The algorithm for installing an electric heated floor with your own hands begins with the preparation of a place for installing a temperature regulator and a floor sensor.
We place the thermostat
We measure the distance to accommodate the thermostat
We recommend that you choose the location for the thermostat in the place most convenient for controlling the warm floor.
If you are installing a warm floor in rooms with very high humidity, for example in a swimming pool or in a sauna - we recommend that you take out the thermostat altogether outside this room.
Drilling the socket for the
Thermostat is drilled with a special nozzle. In addition, you must mark out and penetrate the channels in which the mounting ends of the heating cables and the wires of the temperature sensor pass.
Wiring Sections
To protect the wires from moisture, we recommend that you place them in a corrugated pipe.
Table - To calculate the required cross-section of the
cable Do not forget that you must also connect the power cable to the thermostats. To calculate the required cable cross-section, you can use our table.
Preparing the floor surface
In the next step, you need to prepare the floor surface for installation.
We prepare the floor surface for installation
Remove the remaining construction debris from the floor surface. For this you can use a conventional brush.
Priming the surface of the floor with a conventional roller
Using a roller, overlay the surface of the overlap. A primer layer is necessary so that the cement-sand screed has a better contact with the surface.
Note on the floor where the heated cables will not pass
Also note that the floor heating cable should be spaced about 5 cm from the walls of the room. Also note that the distance between the heating cable and other heating devices should be about 10 cm. This should be done, for example, from the elements of the heating system.
Cable laying for electric underfloor heating
We lay thermal insulation and fix the mounting tape
We place a layer of thermal insulation on the floor surface. Calculation of the thickness of the thermal insulation layer must be carried out, based on what kind of room is located under yours. If there is already a heated room, then the layer of thermal insulation can be laid minimal.
We lay a layer of thermal insulation on the surface of the floor
In this case, you can limit the thermal insulation thickness of 3-4 millimeters, while placing it only in the area where the heating elements are placed.
In the event that there is an unheated room under the floor, the layer should be calculated thicker and placed on the entire surface.
Fastening of sheets of a thermal protection of a floor among themselves
To consolidate among themselves sheets of a heat-insulating material it is possible an ordinary scotch tape. It reliably fixes the layers and does not break the structure of the thermal insulation.
We lay out the mounting tape for fixing the electrical cable
To fix the heating cable - lay out the mounting tape on the surface of the thermal insulation. The pieces of tape should be placed about a meter apart.
In order to attach the tape to the floor surface, you can use different methods, for example, dowels and self-tapping screws.
Mounting the heating sections
Before beginning installation, calculate the pitch of the cable to be laid. To calculate it, you can use the formula below.
The formula for calculating the cable routing step
Move the mounting end of the heating section to where the thermostat of your warm floor will be located.
Sample for attaching the electrical floor heating element to the mounting tape
Secure the connecting end of the heating cable to the mounting tape. Then the remaining sections of the heating cable will also be laid from this section.
Heating cable laying on the floor - photo
It is recommended that the heating cable be laid evenly, ensuring that there are no crossings. The minimum distance between the lines of the heating line should not be less than 8 centimeters. Make sure that the cable on the turning sections curves smoothly, do not allow tension and kinks.
Tips for laying the cable
The mounting ends of the electrical heating cable must be routed to the regulating device. The figures shown below show the options for the wiring diagrams of the heating cable when placing a two-core and single-core cable.
Wiring plan for underfloor heating
When installing heating sections, we recommend that you wear shoes with a soft sole structure. So you can avoid damage to the heating cable.
Alternatively, to protect the already laid out cable, you can close it with plywood sheets or any other covering material.
We install and fix the temperature sensor and the thermostat
We place the temperature sensor in the protective corrugated tube
The sensor itself should be located near the end of the tube, its end must be closed with a cover. This way you protect the temperature sensor from getting cement mortar while forming the screed.
Sensor mounting example
Displaying the temperature sensor
The end of the tube with the inside temperature sensor should be located at least half a meter from the wall of the room. In this case, make sure that the bend radius of the corrugated tube with the sensor inside is not less than 5 centimeters.
Fixing the corrugated tube for the warm floor
Fix the corrugated tube with the inside sensor on the floor surface, at an equal distance between the turns of the heating cable lines.
Fill the mounting channel with a solution of alabaster
After installing the sensor and removing the wires, fill the mounting channel with a solution of alabaster.
Connect the end of the cable to the thermostat
Fix the mounting ends with a wire and connect the cable to the thermal controller.
After installing the thermostat, set it to minimum temperature and apply the operating voltage to the heating system for about a minute. Then gradually increase the heating and check the efficiency of electrical heating.
We install screed
We put beacons for leveling the floor, we mark them with the necessary height of cement-sand screed. After that, we knead the necessary quantity of the solution and place it on the surface.
Cement leveling with a trowel
Level the screed with a wide trowel or rule.
After complete drying of the mortar, place the substrate on the screed, and then proceed with the installation of the finishing flooring - laminate.
