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What is a warm floor? The name speaks for itself: it is a heating system that regulates and maintains the temperature of the flooring in the room. It can be used both as the main source of heating and additional.
Similar systems for heating existed in antiquity. So, in ancient Greece and in ancient Rome, the following method was used: hot air from a wood-burning stove was distributed through a pipe system over the space arranged under the floor. Needless to say, only very rich people had access to such technologies? Today, underfloor heating is much more affordable, and their principle of operation is not as complicated as before.
Currently, there are two main types of underfloor heating: water and electric. In the first, the main heat carrier is water circulating through pipes laid under the floor covering. The second type – electric floors – is the most popular these days. The heat-conducting element is a heating electric cable, if we are talking about cable electric floors or heating mats; or composite rods or conductive carbon strips for infrared floors. In this review, we will focus on electric underfloor heating.
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1. “ProfiRoll thermal suite”
«ProfiRoll» – heating element for electric underfloor heating from a manufacturer “Teplolux”. This is a two-core shielded cable with a thickness of less than 6 mm and a power of 18 watts per linear meter. The tighter the cable is laid, the higher the total heating power of the flooring will be. For comfortable additional heating in local areas, the optimal power is from 150 watts per 1 m2, for the main or for cold rooms – 180 watts per 1 m2. The maximum power of one set is 2700 watts, this power is suitable for a room with an area of 15-18 m2. If you have a larger area, it is advisable to use several ProfiRoll sets, however, in this case, you need to take into account the maximum allowable load on the thermostat.
The cable is mounted in a layer of cement-sand mixture with a thickness of three to five centimeters. This laying method, on the one hand, securely fixes the cable, and on the other hand, the mixture screed accumulates heat well. Thanks to this, energy consumption will be economical, since the floor will give off heat even after it is turned off.
This model has one installation wire, which greatly facilitates the layout, the power unit is connected to the heating unit using a reliable coupling, and the heat-resistant insulation of the heating cable ensures durable and reliable operation. The manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty for this model, and it also won the prestigious Product of the Year award in 2020.
The operation of the heating element can be controlled using many mechanical or electronic thermostats, however, automatic programmable thermostats from Teplolux provide the greatest convenience and efficiency. With their help, you can set the time to turn on and off the heating, and the model that works via wi-fi allows you to control it from a distance. For example, this is very convenient if you want the flooring to heat up by a certain time.
Advantages and disadvantages
2. “ProfiMat thermal suite”
“ProfiMat Thermal Suite” – heating mat. In this type of underfloor heating, the two-core heating cable is already fixed to the fiberglass mesh with a constant pitch. Cable thickness – 4.3 mm, power – 180 watts per 1 m2. One set is designed for a maximum power of 2700 watts, which is optimal for a room of 15 m2. With one thermostat, you can use several sets, taking into account the permissible load on a particular model.
The format of the heating mat simplifies the installation, as there is no need to calculate the pitch and manually lay the cable. The mat is mounted directly into the tile adhesive, the optimal layer thickness of which is 5-8 mm. Thus, this product is suitable for those who do not want to greatly increase the height of the flooring. The mesh can also be cut if it is necessary to lay it at an angle. However, the use of a heating mat is only recommended if the floor has been screeded.
The ProfiMat company “Teplolux” provides a lifetime warranty. The cable is attached to the mesh using sew-on technology (it is exclusive to this manufacturer), which increases the reliability of the structure and increases its heat transfer. The shielding of the cable is made of alumina-lavsan, which is a durable and reliable material that protects well from electromagnetic radiation and ensures complete safety during use.
The best floor coverings for use with a heating mat are tiles or porcelain stoneware. The fact is that they have good thermal conductivity, and the heating of the coating will be as fast and efficient as possible.
Advantages and disadvantages
What other underfloor heating is worth paying attention to
3. DEVImat DTIF-150, DTIF-200
DEVImat – a heating mat manufactured by the Danish company Danfoss. There are two models of this product: DTIF-150 and DTIF-200: the numbers indicate the power in watts per 1 m2. However, the declared power is achieved when connected to a power source with a voltage of 230 volts, when operating in 220 volt mode, the power will be 137 and 180 watts per 1 m2 respectively.
The DTIF-150 is rated for a maximum output of 1800 watts (12 m2), and DTIF-200 – at 2100 watts (10.5 m2). As noted above, for larger rooms, you need to use several sets of the product. The maximum operating temperature for DTIF-150 is 90 °C, for DTIF-200 it is 120 °C. It is worth remembering that the manufacturer talks about the specific temperature, he does not take into account losses, properties of the floor covering, the general temperature in the room, etc.
The heating element is a two-core cable 3-4 mm thick in Teflon insulation. It is attached to a self-adhesive synthetic mesh. The power and heating parts are connected by means of a hermetic coupling. The installation of the mat is carried out in a layer of tile adhesive or mastic with a thickness of about 5 mm. The manufacturer claims that this type can be used on floors without a thick cement screed. Product warranty – 20 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
4. nkmaster (“National Comfort” Master) “BNK-Master”, “2NK-Master”
brand nkmaster (“National Comfort” Master) offers two models of underfloor heating: “BNK-Master” – cable, “2NK-Master” – heating mat. Each set of a particular model comes with a thermostat. This is one of the most budgetary, but at the same time high-quality solutions on the market today.
The two-core heating cable “BNK-Master” has a thickness of 4.5 mm and a power of 12 watts per linear meter. Recommended power per 1 m2 – 150 watts, maximum – 1500 watts, it is suitable for heating a room of 10 m2. The cable can be installed either in a screed 3-5 cm thick or in a layer of tile adhesive 5-8 mm thick.
The heating mat “2NK-Master” uses a cable 4.5 mm thick as a heating element, power – 150 watts per 1 m2. Maximum power – 1500 watts (at 10 m2). The heating mat is mounted in a layer of tile adhesive 5-8 mm thick.
If you are faced with the task of warming up the room as much as possible, then it is advisable to use a cable built into the screed, since it can be laid more tightly and thereby increase the heating power per square meter, and the screed accumulates heat well. However, the laying method is more complicated, and the overall height of the floor will increase markedly. The manufacturer provides a 30-year warranty for the heating elements and 1 year for the thermostat.
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Warmstad WSM-300-2.0
This set of underfloor heating can be used to heat any premises with any coating. For example – under carpet, laminate, parquet, ceramic tiles. The heating elements are made using the latest technology, they are safe and reliable.
The dimensions of each mat are 4×0,5 m, the power consumption is 300 watts. The heating elements are two-core cables, the maximum heating area of one mat is 2 sq.m. The cables are laid on mats in a “snake” manner and are ready for installation.
Advantages and disadvantages
6. Caleo Unimat Rail
Unimat Rail – infrared rod mat from Caleo. Composite (alloy of carbon, graphite and silver) rods act as heating elements. Power – 130 watts per 1 m2. Unimat Rail is sold in rolls from 1 to 7 running meters long. The width of each roll is 83 cm.
The manufacturer claims that this system has the effect of self-regulation, that is, with an increase in floor temperature, the power consumption decreases, and, consequently, the consumption of electricity. The peculiarity of the rod floor is that even if one of the rods fails, the rest will continue to work.
Installation can be done both in screed and in tile adhesive. The best floor coverings for this type are tiles or porcelain stoneware, as they have good thermal conductivity. Warranty for underfloor heating – 20 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose underfloor heating
Choosing a warm floor is not an easy task. Not only do you need to be well versed in the features of all types, in addition, you need to understand the compatibility of each type with a specific type of room and tasks. To understand the nuances of ” Healthy Food Near Me” helped head of the apartment renovation firm Ramil Turnov.
Radiant floor heating
The heating element in this type of floor is, as the name implies, water. Under the floor covering, pipes are laid in a screed, and heated water moves through them. Such a mechanism can be very economical, provided that a gas boiler is installed in the house, which heats the water. Heating water with electricity can cost a tidy sum. An electric heated floor will last for decades without breakdowns, and experts advise changing the water system every 10-15 years. This type of floor is mainly used in private houses, as its installation is very expensive and complicated.
Electric heated floor
This type of floors is the most common today. They are allowed to be installed without restrictions in apartment buildings, they can be used for underfloor heating and heating of cold rooms, such as loggias or pantries. Using a thermostat will reduce energy consumption. Electric floors are made in the form of a cable and in the form of a heating mat. The cable is often laid in a screed, and the mat in a layer of tile adhesive. On the one hand, the cable is cheaper (but not radically), you can independently calculate the laying step and thus adjust the heating power per square meter, and the screed retains heat better. On the other hand, such installation is quite complicated, requires specialized knowledge and skills, and the height of the screed significantly increases the height of the floor. Mats are easier to install, the floor height practically does not increase, but they are more expensive. The warm floor in the screed is laid on the thermal insulation, and in the case of installation in tile adhesive, thermal insulation is not used, since a thin layer of glue can crack.
Infrared underfloor heating
Infrared floors are film – they are rolls of film to which carbon strips are attached. There are options with a continuous carbon coating. There are also infrared rod floors, which are a set of composite rods. Under the influence of electricity, the heating elements emit heat waves. They are not afraid of frost, so it is good to use them for heating such spaces as a porch, loggia, etc. This type of floor is mounted in both screed and tile adhesive.
Temperature controller
The thermostat is the main control element for underfloor heating. There are many options on the market: there are simple mechanical devices, there are electronically controlled ones. For more precise settings, you can consider programmable thermostats, as well as those models that are controlled from a smartphone, integrated with a thermometer, clock or smart home system.