose the pipe for underfloor heating

Modifications of pipes used to create a warm water floor

for laying the pipeline system water floor heating in the rooms usually use three basic types of pipes:

• -truby combination of metal and plastic
• -truby XLPE, referred to as REX
• -truby copper.

leading position in the market currently occupied by the pipe cross-linked polyethylene or REX-tubes.This modification is characterized by low price and accessibility to mount.Less frequently used metal and plastic pipe and copper pipe end of the list, not yet received wide distribution.

Metal pipes and their characteristics

essentially made of metal and plastic pipes for hot water heating systems are manufactured according to the same technology, their basis is the high-strength polyethylene, but the composition pipe further added layer of aluminum foil.

structure mettaloplastikovoy pipe inside

Strictly composition pipe carries several layers of interconnected glue.The aluminum layer is inserted between two layers of cross-linked polyethylene in the adhesive base.Such a number of layers creates additional difficulties in installing the system warm water floor.

aluminum foil, is inserted into the metal pipes carries the role of oxygen barrier.An additional feature of the aluminum layer is to protect against the linear deformation of the pipe, but due to the small thickness of the aluminum layer metal-plastic pipe can not really boast high rigidity.

Another significant disadvantage of the use of plastic pipes in water heating systems are different coefficients of expansion of all segments of the pipe.This means that the hot water passing through the pipes causes such uneven displacement of the pipe layers in relation to each other.In extreme cases, frequent cycles of heating and cooling can damage the adhesive layer, which can lead to delamination weight component parts composition pipe.

Fittings for the installation of pipes floor heating

In addition, for connecting plastic pipes fittings are used, which are usually made of brass.In this case, the ground contact of aluminum and brass electrical potential conflict occurs, which gives rise to electromechanical corrosion, which in turn can lead to leaks in the joints.

crosslinked plastic

Thus, the pipe cross-linked plastic does not have the disadvantages inherent in the PVC Pipes.That is why the heating pipes of cross-linked polyethylene-plastics are so much popularity in the market.

Plastic pipes for floor heating

only problem polyethylene pipe may be lack of oxygen barrier, but in the new versions of cross-linked polyethylene pipe, this problem has been solved by applying to the pipe surface layer of polyvinyl alcohol.Thus crosslinked plastic unconditionally sees the lead materials of construction for piping systems for warm water floor.

Copper pipes for floor heating

Recently, the position of cross-linked polyethylene-plastic heating pipes in the market is rapidly constricts copper.An important advantage of this material is extremely high heat transfer coefficient, which greatly improves the efficiency of the heating pipe.

Copper pipes for floor heating

In addition, the strength of the copper pipes is much higher than that made from cross-linked polyethylene.They hold great heat and pressure, which can significantly increase the parameters of the water heating system.However, when installing a water heating systems of the copper pipes should be noted that the contact point of copper with other metals are plots electrical potential difference, which may also, as in the case of a plastic pipe to cause premature corrosion.

should be noted that the installation of warm water floor to avoid direct contact of copper pipes with a mass of cement-sand screed, as this may lead to rapid corrosion.In this case, between the copper pipe and tie recommended to put a layer of waterproofing material.

only visible way and a significant drawback of using copper pipes in water heating systems is the high cost of this material.Also for its installation requires special tools and fixtures, some of which requires the use of solid technical skills.It increases the overall cost of the copper system and the need to buy special fasteners nodes.

Some nuances

most popular manufacturers of pipes

Modern pipes market for water floor heating systems, is literally filled with various manufacturers.We will carry out for you a brief tour of the most popular brands.

1. good demand for PEX pipes manufactured by German company «Rehau». They are characterized by high reliability and quality, long warranty period.However, their price is quite high and can be up to 120 rubles per square meter.
2. Popular and PEX pipes Italian company «Valtec».They relatively democratic at the price - a maximum of 70 rubles per meter, easy to install, but not resistant to external influences.
3. Good and Russian metal and plastic pipe manufacturing companies «Onnline».They have a decent flexibility and good quality, but their installation is quite difficult to measure.Their price can be up to 140 rubles per meter.
4. decent quality show and Korean pipe produced Corporation «HydroSta». However, despite the high level of functionality, they can not boast the reliable protection of the outer layer of the pipe.Their price is 100 rubles per meter.
5. Despite the stereotype of the "German quality" - German tube of metal manufacturing companies «Oventrop» often come with marriage.But when choosing the successful party, you can forget about the repairs.The price of such pipes can reach 250 rubles per meter.
6. system of warm water floor with proper choice of pipes for its design and quality installation can serve in your home for a long time, making the house a unique comfortable atmosphere.