1 Installation of the underfloor heating system
The rules for choosing and installing an electric underfloor heating differ significantly from the choice and water floor heating installation.
1. Choosing a set of underfloor heating
| Brake film power | 150 W/m2 | 220 W/m2 | |
| Type of repair | Capital, cosmetic | Capital, cosmetic | |
| option heating | comfortable | At least 60% of the area | At least 40% of the area |
| basic | At least 95% of the area | At least 70% of the area | |
| Type of flooring | Laminate, linoleum, carpet | Parquet board, carpet | |
| Room type | Not ground floor, not balcony | All rooms, including ground floor and balcony | |
The recommended temperature is 20-21 o C for the room and 24-26 o C for the floor.
The desired temperature for the room is set by the thermostat.
With comfortable heating, the input power for the entire area should be at least 80 W / sq m, with the main one - 140 W / m 2.
2. Determine the area and configuration of the surface on which you will lay the warm floor.
3. Install heat reflective material.
4. Lay the sheets of thermal film on the heat reflective material
The contact clamp is installed on the copper strip (the smooth side of the clamp must be inside the thermal film, the other side must be outside on the copper strip). Clamp the contact clamp with pliers or a special tool. Make sure the clamp is tight and there is no spark. Insulate the cut lines of the copper strip located at the end of the thermal film strip, for which use the short bituminous insulation from the package. For example, on the thermal film at the beginning of the strip there are already installed contact clamps and at the end of the strip insulation is installed. Spread the pieces of thermal film over the area of your room so that the copper conductor is at the bottom (turned to the heat-reflecting material). The front side of the thermal film will be the side where the carbon semiconductor strip is longer, that is, the copper conductor will be on the bottom. Thermal film is unwound in a clean, dry and flat place. It is desirable to lay the thermal film along the length of the room, avoiding its damage, in this case there will be more solid strips and fewer points for connecting mounting wires. The strips of thermal film must be fixed with adhesive tape to the reflective material in order to prevent it from shifting during further laying of the floor covering.
5. Install thermostat
The regulator can be permanently installed as an electrical outlet for hidden or outdoor wiring, or connected to an existing outlet using a cord.
6. Lay the installation wires and determine the places for stripping.
The thermal film is connected to the network in parallel, that is, all the installation wires are connected on one side of the room. The kit includes wires in two colors. One wire color is connected to only one end of each strip. Arrange the wires so that the main wires run under the baseboard. If you want to make the connecting cable hidden, you need to punch a channel in the wall, if it is outdoor, use a decorative mounting box.
7. Connect the thermal film to the wire
8. Isolate connections
9. Connect the connecting wires to the thermostat.
10. Install and connect the floor sensor to the thermostat.
The floor sensor is installed under the thermal film closer to the thermostat and is attached to the black strip of the film with adhesive tape. To level the floor under the finish coat, make grooves (recesses) in the heat-reflective coating under the floor sensor and the wire connections.
11. Connect the thermostat to the electrical network.
The connection of the temperature controller and the mains supply must be carried out by a qualified electrician. Be sure to consider additional electrical devices that may be connected to the same network. For a system with a power of 2 kW or more, we recommend connecting through a separate circuit breaker with a power of at least 16 A.
12. Test the heating system.
Turn on the system and set the floor temperature. Check the heating of each strip of thermal film. Check with a probe the connection points of the mounting wires, as well as the insulation along the cut line.
13. Lay the final floor covering.
|
Lay the laminate or parquet board on top of the plastic film according to the instructions.
Lay the protective material (fibreboard, LSU, hardboard, plywood) on top of the polyethylene film |
14. Installation of a warm floor is completed, turn it on and enjoy the heat.
Increased attention to infrared warm floors is quite
justified, because technical specifications of this innovative heating system
demonstrate a number of advantages and allow you to equip an energy-efficient home.
Infrared film underfloor heating - what is it
Infrared floor heating is popular due to its unique principle
work. Although it is a kind of electric warm
floor (because it requires electricity to function),
infrared floor is much more economical and safer than its predecessor.
The principle of operation of IR underfloor heating is based on the release
thermal energy in the infrared range. Long wavelength radiation heats up
person and the surface of surrounding objects: furniture, walls. And they, in their
turn, being a secondary source of heat (reflectors) heat the air in
room. This approach to home heating allows you to subjectively feel the heat up to
how the air warms up.
Advantages and disadvantages of infrared underfloor heating
- no electromagnetic radiation;
- simultaneous damage to the entire system is reduced to zero,
due to parallel connection of blocks;
- mounting on any surface (horizontal, vertical,
oblique) does not cause difficulties;
- uniform heating of the floor surface. What is very important when
an infrared warm floor is installed under the laminate;
- do-it-yourself installation will not be difficult;
- it is possible to dismantle the film, for example, when moving;
- installation of the floor is possible in any room
(including wet) and under any type of coating;
- we allow the installation of the film in an open room (veranda,
terrace) and closed (rooms in an apartment or house, office, warehouse, etc.);
- high heat transfer (97%) and efficiency (30% higher according to
compared to other electric underfloor heating systems).
- the need to comply with the rules of connection and operation
systems;
- not recommended as the main source of heating
due to the high inertia of the system (heats up quickly, cools down quickly);
- unlike a water heated floor, film is unstable to
mechanical stress and damage.
Types of infrared film underfloor heating
Despite the relative novelty of the infrared
heating, manufacturers offer several varieties of them:
- film infrared heat-insulated floor. The essence of this system
consists in the fact that the heating element is a fiber laid
between two layers of plastic film. The heating film is flexible,
strength, wear resistance, besides it is a good dielectric.
In turn, the film floor has its own varieties. IN
The division is based on the composition of the heating element:
- carbon - carbon-graphite;
- bimetallic - copper and aluminum.
The first system became more widespread among
users.
- rod infrared heat-insulated floor. The feature of the system in
the fact that the function of the heating element is performed by carbon rods,
connected by wire. This is the most innovative of the systems that allow
reduce heating costs by 60% (compared to other systems).
The ubiquity of carbon rod floors is hindered only by their
high price.
Comparison of these systems for specific conditions
functioning, will make it possible to find out which infrared warm floor
better.
Do-it-yourself installation of infrared floor heating
Installation instructions for infrared film underfloor heating
consists of a series of successive stages, which need to be studied in detail in order to
exclude the possibility of an error:
- Creation (development) of the project and calculation.
- Selection of equipment and materials.
- Installation of the IR warm floor system.
- Test run (verification).
- Clean finish.
Stage 1 - project development and calculation
An important feature of installing an infrared film floor
is that it is not mounted under furniture. Thus, starting
calculation of the required amount of material and determining the place of laying the film
you need to subtract the area under which the film will not be laid.
Note. For the system to be considered effective, the film
should cover at least 80% of the surface of the room in case the film
the floor will be the main heating system of the house/apartment and at least 40% if
auxiliary (alternative, additional).
Calculation of infrared film underfloor heating
- calculation of the total area of the premises: Sp \u003d a * b * 2;
- calculation of the heating area Sb \u003d Sp - (X, Y, Z)
a, b - length and width of the room, m;
Sb - heating area, sq.m.;
X, Y, Z - fixed and / or low-standing interior items
(furniture, household appliances, etc.).
Note. Calculation of the heated area is made with
taking into account the fact that the IR film is laid no closer than 100 mm to any
vertical (adjacent) surface or object.
After calculating the heated area, you need to calculate
sufficient system power. Be aware that the power range
heating film is 150-220 W/sq.m.
Calculation of energy consumption of infrared floor heating
The energy consumption indicator for the film floor can be
calculate by the formula: E \u003d Sp * k * T
Where, E - energy consumption, W / h;
Sp is the total area of the premises, sq.m.;
k - conversion factor (depends on the installed
temperature, if the system is turned on by 40% - the coefficient will be 0.4);
T - thermal power floor.
Infrared floor heating costs are easy to calculate,
knowing the electricity tariff in a particular region.
Calculation of the power of infrared floor heating
It is possible that the area of the room is sufficient
large and for the installation of a film heating system, it is necessary to use
several sets of infrared film - in this case, their power
summed up. P total = P1 + P2 + ... + Pi,
If part of the kit was used, the calculation is made according to
formula:
P total = 110 L
P total - the total power of the film floor, W;
P1…Pi is the power of a single set of film, W.
L is the length of the infrared film that is used when
installation;
110 – film floor power conversion factor.
Calculation of the number of thermostats and their installation location
Thermostat function for infrared floor heating -
adjust the heating level.
With regard to the quantity, you should know that when
connection of several sets of film flooring, it is necessary to install
several thermostats, because the power consumption of a warm floor
summed up.
Install the thermostat preferably at a height of at least
150-200 mm. above the level of the finish coating, and for comfortable use on
a height of about a meter (the height of the sockets). The second option is possible if the installation
Infrared floor heating systems are made before the repair work is carried out.
Advice. The thermostat is placed on the wall
located perpendicular to the direction of laying the strips. This approach will allow
reduce wire length.
The thermostat is mounted next to the electrical wiring hidden or
external way.
When the permissible load on the thermostat is exceeded
There are two connection options:
- zoning and connecting each zone to its own thermostat;
- inclusion in the circuit of a solid state relay or magnetic
starter. In this case, the system will be controlled by one relay. Such
connection requires certain knowledge, which requires the involvement of an electrician.
The scheme of laying infrared film for underfloor heating includes
includes an indication of the direction of placement of the bands. Manufacturers and craftsmen
recommend laying the film along the longer side, this will reduce
the number of cuts of the heating film on the turns.
Rules for placement (laying) of infrared floor film:
- the first row of film should be placed no closer than 100 mm. to
wall (or to another object), but no further than 400 mm;
- film cut line pitch – 250 mm. cut film in others
places is prohibited;
- the distance between adjacent film strips is at least 10
mm.;
- the maximum allowable length of the floor strip is 8,000 mm.
The project of infrared film underfloor heating should
contain:
- calculation of usable area;
- calculation of system power;
- the place of installation of the thermostat (and their number, if
installation of underfloor heating in a large room);
- the direction of laying the film strips;
- number of stripes (depending on the width of the film).
The result of the design should be an installation scheme that
necessary for both installation work and for further
operation and repair.
Stage 2 - selection of equipment and building materials
Film underfloor heating is sold as a kit, which includes:
- infrared film for underfloor heating;
- connecting clips;
- Scotch;
- thermostat;
- temperature sensor.
Note. The set depends on the manufacturer. For example,
heat plus, caleo systems contain everything you need to work.
Additionally you need to buy:
- electrical wire (preferably copper, stranded,
section 1.5-2.5 mm);
- thermal insulation material. Electric infrared
underfloor heating allows the use of any type of insulation: foil
film (polymer-coated), polyethylene foam, natural cork and
etc.
- waterproofing film;
Tool: mounting knife, scissors, pliers, screwdriver,
wire cutters, adhesive tape, hammer, tester, drill bit (nozzle for a drill), puncher,
square, pencil.
Stage 3 - installation of infrared floor heating
Step-by-step instructions for beginners with no experience in construction:
1. Preparation (learning security measures)
If the work is performed by a non-professional, you need to familiarize yourself with
installation technique and safety measures:
- minimize walking on the laid film. Protection
film from mechanical damage, possible when moving on it,
achieved through the use of soft covering material (thickness from 5
mm);
- do not allow installation of heavy objects on the film;
- prevent the instrument from falling onto the film.
Safety rules for installing IR floor heating:
- It is forbidden to connect a heating element to the power supply
film rolled up;
- film installation is carried out with no power supply;
- connection to the power supply is carried out strictly according to SNiP and
PUE;
- film installation rules are observed (length, indents,
no overlaps, etc.);
- only suitable insulation is used;
- installation of the film under furniture and other heavy
items;
- installation of a film under low-standing objects is excluded.
These are all items that have an air gap between the bottom
surface and floor less than 400 mm;
- contact of the film with communications, fittings and
other obstacles;
- isolation of all contacts (terminals) and lines is ensured
cut conductive copper busbars;
- the film floor is not installed in rooms where high
risk of frequent water ingress;
- obligatory installation of an RCD (protective device
shutdowns);
- break, cut, bend the heating cable;
- mount the film at temperatures below -5 °C.
2. Preparation of the thermostat installation site
Includes wall chasing (for wires and sensor
temperature) to the floor and drilling a hole for the appliance. Power on
the thermostat is supplied from the nearest outlet.
Advice. It is advisable to lay the wires in the corrugation, this technique
will simplify maintenance and repair if necessary.
3. Foundation preparation
Infrared film is laid only on a flat and clean surface.
surface. Horizontal deviation of the surface exceeding 3 mm is also
unacceptable. Masters recommend treating the surface with a primer.
Note. Dismantling of the old floor (rough) is not required,
if its surface is not satisfactory.
4. Laying the waterproofing film
The function of the waterproofing film is to protect the electrical
underfloor heating system from moisture coming from below.
5. Installation of thermal insulation material
As evidenced by user reviews - insulation
allows you to increase the heating efficiency due to the fact that heat does not escape
down. However, when installing an infrared floor heating system on the second floor -
rarely anyone used a heater, because. thermal energy will warm
ceiling between the first and second floors.
Advice. Foil insulation should be laid metallized
side to the floor.
6. Laying infrared floor heating
- drawing markings for laying on the floor;
- preparation of a strip of film of the desired length. note
you can cut the film only along the cut line;
- the film is located towards the wall, which
designed to install a thermostat. Oriented strip copper
heater down;
- the recommended distance from the wall of 100 mm is maintained;
- the recommended distance (gap) between
edges of infrared film sheets of 50-100 mm (film overlap is not
allowed);
- strips near the walls are glued to the insulation with adhesive tape
(squares, but not a solid strip). This will avoid shifting the canvas.
7. Installation of clips
At the ends of the copper bus you need to attach metal
clamps. When installing, it is necessary that one side of the clamp fits between the copper
tire and film. And the second was located above the copper surface. Crimping in progress
evenly, without distortion.
8. Connecting the wires of the infrared floor
The wires are installed on the clamp, followed by
insulation and tight crimping. The ends of the copper bus are also insulated in place
cutting. The requirement of parallel connection of wires is observed (right with
right, left to left). In order not to get confused, it is convenient to use a wire of different
colors. Then the wires will be laid under the plinth.
Advice. To prevent the clip with the wire from protruding above the film, its
can be placed in a heater. A square is pre-cut in the insulation
under clamp.
9. Installing the temperature sensor for the thermostat
Installation of a temperature sensor for underfloor heating film
10. Connecting the infrared floor heating to the thermostat
Wiring diagram for film floor heating thermostat
Connecting a thermostat for infrared floor heating
Stage 4 - test launch of the system (check)
Test connection of infrared floor heating is mandatory
stage before laying the final floor covering.
The normal laying of the film floor is evidenced by:
- absence of extraneous noise (cod);
- lack of spark;
- uniform heating of the film.
Additionally, the reliability of the isolation of places is checked
wire connection.
Stage 5 - fine finishing
Before installing the floor covering, the film floor
cover with plastic wrap (100-200 microns). Further work is carried out in
in accordance with the instructions for laying the floor covering.
The specifics of laying the film floor for different types of coatings
shown in the picture:
Infrared underfloor heating under laminate (pie) - infrared underfloor heating under laminate, parquet board
Infrared warm floor on a wooden floor is laid
the same way.
Infrared warm floor under linoleum (pie) - infrared warm floor under linoleum, carpet
Infrared underfloor heating under tiles (pie) - infrared underfloor heating under tiles, stone
Masters do not advise using a film floor under a tile,
due to the need to perform "wet" work, which reduces heat transfer
gender.
Operation of infrared film underfloor heating
- when a significant amount of water gets on the film
floor, it must be immediately turned off and dried (naturally);
- do not turn on the system in order, for example, to dry
carpet after wet cleaning);
- it is not allowed to fasten something (for example, a limiter
doors or skirting boards) using hardware. They will damage the film sections;
- it is forbidden to spread carpets, blankets on the floor,
metallized films (foil), as well as rearrange furniture. It may
cause the system to overheat.
Video instruction for installation of infrared floor
When a warm energy-saving film material appeared on the construction market, it instantly made a splash. And this is not surprising, since such a floor has many different advantages. You can install a warm film floor under any coating - from laminate to tiles. And independently. This article will discuss what the material is, what are its pros and cons, and what are the installation features.
First of all, it should be noted important features when laying a warm film floor. This is the absence of the need to make a cement screed during installation, as well as high efficiency in energy consumption.
Heat distribution scheme
Advantages
So, the main advantages of warm film floors are as follows:
- ease of installation - even non-professionals are able to cope with laying;
- absolute safety - no risk of fire or short circuit;
- the possibility of laying in all rooms, even in damp ones;
- heating is installed not only on the floor, but also on the ceiling, walls and other surfaces such as paintings, mirrors, carpets, etc.;
- high productivity ratio (up to 97%). This is the best indicator among all existing types of heating systems;
- full compatibility with every type of flooring;
- absence of electromagnetic radiation;
- excellent resistance to mechanical damage (even if it breaks, you can change or repair the section, and not the entire system);
- noiselessness;
- ecological cleanliness;
- ease and simplicity of dismantling in case of moving.
As for the shortcomings, the warm film floor simply does not have them, but there are certain nuances that must be taken into account.
- furniture cannot be placed on the film, especially if it is heavy;
- the floor should be open to the maximum, otherwise it will heat up too much, and not only it, but also the furniture will deteriorate greatly from this;
- do not close the place where the air and floor temperature sensor is located, otherwise it will not work correctly.
How to properly install a film floor
First you need to clean the floor surface, then heat-insulating material is laid on it. When it is guided by what will be the finish coating. If you plan to lay linoleum or carpet on top, then there can be any insulation, just consider the thickness of the sheet - it is 3-5 millimeters. At all joints, the sheets are glued with adhesive tape.
And if the coating is ceramic tiles, it is recommended to use a technical cork 2 mm thick as thermal insulation.
In addition, during installation, it is necessary to decide in advance, also draw up an installation diagram so that later the film lies on the floor correctly. And lay it exclusively in open areas where it is not planned to install furniture.
According to the technology of installing a warm film floor, the film is divided into strips of the desired size along the lines that the manufacturer noted. After that, the film is laid out on the floor in such a way that it fully complies with the scheme.
Important point: the film is placed with a copper strip down, and with the contacts to the wall where the thermostat is planned to be installed.
Then the film must be connected to the wiring. Install the contact clamps on the edges of the copper strip, and connect the contact wires to them. Be sure to insulate with bitumen insulation all the places where the wires are connected, as well as the places where the film is cut on the reverse side.
Film floor connection diagram
Next, the floor temperature sensor is connected. This is done from the underside of the film, and it is also insulated. When the warm film floor is completely laid, and all contacts and wires are connected, a thermostat should be installed, and only then it is connected to the mains. But before laying the finish coating, the warm floor must be tested to ensure that its surface warms up evenly.
Important point: if tiles are chosen as the finish coat, after laying the screed, the screed must dry for at least three weeks. And only after that the floor heating system can be used.
Film Mounting Pattern: Minimum Distances
Film underfloor heating under the tile
Installation of a warm film floor under a tile is distinguished by its own characteristics, and it requires much more time and effort than in all other cases, since it was originally planned only for dry installation. That is, this means that not every film floor is able to withstand the alkaline environment of tile adhesive or cement screed.
Important point: a warm film floor must be installed exclusively at a positive temperature.
The film is laid down with the side on which the conductive copper bars are visible. The base must be clean and dry. To prevent the strips from moving after connection, it is better to attach them with masking tape. Remember: the main thing is to get tight contact between the heat-insulating material and the film. This eliminates the occurrence of an air void.
Cut the required length of the film
Upon completion of all work on laying the film, connecting the thermostat and temperature sensor, the warm floor can be connected to the network and tested. If everything is fine, then a plastic film is laid on top of the film, and already on this waterproofing a polymer, but not a metal construction mounting grid with dimensions from 20 to 40 millimeters is placed.
Important point: if a significant load on the floor is expected, then LSU up to 6 mm thick can be placed on top of the waterproofing material as a protective coating.
Installation instructions
Design
General scheme for connecting a heating film to a thermostat (bottom view)
In the case of installation wires directly under the floor covering (view from below)
The installation ends with laying directly tiles or porcelain stoneware. However, it should be noted that in this case the layer of tile adhesive must be at least ten millimeters. In addition, the glue itself needs to be bought special, which is provided specifically for underfloor heating. To compensate for thermal expansion between the wall and the floor covering, it is necessary to leave a small gap - it can later be closed with a plinth.
It is advisable to lay a warm film floor under the tiles at the stage of overhaul.
Warm film floor under the laminate
When installing a heat-reflecting layer under a laminate, experts do not recommend using materials in the coating of which aluminum foil is used. Lavsan metallized or polypropylene films are excellent for laying.
Film floor under the laminate
The installation itself is quite simple. Actually, as soon as the heat reflector sheets are laid out, they should be fastened together with adhesive tape. And then proceed to the thermal film - it is placed with contacts to the thermostat.
The most economical option for arranging the strips is along a long wall, since this way there will be fewer connection points, and, accordingly, fewer wires.
Underfloor heating strips are also attached to the previous layer with adhesive tape. The next step is to install the thermostat. It is mounted, as a rule, on the wall or plugged into an outlet. Then the wires are connected: contact clamps are installed, wires are laid, contacts are crimped, insulation is made. Then they are connected to a thermostat, a temperature sensor is also connected to it. We test the underfloor heating and lay the laminate.
It is also necessary to eliminate all possible sources of short circuit, after which the system also needs to be tested. And measure the resistance of all strips of thermal film - it should be at least 1 Mohm. Check the functionality of the entire installation, turn on the heating system and touch each strip of thermal film with your hand - it should radiate heat at about 40 degrees.
When choosing a warm film floor, focus primarily on manufacturers who guarantee the quality of their products, and this must be documented.
Home heating is one of the most important issues that should be taken very seriously. Indeed, in the future, thanks to high-quality heating, comfort in the cold seasons will depend. Having insulated walls, ceilings and installed a heating system, it is worth treating the floor insulation properly. At the moment, one of the most effective and economical methods is film insulation under the laminate. Due to its design, this type of insulation does not require preparatory work for installation, which is an important part of the work in laying cable heating. Here everything is much simpler and more reliable, since a special thermal film is used instead of a cable.
Methods for installing an electric underfloor heating
Often use three types of installation of warm electric floors:
- Laying directly under the floor covering (film floor);
- Installation in a screed layer, and after laying the floor covering;
- Installation of a warm floor on the top of the screed under the tile.
Laying under flooring is a good method when there is no need to replace the screed. Its design allows, without additional work, laying under linoleum or laminate. Installation in a screed layer is often used for heating in the kitchen, loggia and bathroom, installing cable underfloor heating. A layer of waterproofing insulation is laid under the system, and a small layer of screed is placed on top. If this is a two-story building and on the first floor the insulation work of the floor has been carried out, then the need for a screed and a heat-insulating layer is not necessary. Tiles and a layer of tile adhesive are excellent protectors of heating elements, but it is worth paying attention to the instructions before starting work to make sure that this installation is possible.
Types and advantages of a film floor under a laminate
If a few years ago few people were familiar with the system of infrared film underfloor heating, today it has gained immense popularity.
This heating system works on the basis of infrared radiation, which is safe even for sensitive materials such as laminate and other wood flooring.
To date, there are two types of warm film floor:
- Bimetallic - a thin polyurethane film, inside of which a two-layer patented compound is laid. The top layer is an alloy of copper with additives, and the bottom layer is an alloy of aluminum with additives.
- Carbon is a resistive element that includes two working layers of lavsan film, the thermal elements of which are connected in parallel and in series.
This type of film is perfectly used not only in floor work, but also in walls. Its elasticity and dimensions (0.585 m×0.545 m) only contribute to the simplification for easy and fast installation.
Advantages of a film warm infrared floor
- Quick and easy installation on average does not take more than 2 hours
- A film thickness of 3 mm will not significantly affect the height of the room in any way.
- High level reliability
- Not obligatory work on pouring the screed, since the film warm floor is easily settled under linoleum, carpet and laminate
- Does not affect the humidity of the heated room
- Promotes anti-allergic effect
- Up to 20% energy savings compared to other underfloor heating systems
- If necessary, it can be easily dismantled, which will save money and time, as well as acquire a warm floor at a new place of residence
- Ionizes the air
Necessary materials for installing a warm film floor
The standard set of materials for laying a warm film floor includes a thermal film that is rolled up, a set of insulation and electrical wiring for contact clamps, and the clamps themselves. You should also get a thermostat with a temperature sensor.
To improve the thermal properties and durability of the structure, additional materials must be purchased for the device of the system:
- Polyethylene film
- Double or single sided tape
- Heat reflective material
Preparation of the basis for the installation of a warm film floor under the laminate
When installing a warm film floor, there is no need to dismantle the old coating. This is done only if the old coating can no longer fulfill its physical purpose. If the coating is in good condition, then it should be cleaned of possible types of dirt and dust. The admissibility of the height difference corresponds to the height of the film itself, which is 3 mm. It is strongly recommended to use a level to check the surface for unevenness. Having found surface irregularities, it is desirable to level them, and then dry them with a vacuum cleaner. Only after all these completed works, you can proceed to the installation of the infrared floor heating itself.
The area that will be filled with furniture or appliances is not insulated, as this is unjustified. But if frequent changes of furnishings or new furniture are planned, then the whole room is processed this way. Do not forget about the power of the warm floor, which directly depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe heated room. The larger the room, the lower the power consumption. In any case, during the selection of a film floor, the consultant will calculate the right amount and the required power for optimal efficiency.
Insulation laying
The initial stage is the laying of waterproofing, designed to protect the underfloor heating system from moisture.
The next stage is the installation of a thermal insulation layer, the purpose of which is to prevent heat loss from radiation that is directed downward, as a result of which energy consumption is significantly reduced and the efficiency of the entire system as a whole is increased.
For such purposes, you can use almost any insulating material. It must be carefully straightened and mounted with the metallized side up, while pasting the joints with adhesive tape.
For laminate, according to experts, foam material with a thickness of at least 3 mm is best suited as thermal insulation.
It can be both reflective and non-reflective, for example, cork. Both are effective, the main thing is that its thickness is within the limits. Typically, the reflective coating is made from lavsan. It is worth noting that the foil coating is not of sufficient quality for an infrared heated floor under a laminate, so it is not recommended to use it in the installation of a thermal film.
To reduce heat loss, the joints of the substrate should be sealed with metal-coated adhesive tape.
Determining and preparing a place for a thermostat
The thermostat performs the function of controlling the temperature reading. The main tasks of the thermostat are based on the following:
- setting the base temperature level;
- programming the frequency of heating;
- automation of the on and off time of the underfloor heating system.
Before starting installation work on installing an infrared warm floor, it is necessary to determine the location of the thermostat (they are considered optimal - 20 cm from the floor level), since the entire process of attaching sheets of thermal film and placing wires depends on this.
After that, they draw up a scheme for installing a warm film floor.
Installation of underfloor heating system
The installation of the thermal film is carried out directly on the thermal insulation according to the planned scheme.
Scheme of connection of a film heat-insulated floor:
There is no need to insulate the entire floor of the room; a warm film floor is mounted on useful areas of the room.
Polyester film is laid:
- 50% of the entire floor area with a capacity of 90-150 W / m2 - if an additional heating system is needed, when there is a main heat source and only a comfortable warm floor is provided;
- by 70-80% with a power of 150 W / m2 - in the case of creating the main heating, when there are no other sources of heat in the room.
Thermal film should not be installed closer than 20 cm from the wall, and in places where furniture is placed to prevent overheating, and further damage to the underfloor heating system. It is also forbidden to place the film closer than 1 meter from strong heating devices, such as fireplaces.
For the correct and most effective placement of the thermal film, it can be cut with scissors at the intended marks (in the light places that are located between the dark sections). It is worth remembering that the maximum length of the strip should not exceed 8 meters.
Important: any overlapping of individual parts of the film on top of each other is prohibited.
The film can be single or double sided. In the first variant, the system is laid with the reinforced side down, in the second variant, both can be used.
To reduce the length of the wires, the film should be mounted towards the wall, where the temperature controller will be located in the future.
The film is laid with the copper sides of the contacts down, then clamps are attached to the edge of the copper strip, to which the wires are then connected.
Isolation of cut sections of the film
At the cut points, the film floor has open areas of copper, and to avoid further possible damage, these places should be insulated. For these purposes, bituminous insulation is most often used. We cut off a rectangular insulating film a little larger than the surface to be treated, and glue the copper sections on both sides. Holes are made in the film to accommodate the insulated area by pressing it in and then sticking it with adhesive tape. In those places where the wires will be attached, it is not necessary to start insulation yet, since metal clamps should be connected initially. They are attached as follows: one side of the clamp must be carefully positioned between the copper strip and the film, then clamp it tightly with pliers.
Wiring organization and testing
Wire connection
The wires of the underfloor heating film should go from the center to the baseboard area, to the wall, which will prevent the danger of floor covering pressure on them. The wiring must pass directly under the thermal film, for this purpose holes are made in it, through which the wires are pushed, which are further fastened with adhesive tape. It is worth remembering that the wires should in no case stand for thermal insulation. They are connected to the clamps in parallel: the left sides are attached only to the left, and the right - to the right, respectively. At the ends of the wire, the insulation is removed with a sharp tool, then twisted and pushed through the holes of the clamp, after which it is fastened with pliers. After that, the attachment point is isolated and attached with adhesive tape to the film. For convenience, so that there is no confusion, you can initially use two colors of wiring.
Connecting a thermostat
Initially, a well-insulated temperature sensor is connected to the heating film, namely to its underside approximately in the center of the second section. It is a small thermometer with a head in the form of a polymer element, which is soldered to the wire.
Holes should be cut for the sensor itself and its wiring to the thermostat. If the wire has to be bent, a smooth turn should be made in the film in order to prevent cable breakage in the future.
After all the work on installing the sensor and the connected wires is completed, you can proceed to the direct installation of the thermostat. It is desirable to connect this device permanently, but it is also possible to install it using a socket.
As can be seen from practice, it is better to place the main amount of wiring under the plinth.
The principle of connecting the film floor heating thermostat is the same as for other types of electric floor: on the one hand, a temperature sensor is connected to two contacts, wires from the warm floor are attached to the opposite side, and electrical power wiring is inserted into two contacts located in the center. Ground wires are not connected to a contact, but are connected by a terminal.
System testing
Before starting work on fixing the laminate, it is necessary to test the underfloor heating system. A high-quality thermal film is evidenced by the absence of sparks and overheating of individual sections.
If any defects are not noticed, then the next step is to cover the heating floor with an additional thick layer of polyethylene film (at least 80 microns), which serves as a protection against liquid ingress onto the heating system, and as a result of reducing the wear of the thermal film during its operation. It overlaps along the strips of the heating film.
Laying the finish coat
When laying the laminate, be extremely careful to avoid damaging the thermal film.
When choosing a laminate, it is important to pay attention to its labeling and the ability to use it as a laying on underfloor heating.
The process of installing laminate flooring is quite simple. Initially, the side faces of the panels are joined, then each new strip is connected to the previous one. Locks are easy to connect if you do this process at a slight angle. If there are small gaps between the laminate plates, they can be eliminated with light blows from the side with a hammer. After installing the laminate, a plinth is attached to all areas of the room, in which holes are made at the cable outlets.
You can’t immediately connect a warm floor to electricity, you need it to warm up to room temperature and only turn it on.
- It is worth remembering that installation work on installing a film underfloor heating should be carried out at a positive temperature and at moderate humidity, not more than 60%.
- Before connecting the film floor to the network, it is necessary to carefully check the insulation of the contacts and in the places where the web is cut.
- Rolled-up thermal film cannot be connected to the network.
- If you have pierced through the place of the graphite-coated thermal film, the place of breakdown should be insulated on both sides.
- It is forbidden to lay a warm floor on a damp surface.
- If you accidentally flooded the underfloor heating film by negligence, you should immediately turn it off from electricity and then dry it naturally.
- Do not forget to draw a diagram of your film floor, as practice shows, you may need this in the future.
- Do not walk on a ready-made warm floor in shoes.
- Do not brick up the underfloor temperature sensor, it should be easy to replace and control.
Infrared film underfloor heating is a new material that has a high degree of energy saving. In the construction market, this material appeared quite recently, but has already won a well-deserved authority.
Its distinguishing feature is that it can fit perfectly under any coating (laminate, tile, linoleum, etc.) and it does not require pouring a cement screed.
The infrared film floor has another significant plus. Its installation is not complicated at all, and anyone can do it, and it is very easy to dismantle when moving to a new apartment.
Specifications of infrared film floor
Infrared film floor has the following technical characteristics:
Its voltage in the electrical network is from two hundred and twenty to two hundred and thirty Volts and fifty Hz;
- Its power consumption depends mainly on the type of infrared film used (150 watts per square meter; 220 watts per square meter; 400 watts per square meter);
- The temperature of the working surface should be up to forty-five degrees Celsius at 150 watts; up to sixty degrees Celsius at 200 watts; up to eighty degrees Celsius at 400 watts;
- Wavelength from seven to twenty microns;
- There is no electromagnetic field.
Calculation of the infrared film floor
Do-it-yourself installation of an infrared film underfloor heating
1. First you need to prepare the floor surface. Then we put heat-insulating material on it. If it is planned to put carpet or linoleum on the floor, then any type of insulation with a sheet thickness of three to five millimeters is suitable for you, and we glue all joints with adhesive tape.
And if it is planned to lay ceramic tiles on the floor, then thermal insulation made of technical cork with a thickness of two millimeters is suitable.
Do-it-yourself infrared film warm floor: scheme
2. Before installing a warm floor, you need to determine the place where you will place the thermostat. Then draw up and write down a detailed layout of the installation, no matter what goes wrong in the process of laying the infrared film. Remember that the film is laid in places where open areas of the floor are located and furniture is not planned to be installed.
Then we proceed to cutting the film into strips of the sizes we need along special lines and lay them out copper strip down. and with contacts to the wall (a thermostat will be installed on it later) in accordance with the diagram you have drawn up.
4. Let's start connecting the film to the wiring. It is necessary to install contact clamps on the edge of the copper strip, and then connect the contact wires to the clamps.
6. Then you need to connect the floor temperature sensor. This is done from the back of the film. And then be sure to insulate.
7. After the film floor heating is completely laid, it is necessary to isolate all contacts suitable for it and connect it to the electrical network.
8. Before proceeding with laying the flooring, it is necessary to test the infrared floor heating. Pay special attention to the fact that there was no heating at the joints and various sincere.
9. In order to provide additional protection, it is possible to lay a polyethylene film over the infrared film underfloor heating. And now you can start installing the finish coating of your floor.
Remember that when laying ceramic tiles, you need to allow the screed under it to dry for about twenty days before you begin to fully use the warm floor.
Do-it-yourself installation of an infrared warm floor video
Therapeutic effects of infrared film underfloor heating
For many years, infrared rays have been used in medicine to treat many diseases. It has been proven that infrared light has a very beneficial effect on all damaged tissues.
Thanks to its influence, they gradually recover after surgery or serious injury. By infrared radiation, the film warm floor has a therapeutic effect on the entire human body.
Scientists have proven that our body itself produces a certain amount of infrared rays with a frequency of up to twenty microns, but a film warm floor gives our body infrared pulses with a frequency of seven to twenty microns.
They are very similar to the infrared pulses of the human body. Therefore, this type of warm floor contributes to the fact that fatigue and stress are reduced, blood microcirculation improves several times.
Infrared floor installation
Infrared floor design
The main difference between infrared floor and other heating is its principle of operation. The energy of a warm infrared floor is not used to heat the air in the room, but is used to heat objects in its closed space. Those, in turn, accumulate and give off heat to the room, maintaining a natural microclimate in it. Infrared radiation is absolutely safe for the health of living beings and is comparable to solar heat.
The infrared heating system is made on the basis of heating elastic mats or lavsan film. The heating element has the form of conductive strips, which are arranged in 15 mm increments and are made according to Carbon NanoTube technology. Electricity, which initiates the heating element, is supplied to it through copper-silver contacts. The entire system is sealed on both sides with a polymer that has enhanced electrical insulating, fire and waterproof properties.
The connection of the infrared floor heating to the mains is carried out through the thermostat in a parallel way. The tightness of the connections, the high quality of the materials used and the use of carbon adsorbent spraying ensure the operation of the heaters in an efficient and continuous mode. Thanks to the parallel connection, the system will function even if any of its sections fails. Sometimes this happens with mechanical damage.
The main types of infrared floors
Warm infrared floors are presented in two types: these are film and rod heating systems. They are produced in rolls having a width of 500 and 1000 mm.
Film floors are bimetallic and carbon. In the first variant, the base of the floor is polyurethane, and the thermoelement is made of a copper-aluminum alloy. In the second, the carbon strips of the heating element, when connected in parallel, are laminated with a lavsan film. Its presence protects the system from moisture and electrical breakdown. Film heated floors serve for about 15 years, their cost is 550-1100 rubles / m 2.
In an infrared floor rod system, elastic mats combine flexible conductive bars and rods. The heating elements of the system are made of composite materials. During the entire time of operation of the rod infrared floor, electromagnetic radiation is practically absent. This property is similar to film heaters. Its difference from them lies in the special design of thermoelements, due to which the core floor has the ability to self-regulate and is not afraid of overheating.
The technical characteristics of such a floor allow it to be installed in a cement screed and in an adhesive layer under ceramic tiles. The core floor system can be safely used in rooms with humid air and even bulky furniture can be installed on it, which is not recommended when using film floors. The warranty period of operation of the core floor is 20 years, its cost is about 1500 rubles/m 2 .
The infrared floor is powered by a 220 V network. If the room has good thermal insulation, the warm floor consumes 30-55 W / h per 1 m 3 per day. The most comfortable temperature in a room with an infrared floor is provided by installing a thermostat.
Advantages and disadvantages of infrared floors
By installing an infrared heating system in the floor, you can get a lot of advantages, these are:
- Saving electricity due to its low consumption due to the high thermal conductivity of the floor thermoelements.
There are very few disadvantages to this floor. First of all, it is the high cost of models. If used incorrectly or damaged, the base of the infrared heating system may melt.
Materials and tools for mounting the infrared floor
To install the floor, you will need the simplest tools that are likely to be found in any home: wire cutters, a screwdriver, pliers, scissors and a mounting knife. In addition, materials will be needed, the list of which is given below:
Depending on the type of coating, you can also add to this list: chipboard sheets with a thickness of at least 5 mm or plywood - under linoleum; reinforcing metal mesh - under the tile.
Infrared floor installation technology
Laying the infrared floor is not particularly difficult and is carried out in several stages: preparation of the base, thermal insulation, marking for the location of the heater, installation and connection of the system.
Subfloor preparation
To make the infrared floor of high quality, you need to install it on a flat and dry base. The old flooring must be removed completely before the wood or concrete subfloor is exposed. The horizontalness of the resulting surface should be checked with a building level, deviations should not exceed 3 mm.
After that, the wooden floor must be sanded, and the concrete base must be sanded. The debris that will appear during these procedures must be removed, and then the surface should be cleaned of dust using an industrial vacuum cleaner.
On a clean base, you need to lay a polyethylene film with a thickness of at least 50 microns to waterproof the floor.
Thermal insulation is laid on top of the waterproofing layer. The heat insulator must be covered with lavsan or polypropylene film.
If it is planned to make the floor finish soft like linoleum or carpet, a material with a soft layer, for example, infraflex, should be used as a heat insulator.
If tiles, parquet boards or ceramic granite will lie on the floor, it is necessary to choose thermal insulation with a solid layer, for example, technical cork t. 2mm. After laying, the joints of the insulation must be fastened with adhesive tape.
Floor surface marking
Before marking, you need to determine the installation location of the temperature sensor, temperature controller and connect the film infrared floor to the network. The thermostat is usually installed on the wall 10-15 cm from the floor surface.
When marking the floor for laying the IR heater, you must follow the following recommendations:
- The film infrared floor must be laid on a room free from furniture and household appliances.
Features of laying the infrared floor
At the end of the preparatory work, we proceed to laying the IR heating film. It is advisable to do this along the length of the room: in this case, with a larger number of solid strips, there will be fewer connection points. The floor installation procedure is described below.
The heating film must be laid down with a copper conductive strip down, the distance between the strips is assumed to be at least 5 cm. When installing a warm floor under a laminate or linoleum, they can be laid closely, thereby ensuring uniform heating.
The strips of the infrared floor must be attached to the thermal insulation with construction tape. This ensures the immobility of the elements for the convenience of subsequent actions. Cut lines located in the area of copper conductors must be treated with bituminous insulation. The same procedure should be carried out with the silver-plated contacts connecting the heating elements to the tape.
On copper conductive strips, you need to mount contact clamps: one half of them should be inside the film, the other - outside on the strip. Contacts are fixed with pliers.
Connecting the IR floor system
At the final stage of the installation of the infrared floor, it is necessary to connect it. The system thermostat can be installed permanently or plugged into an electrical outlet with a cord. At the same time, it should not interfere with the further arrangement of household appliances and furniture.
The floor temperature sensor should be placed closer to the thermostat under the infrared film. It is fixed on the film under the carbon paste with adhesive tape.
After installing the clamp contacts on the film, power wires should be connected to them, and the joints should be treated with a bitumen insulator.
Then the heating system must be turned on, set to a comfortable temperature and the insulation of the film cut line, heating of all film strips and connecting wires (with a probe screwdriver) should be checked.
After checking the operation of the system, we lay the floor covering. Some of its types will require additional actions with a warm floor.
If the finish is linoleum, you need to lay fiberboard or thick plywood on the infrared film. If a tile is planned as its quality, a reinforcing mesh with 2 mm cells or fiberglass with 5-20 mm cells will have to be mounted on top of the warm floor. They are fixed pointwise with dowels to the base. Then you can lay the screed on top.
Important! Marking for fastening of coatings should be done in advance to avoid damage to the heating elements of the system.
How to make an infrared floor - look at the video:
Warm infrared floors have an incomparable advantage over heating that uses the combustion of any materials. In addition to being silent, they also do not emit toxins at all. Therefore, they are actively used in medical and children's institutions.
Similar news
How to connect infrared underfloor heating
To date, non-traditional heating systems are quite widely used in modern houses and apartments. They are good sources of heat and help to significantly reduce electricity costs, which has a positive effect on the family budget. And that is why the question "how to connect an infrared warm floor" is so relevant. In this article, we will look at how to properly connect the IR floor.
Technical characteristics of infrared floor heating
Before you connect this heating system, you should understand some of its features. Characteristics of IR floor:
- expended power forty-five - 67 W / m2.
- film thermal coating width - 50 cm.
- the maximum allowable length of the film thermal coating is eight meters.
- power supply - 220 V at 50 Hz.
- the melting temperature of the film infrared heat-insulated floor is 130 C.
- the content of infrared rays in the emitting spectrum - 95%;
- the length of the infrared beam is five to twenty micrometers.
How to connect an infrared warm floor - the importance of proper installation
Warm film IR coating is an alternative widely used method of heating a room of any parameters, which is powered by the mains. In this system, the territory is heated from a special film (which contains a carbon mixture), heated by copper conductors on the sides. In order to avoid the problem of burning contacts, the design has a protective silver coating.
To connect a warm infrared floor, you will not need a lot of effort and expense, it is only important to follow certain rules in installation. We will consider all the connection steps below, and if they are not followed, then you may encounter certain breakdowns and incorrect operation of the system. The causes of problems can be:
- Violation of standards for installation schemes of electrical systems.
- Incorrect calculations on the ratio of the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and the warmest floor covering.
- Use when installing materials that are not intended for the equipment of such a heating system.
- Violation of the stages of installation of steam and heat-insulating layers.
- Use when pouring screed mixtures that are not suitable for infrared film floors.
- Inaccurate calculation of the brand of electric power wire and section regarding the total load.
- Use as a final layer of materials with low thermal conductivity. It is strictly not recommended to use natural carpet textile coverings on such a heating system.
If you follow all these simple rules and connect the infrared floor heating correctly. you get an economical, durable and safe heating system.
How to connect an infrared warm floor - steps
As mentioned above, it is extremely important to observe all the correct installation technology of a warm floor system, the stages of which are:
To fix it, watch a couple of video installation instructions.
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