Contents
Underfloor heating technology has been known for a long time. In ancient times, wood-burning stoves were used for this, heated air from which was distributed through a system of pipes laid out under the floor covering. Nowadays, the heating element is no longer warm air, but a heating cable, composite materials or, less commonly, water. However, mobile underfloor heating, which can be installed as needed, moved from room to room, and even transported from house to house, is a relatively new phenomenon. Let’s take a closer look at what these devices are, what they are made for and where they can be used.
Is it possible to put a warm floor under the carpet
Mobile heated floors are divided into two groups according to the method of application: heaters under the carpet and heating mats. The first type is designed for use with carpets and carpets (compatibility with certain coatings must be checked with the manufacturer). Such a heater is a sheath made of PVC or felt (these materials can be combined), in which a heating element is mounted (see below for types of heating elements). The size of such products on average varies from ≈ 150 * 100 cm to ≈ 300 * 200 cm, and power – from 150 to 550 watts (for models with a cable). Working temperature of a surface – 30-40 °C.
There are a number of restrictions for the use of mobile underfloor heating under the carpet. First, you can not use any carpet or any covering. Manufacturers, as a rule, declare that such heaters are compatible with carpets, carpet and linoleum, however, the main criterion is the lack of heat-insulating properties of the coating.
The manufacturer Teplolux, for example, has stricter requirements for the operation of its heaters: firstly, only carpets must be used. Secondly, carpets must be either woven, or lint-free, or with a short pile (no more than 10 mm). Ideally, if the carpet is synthetic, since natural materials isolate heat more strongly.
In addition, heating can be bad for the carpets themselves, especially when it comes to silk or wool. It is necessary that the heater is completely covered with a carpet, otherwise its operation is prohibited, not to mention operation without a cover at all.
The second type of mobile underfloor heating is a heating mat. It does not need to be covered with any coatings, it is ready to use right out of the box. This is a mat no larger than 50 * 100 cm in size, in which a heating element is mounted. The front side is made of wear-resistant material – polyamide or carpet. The operating surface temperature is 30-40 °C, and the power is about 70 watts per hour for models with a heating cable. These, for example, include the Carpet 50 * 80 model from the Teplolux company.
The function of the heating mat is local heating. That is, they can be used to warm, for example, feet, dry shoes or use as bedding for pets.
The floor on which the heater will lie must also meet certain requirements. So, the floor surface must be flat and clean, otherwise the heating efficiency will decrease, or the heater may fail. The best materials are laminate, parquet, tiles, porcelain stoneware. On floors with a synthetic pile coating, the use of mobile underfloor heating is prohibited.
Which is better and where to buy underfloor heating under the carpet
Mobile warm floors, both heaters under the carpet, and heating mats, according to the type of heating element, are divided into cable and film. In the first type, the heating cable is mounted in a felt or PVC sheath, the power cable connects it to a power source. This design is strong, reliable, it has good heat dissipation. However, if the cable is damaged in one place, the heater will stop working.
Foil floors contain “tracks” of metal, which are connected to a conductive cable in parallel. These “paths” are heated with electricity, imparting heat to the coating of the product. If one track fails, the rest will function, this is possible due to the parallel connection of the heating elements. However, you must be careful during storage and transportation – you must not allow kinks or creases on the product.
The heating elements of infrared models are conductive strips of composite material, also applied to a film of electrically insulating material. Such a heater does not heat the air, but “transfers” heat to those objects that are located in the immediate vicinity of it, in this case, the carpet. These heaters are more economical, but their strength is inferior to cable models. In addition, their real power is less than that of other types of underfloor heating. Manufacturers claim that such mobile floors can be used not only with carpets, but also with linoleum, carpet and even plywood.
When choosing a mobile underfloor heating, you need to remember the type of flooring in combination with which you are going to use it. In addition, manufacturers strongly discourage the use of these devices in wet areas, such as bathrooms.
Mobile underfloor heating is sold in large hardware stores, construction markets, and some manufacturers allow you to place an order directly on their website. Be sure to read the product specifications and instructions for use before buying – such materials are usually published by manufacturers in the public domain.
How to connect a warm floor under the carpet
The main advantage of a mobile underfloor heating is that it does not need installation or any installation work: just plug it in. However, there are nuances here too.
First, you need to make sure that the network is working and that there are no voltage drops. This issue is relevant for old apartment buildings, a number of summer cottages and rural settlements. Using the heater with unstable voltage is not safe.
Secondly, it is highly undesirable to have a mobile warm floor next to other heaters, and putting it on another working warm floor is unacceptable.
Thirdly, it is desirable to use a power regulator when operating the heater. If the model you bought or intend to buy is not equipped with one, please purchase it separately. This will help reduce the load on the network, reduce energy costs and make the heating process more comfortable.
Fourth, you need to remember that a mobile warm floor is designed for additional or local heating, and a number of manufacturers recommend using it in residential areas. There is enough information on the Internet about heating loggias, garages and other premises with such devices, but we do not consider such an application to be rational.
Fifth, be sure to turn off the heater from the network if you are not using it, or at least set the power to the minimum value on the regulator.
Popular questions and answers
Healthy Food Near Me turned to Lead Engineer Yuri Epifanov with a request to answer a number of questions about mobile warm floors.