One of the alternative sources of heating a house or apartment is an electric underfloor heating system. Due to ease of installation and ease of use, cable flooring is rightfully one of the most popular among consumers.
Before considering how to make an electric heated floor, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages that this system contains.
Electric heated floor - advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- the ability to be used both as the main and as an additional source of heating for housing;
- uniform heating of the entire area of the room;
- unlimited installation locations. Availability for installation in both living rooms and offices;
- compatibility with most floor coverings (laminated boards, ceramic tiles, linoleum);
- the ability to adjust the temperature regime - both throughout the apartment and separately in each room. The system on/off time is also set at the discretion of the users;
- no need to install additional equipment (as, for example, in the case of a water heated floor);
- relatively simple installation technology;
- aesthetics. The system is installed under the finished floor, this eliminates any restrictions when designing the available space;
- long service life.
Minuses:
- significant cost of using the system. This type of heating can hardly be called economical;
- danger of electric shock. Which puts forward special requirements for the calculation and installation of the heating element in all rooms, and in particular in the bathroom;
- the presence of an electromagnetic field created by the heating element (cable);
- The use of natural wooden flooring is excluded (laying under parquet or floorboards is not possible), because under the influence of temperature changes, the wood will dry out, as a result, cracks and creaks of the floor will appear;
- reducing the height of the room by installing a subfloor with a heating system;
- additional requirements for the power of existing electrical wiring.
Professionals and users who have installed electric heated floors themselves note that compliance with installation requirements and competent design make it possible to eliminate most of the listed disadvantages.
What affects energy consumption with cable floor heating
Factors affecting the energy consumption of an electric heated floor system
- climatic zone in which the house is built (private or multi-apartment);
- volume of the room (area);
- type of floor (type of floor covering);
- level of thermal insulation of the room (degree of fatigue);
- the state of the warm circuit (windows, doors) and the level of heat loss through them;
- purpose of the premises (living room, industrial facility);
- purpose and period of operation. Is the electric floor used as a primary or secondary heating system? Constantly or periodically;
- the degree of heat perception by people living in the room.
According to reviews from those who already use electric heated floors - when using the system as the main heat source - its power is 170-200 W/sq.m., as an additional one - 100-150 W/sq.m.
Safety requirements for operation
Before using electric floors, read the manufacturer's instructions included in the kit.
Basic safety requirements that apply to all types of electric floors:
- Do not shorten the heating element;
- It is necessary to take only a screed solution or tile adhesive intended for warm polos;
- Opening heat-shrinkable sleeves at the junction of the heating and installation parts of the floor is prohibited;
- Do not lay carpet on heating sections or place furniture without legs.
Installation of electric heated floors - errors
Here are a few typical mistakes that, as evidenced by reviews from home craftsmen, are very common:
- buying extra material. The error is due to the fact that in the calculations the user is guided by the total area of the room, and not by the area that will serve as the basis for the heated floor. The calculations do not take into account the area occupied by furniture and heavy household appliances (refrigerator, washing machine);
- The cable used in the heating mat must not be cut. You need to choose a laying pattern in order to use the mat completely. It is better to leave part of the floor surface uncovered;
- You cannot turn on the floor heating system until the screed is completely dry, because this can lead to uneven drying of the layer and the appearance of cracks and voids.
- The cable must not be laid on an unprepared surface. It is better to treat the surface of the subfloor with a primer to eliminate dust, which can cause air pockets to form around the cable and cause it to overheat;
- the temperature sensor is placed in a corrugation, so it can be dismantled and repaired if it fails;
- Resistance measurement is an important stage of pre-operation testing of an electric floor; it should not be ignored. In case of significant deviations, you need to make a decision to correct the situation on your own or involve professionals;
- The cable laying diagram will be useful when moving furniture and performing repair or maintenance work. The easiest way is to photograph the installed floor before pouring the screed.
Electric heated floors are easy to use, reliable (if you choose good components and install them correctly) and will last a long time.
Fill the screed and lay the finishing coating
The screed is best made from a special ready-made mixture. The packaging of this composition will indicate that it is designed specifically for use in combination with heated floors. Prepare the mixture according to the instructions. Sufficient layer thickness is 40-50 mm.
Spread the mixture evenly over the surface using a spatula. Make sure that there are no air pockets under the cable body. Because of them, the quality of heating will noticeably deteriorate. Let the screed dry completely.
Important: infrared and heated floors require different “holding” times after installation. You can use the film floor after 2-3 days (if the screed has not been poured). The cable system must be allowed to settle for 3-4 weeks.
We lay the finishing coating in accordance with the installation technology of the selected material. Most often, tiles and laminate are laid on top of a warm floor. You can also lay parquet and even linoleum. If desired, you can use another coating. Focus on your preferences, the interior of the room and your available budget.
Good luck!
Prices for various types of screeds and self-leveling floors
Screeds and self-leveling floors
Table of approximate power of electrical appliances
To independently calculate power consumption, the voltage value and source strength are important.
Power indicators (P) in this case are calculated by multiplying the current strength with the mains voltage indicator.
Average power of the most common energy-dependent household appliances
| Device | Power, kWt) |
| Water heating equipment | 1,2-1,5 |
| DVD player | 0,3 |
| Pump equipment | 0,25 |
| Video recorder | 0,04 |
| Grill | 1,2-2,0 |
| Halogen light source | 0,1 |
| Drill | 0,15-0,8 |
| Razor | 7.0 W |
| CD player | 7.0 W |
| Mobile phone charger | 0,025 |
| Oven | 1,0-2,0 |
| Air conditioner | 1,0-3,0 |
| Record player | 0,01-0,03 |
| Game console | 0,01-0,03 |
| Coffee maker | 0,6-1,5 |
| Incandescent lamp | 0,02-0,25 |
| Fluorescent gas-discharge light sources | 0,25-0,6 |
| Freezer | 0,7 |
| Microwave | 1,5-2,0 |
| Table fan | 0,042 |
| Music Center | 0,05-0,5 |
| Heater | 1,0-2,4 |
| Laptop | 0,08 |
| Personal Computer | 0,28-0,75 |
| Soldering iron | 0,025-0,12 |
| Vacuum cleaner | 0,4-2,0 |
| Printer | 0,35 |
| Scanner | 0,015-0,1 |
| Mixer | 0,18 |
| Heat fan | 1,5 |
| Washing machine | 4,0 |
| Iron | 0,25-2,0 |
| Toaster | 0,6-1,5 |
| Hairdryer | 1,0 |
| Fax | 0,6 |
| TV | 0,07-0,2 |
| Fridge | 0,15-0,6 |
| Electric jigsaw | 0,4-0,8 |
| Electric heater | 0,2 |
| Electric kettle | 1,0-2,5 |
| Electric stove | 1,1-6,0 |
| Energy saving light source | 0,08-0,1 |
Approximate power indicators of a volatile device are represented by the product of current and voltage, so the standard simple formula P = I × V is used for calculations.
Types and design, as well as features of heating elements
A single-core wire or a two-core cable is most often used as an electric floor heating element. The first option is notable for its low cost, but the increased background EMR imposes restrictions on its use in residential premises. The heating cable has two cores, one of which plays the role of a regular conductor, and the second - a heating element. This design can significantly reduce electromagnetic radiation, but increases the cost of the product.
Design of heating wire (A) and Teplolux heating cable (B)
More detailed information about the above heating elements can be found on the pages of our website.
Installation can be greatly simplified if you use a heating mat . This design is nothing more than an ordinary thermal cable laid with a certain step width on a reinforcing mesh. As a rule, the width of the mats is about 0.45-0.5 m, and the length can vary from 0.5 to 12.0 m (accordingly, the maximum heating area for one segment is limited). There is no standard for mat sizes, so they may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another. The electromat, like the thermal cable, is a solid structure, the footage of which cannot be changed arbitrarily.
Heating mat Devi
Rod structures are considered a subtype of electric mats. They use special carbon rods with the addition of copper and silver as heating elements. Heating elements are connected in parallel with a certain step. The main advantage of this design is self-regulation. That is, if the temperature on any rod has increased due to poor heat transfer (for example, furniture has been placed), then the heat release is reduced. Thanks to this property, you can lay the mat over the entire area of the room.
Rod electric mat Energy Mat
Infrared film . This heating element became widely available relatively recently, literally at the beginning of the century. The term “infrared” used in the name is a marketing ploy aimed at distinguishing this product from a number of other heating elements. As you know from a school physics course, infrared emitters are also called thermal, therefore, any heating device can be classified in this category. The design of the film infrared heating element for a heated floor is shown in the figure below.
Heat Plus film heater device
Designations:
- A – coating made of film based on polyethylene terephthalate; this material is a good heat conductor.
- B – copper bus.
- C – silver tire.
- D – carbon strip coating.
- E – thermal insulation based on polyester.
Laying diagram and main types of TP cables
There are two main types of cables for underfloor heating:
- Single-core - the contacts of the cold wires through which the power supply is supplied are located on both sides of the heating section. In the active state, such conductors additionally induce minor magnetic fields. Single-core heating cables have the following performance characteristics:
- the heating element has insulation made of fluoroplastic or cross-linked polyethylene;
- the grounding conductor is made of tinned copper;
- electric underfloor heating cables are inside a shielding shell, solid or mesh;
- general external insulation is made of polyvinyl chloride, which better resists ultraviolet radiation - can be used outdoors, for example, in anti-icing systems;
- contact couplings are located at both ends of the cable.
Structure of single and double core heating cable
- Two-core heating cable. In it, under a common external insulation, there are two conductors isolated from each other: the first is resistive, heating, the second is “cold” return. The connection contacts come out from one side of the working section.
An approximate diagram of laying a single-core heating cable in the kitchen
Important! In terms of service life and heating quality, both types of dog do not differ. At the same time, a two-core cable is more expensive, but its installation is much easier.
An approximate diagram of laying a two-core heating cable in a living room
Surface preparation
First step. We dismantle the old floor covering and screed. When laying a film heated floor, the old screed, if it is in good condition, does not need to be dismantled. If you install a cable system, you will have to get rid of the tie. Thoroughly clean the surface from dust and dirt.
Dismantling the floor screed
Second step. We lay a layer of waterproofing material. Traditionally, polyethylene film is used, but you can choose other insulation if you wish. It is important that the moisture-proof material extends approximately 100-120 mm onto the walls.
Floor waterproofing
Third step. We attach a damper tape to the wall along the perimeter of the base. Thanks to it, it will be possible to compensate for the thermal expansion of the system during heating. We carefully trim off the excess waterproofing and damper tape.
Film and damper tape
Fourth step. We lay a thermal insulation layer. Thanks to it, loss of thermal energy through the base will be eliminated. Choose insulation taking into account the location of the room, the type of base and the intended purpose of the heating system.
Floor insulation with polystyrene foam
If you plan to use the system as an addition to the main heating, thermal insulation can be done using polyethylene foam equipped with a reflective foil layer. Additionally, the material will take on the function of a substrate for a heated floor.
Foamed polyethylene in a heated floor system
If there is a heated room on the lower floor, it is best to install thermal insulation using expanded polystyrene sheets. The thickness of the material is 2-5 cm. Another insulator with a similar thickness will do.
When installing a heating system in a previously unheated room, for example, on a veranda or balcony, the thermal insulation layer must be more thorough. For example, 10 cm insulation with polystyrene foam or mineral wool of similar thickness is suitable.
Insulating the loggia floor with mineral wool
Fifth step. We lay a reinforcing mesh on the insulation. If desired, you can add microfiber and plasticizer to the screed solution. This improvement in the composition will make it possible to do without additional reinforcement.
A reinforcing mesh is laid on top of the insulation and beacons are installed for pouring the screed
Operating principle of ETP
In the case of heating wire and mats, the conductor is heated under the influence of the electric current flowing in it. The wire heats the screed, which in turn heats the finish coating. Heating occurs by convection.
In the case of using infrared film, heating occurs by thermal radiation of the carbon layer, which occurs under the influence of electric current. This radiation heats the finish coating and objects located close enough to the floor. They heat the air in the room by convection.
Temperature regulation is carried out using a temperature sensor and a thermostat through which the heated floor is connected.
