How to make a warm floor from heating

Systems " warm floors" are rapidly gaining popularity among owners of private suburban housing and urban apartments. This is not surprising - this heat exchange scheme in the room is the most efficient and economical - heated air from the floor evenly rises up , creating an optimal comfortable temperature distribution without the formation of horizontal convection currents.

The scheme for a warm floor is quite a lot - they are water-filled, that is, with the laying of pipes for circulation of the heat-transfer fluid, and electric, in which various heating circuits from the power supply are used. Due to the fact that not electric power is called cheap , many owners of housing pay special attention to the "water" scheme. Moreover, owners city apartments are tempted to take advantage of the possibilities of the central heating circuit installed in the house, so in the Internet search engines in the request always meets the following: "how to make the warm floor from option".

Unfortunately, many articles on this topic begin with the fact that the reader is drawn the most rosy perspectives, for example - "the installation of such warm floor is not difficult and can be done on its own".Is it so? Practice shows that the equipment of such a system will require the application of considerable forces to overcome the most diverse problems of , both of purely technological and administrative nature.

The purpose of this publication is not so much a step-by-step instruction on the independent equipment of the warm floor system from , as an overview of all the complex issues in the implementation of the of this project with options for their possible resolution. Estimating the scale of the work, the nature of the upcoming difficulties and own forces, it is likely that some apartment owners will decide in favor of the electric " warm floor", much easier to install.

Administrative Difficulties

First of allth, we need to dwell on the fact that administrative barriers can prevent the equipment of such a "warm floor" with connection to central heating.

The central heating system is calculated with taking into account the boiler output, the throughput of heating mains, the piping system in multi-storey buildings, the number and total area of ​​heated apartments and many other factors. The insertion of additional heating circuits, , especially , which are of considerable length, necessarily will affect the overall parameters of the system. It is good, if the capacity of the boiler house and the wiring possibilities allow to compensate for the heat losses, but this does not always happen. Thus, tenants of apartments, connected to one riser, can feel the temperature drop of the heating radiators that the will lead the to complaints about the work of the utility companies.

Therefore, the installation of additional circuits warm floor requires mandatory agreement with the organization that provides heat to the apartment building, and not the fact that about on at this will go .Of course, there are always "clever people" who can connect "pirated", without notification utilities specialists, but sooner or later it is detected and ends with imposing a lot of penalty.

As a rule, permission can be given if the apartment is located at the very end of the heating circuit. For example, in the heat supply system from the bottom up , there should not be any problems with the owners of apartments on the highest floor - the selection of additional heat energy will not affect other tenants at home. Conversely, when an upper heat supply is applied, the owners of the apartment on the ground floor will have this advantage. But in either case, the heat supply organization, for sure , will require the installation of an additional device of thermal energy, for individual counting of payment for its expenditure.

is required. The managers or теплоснабжающие the organizations can meet half-way and if in the apartment heating system the general heat carrier is used, and energy transfer is carried out through the special device - the heat exchanger. The contour " warm floor" in this case becomes in the of a certain degree autonomous, but the device accounting , consumed heat nevertheless all will equally be required.

Similar problems with the permission to install the water " warm floor" can only be owned by the owners of apartments with autonomous heating system, that is, disconnected from the central network and installed their gas or electric boiler and closed loop, not communicating with the outside. In this case , of course, means is that the installation of its own heat generator( boiler) and "autonomization" already received in advance the appropriate approval. But even in this case it is necessary to face considerable difficulties, only now - of a technological nature. About this speech will go below.

Possible solutions for laying pipes " warm floor "

If there are no problems of the concordant character, then it is necessary to solve the problems with the pipe laying system " warm floor".Here will have to face a lot of nuances - an assessment of the possibility of raising the level of the floor and the additional load, the acquisition of quality components, the creation of reliable thermal insulation, the choice of the laying scheme and floor covering technology рх тр Уб.About to all - to row.

How far will the floor surface rise?

This factor should be considered in advance, is still before all subsequent work. The very water system " warm floor" implies a reliable thermal insulation of the base so that expensive energy does not go away, just for heating the floor slabs between the floors.

For apartments, located above the heated premises is considered sufficient layer in 30 mm of a standard insulation( for example, extruded polystyrene).In the case where the heating is similar installed on the first floor, under which - a cold basement or basement room, or soil, a layer of at least 50 mm and sometimes up to 100 mm is required.

But this still is not all. It is necessary to add the thickness of the screed, which will cover the pipes and be a powerful battery of thermal energy. That is, it is necessary to add another at least 50 mm. Plus to this - the thickness of the finish flooring. In total, a general rise in the level of the surface will result. Based on this result, you can assess whether it is feasible to perform in an apartment.

It is possible to do without a concrete screed, having lowered the height of raising the floor.

For this, a pipe laying system is used in heat exchanging metal plates that are installed in wooden prefabricated modules, rack or lag structures , or in thermo-insulating mats.

. The heat dissipation with this is definitely going down a bit, but it's an inevitable fee for saving space.

In any case, the , of a particular raising the surface level can not be avoided. If the " warm floor" system is planned only in separate rooms, then this will lead the to the formation of steps in the apartment, which is not very convenient in everyday life - this factor should also be borne in mind.

Thermal insulation mats

So, as already mentioned, laying pipes " warm floor" will require a preliminary thermal insulation of the surface. A roll of foamed polyethylene, even with foil , will obviously not be enough( with rare exceptions), and usually special mats are used for this purpose. They are of several types:

• Flat foam polystyrene mats from 30 to 50 mm thick with a foil-coated coating and, ideally, with a laminating layer on which a marking grid is made, which facilitates the laying of pipes according to the developed scheme.

To fix the pipes to such mats, special "harpoons" clamps are used, or, when pouring reinforced screed, the pipes are attached to the reinforcing mesh with the help of polymeric tie-collars. In addition, for convenience, special mounting rails can be used.

• Expanded polystyrene profile mats with special bosses, the location and height of which allows the to reliably secure the pipes in the specified position.

pipes. Especially suitable are mats with a laminated coating and a system of locks for interfacing - they create a single surface that does not require any additional waterproofing.

These mats are made of high density polystyrene( more than 40 kg / m³), ​​which ensures that the loads are maintained from both the screed and those arising during operation. The standard dimensions of one such profile panel are 1.0 × 1.0 or 0.6 × 0, 8 m .Thickness varies ( without accounting height of bosses) within 5 ÷ 50 mm, permissible pitch of pipe laying is 50 mm or more( multiple of 50).

Similar mats give and another one advantage - their complex relief structure, along with the physical features of expanded polystyrene, give a magnificent silky-sounding effect.

Which pipes are optimal for " warm floor "

Pipes in the warm floor system are mounted with an eye for a long period of use, during which their regular revision will simply be impossible. That is why they should be treated with special care for selection. What requirement should they meet:

• Sewer pipes are inadmissible - they will not give a guarantee of safety of the circuit when the pressure in is increased by .
• For the same reason, any joints in the contour should be avoided - this place is vulnerable to blockages and leakage.
• Pipes should have the necessary safety factor - on them lies load both on the side of the coolant and external, on the weight of the screed, floor coverings and dynamic loads. The indicator should be oriented to the resistance to pressure not lower than 8 ÷ 10 bar.
• Pipes should have the highest values ​​of corrosion resistance , resistance to scale formation, chemical inertness. The is oxygen diffusion, and the choice of material with a special protective layer from this process will be optimal.
• Not all can like noise flowing through the pipes of water. Hence, the pipes must also have an appropriate level of sound insulation.
• Diameter - pipes 16 or 20 mm are usually used. Lowering will cause to dramatically increase hydraulic resistance and reduce heat loss, and excessively thick pipes will significantly raise the thickness of the screed and lead to significant heat loss in the overall heating system.
• Pipes should be purchased with one integral piece for the contour, the length of which, with a diameter of 16 mm, should not exceed 60 - 80 meters. If this value is exceeded, a "closed loop" effect can appear in the circuit when the pressure created by the circulation pump can not cope with the internal hydraulic resistance. If this length is not enough to cover the entire area of ​​the room, will have arrange two or more separate circuits from one collector.

Which pipes are preferred for " warm floor":

• From the use of polypropylene or steel pipes to refuse immediately - they can not be laid without additional connecting elements.

• Good performance and heat transfer, and for copper pipes. The only them minus - this material has a very high price.

• Metal-plastic pipes are excellent for the system " warm floor", but with a few caveats. It should be used really high-quality material, since cases of rupture of the pipe body from excessive pressure are not uncommon. The problem, in fact, is not in the of the unreliability of the design itself, but in the fact that the building materials market is oversaturated with low-quality counterfeits that can not withstand any criticism. In pursuit of a low price, it is easy to get into the very unpleasant situation - then , which is easily eliminated, for example, on a water pipe, can have catastrophic consequences when a substandard pipe is placed in the floor.

Another one remark - the aluminum layer, in general , although resistant to corrosion, but eventually with the influence of oxygen gradually loses its qualities, becoming fragile. This significantly reduces the life of such pipes. Therefore, when choosing the material, it is best to consider its variants with a special oxygen barrier.

• Leading positions in this area have recently been to keep pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene. Process with Special processing of polymer - "cross-linking" creates additional three-dimensional intermolecular bonds, which at the output of gives excellent strength and flexibility of the pipe. The optimal pipes are PE-Xa , in which the degree of stitching reaches 80 - 90%. More is better if the layer EVON - is included in the pipe structure, it almost completely blocks the possibility of oxygen diffusion.

In addition, some manufacturers are reinforcing the RE-X pipe with the and aluminum welded overlapping layer, and these products are ideal for their use in heating systems - they withstand the most critical loads.

• Competition for polymeric pipes has recently become stainless corrugated. They have excellent flexibility, and the outer and inner layer of the polyethylene coating makes them practically absolutely impermeable .

Such pipes are produced in coils up to 50 meters, but they have reliable fitting so that they are allowed to be built up even with the closing of the connections with a concrete screed.

Video: advice on the choice of pipes for underfloor heating

Which "drawing" laying to choose

When drawing stacking schemes, one of the two main methods with possible variations is used - "snail" or "snake".

Schemes of "snail" or double "snake" shown in the right figure are slightly more complicated in laying, but they provide more even heating of the floor surface, as the supply and return pipes are located parallel to the to each other .

The laying of pipes can be different - it all depends on how much the room itself is insulated and the expected effect from such a heating system. Normally, the position of the turns at a distance of 100 mm is normally considered. You can create areas of increased heat, reducing this step, or, on the contrary, in those places where special heating is not required, significantly increase the distance.

Be that as it may, all the ends of the circuits are reduced to one point - to the installation location of the distribution manifold, which will talk about below.

Features of connecting the contours " warm floor" to the existing system heating

It is profoundly mistaken that the owner of the apartment who believes that the contours of the " warm floor" simply enough to cut into the heating pipes of the house - the supply and " return ."the approach is simply not possible based on the of a number of considerations:

• Water in narrow and long circuits never will start self-circulation - it will choose the path of the least hydraulic resistance. Thus, the compulsory element of the circulating pump becomes
• . In order for the to move the coolant with efficient heat transfer, a pressure balancing device in the system is required, which will eliminate stagnation or, conversely, the appearance of a hydrodischarge effect.
• A system of tapping the of the accumulating in the air system is mandatory.
• The heat medium in the central system is far from always clean, and to prevent clogging of the contours of the warm floor, the installation of mud filters is necessary.
• One of the main reasons is the necessity to reduce the coolant temperature. The water in the central heating pipes can be heated to very high limits, sometimes reaching even 80 degrees, that the is absolutely inapplicable to the for the system of the warm floor. Overheating of the surface by the itself with the negative image of the will affect the integrity of the screed and the thermal insulation layer and on the finish of the floor. In addition, too high a surface temperature will create an absolutely uncomfortable situation in the apartment. Practice shows that the optimal value of heating the heat carrier for the warm floor is a temperature of 35 - 40 °, and exceeding the its is not recommended. Hence, you need a special mixing unit that will mix water from the feed and return to achieve the desired level of its heating.

• Of course, all this requires the installation of visual inspection and adjustment tools, manual or automatic.
• And finally, no heat supply company will give permission for any connection, if does not comply with all safety rules of the system, its is economical in terms of thermal energy consumption, if it at least to some extentwill interfere with the normal operation of central heating throughout the building.

Self-activity in such matters is not welcomed - there are several basic connection schemes that are developed on the basis of carefully conducted by thermal and hydraulic calculations of .

For example, when connecting the collectors " warm floor" in the final section of the riser( the first or last floor, about the than the was mentioned earlier), the schematic shown in the figure is usually applied. It provides:

• . The inlet valve with the obligatory filter - "mud"( 1).
• The valve on the return pipe of the circuit with the check valve( 2).
• Three-way mixing valve( 3) with manual or servomotor control.

If the control is carried out in automatic mode, it is connected to the temperature sensor - the control signal is shown on the diagram of the green with a dashed line.

• servomotor Circulation pump( 4) with a capacity corresponding to the total length of the circuits connected to the collectors.
• The bypass ( 5) is installed to equalize the required pressure difference in the supply and return pipes.
• On combs both collectors must have air deflectors ( 6) and drain valves( 7) to drain the coolant for the production of preventive or repair work.

If system of warm floor cuts directly into the heat medium supply pipes( the permit for this is or in conditions of autonomous home heating network), the circuits must be slightly different:

• "a" shows a connection using a two-way valve( 2) connected to a thermostat. The tap regulates only the total water intake, without mixing, increasing or the deceased head and, consequently, the heat exchange rate. General adjustment is carried out by balancing valves( 3 and 4).The pressure is equalized by the bypass valve( 8).
• circuit "b" descends from the first, and differs only by the presence of a direct bypass( bridge) between the manifolds( 8) with a valve designed to operate when the permissible pressure in the supply pipe is exceeded.
• Figure "in" presents a pipe connection node with installed on the with a three-way valve( 11) that redirects the flow of the cooled liquid to the supply line. This - circuit is one of the simplest, but at the same time - enough reliable.
• Similar to it, but more sophisticated and light in the adjustment - circuit "g" .Here, a three-way mixer( 9) is placed on the supply pipe, providing direct mixing of hot and cooled water before entering the circulation pump( 1).
• with a four-way valve mixer, with manual adjustment, or equipped with servodrive, connected to the thermostat unit, is considered to be the most perfect .

This divider gives the the most accurate adjustments, for both the coolant temperature and the required fluid pressure in the " warm floor" contours.

• And, finally, in the drawing " e " the previously mentioned connection scheme " warm floor" to the central heating system through the heat exchanger( 14) is shown. A characteristic feature is the mandatory availability of its own safety group( 12), including its own control manometer, overpressure valve and air vent , and the installation of an expansion tank of the membrane principle of operation( 13), which will compensate for the inevitable pressure drops.

For the , , the necessary supply of heat medium can be installed jumper( 15) with a strainer, shut-off valve and non-return valve.

If several circuits " warm floor" are connected in parallel to the collectors, still arises one problem - the uneven flow of the coolant in them. Sometimes it even ends with hydrostatic "locking" - fluid in general stops moving one of them, choosing a path with the least resistance. With this, of course, you can fight by observing the clearly verified the same length of all circuits, but in practice it is extremely difficult to implement. Output one - on the combs of the collector there are adjustable valves for each circuit allowing to balance the total flow so that it is distributed evenly.

collectors. In addition, such shut-off valves allow the to shut off some heating zones in case of need, or in case of emergency situations - for preventive maintenance or repair work.

Can I assemble such a wiring, mixing and fine adjustment system myself? Perhaps, if the owner of the apartment has the necessary knowledge in this area, he can get it, but more often than not the help of a qualified specialist will be needed - commissioning on such interdependent circuits will require a professional approach.

But to maximize the to facilitate the installation process " warm floor" from option, the equipment manufacturers offer ready-made complex solutions - mixing and manifold assemblies of various designs with already assembled components, including a circulating pump,and a system of mixers and taps, and instrumentation, and blocks of automatic or manual control. Thus, the owners of the apartment are left with the , after consultation with specialists, to choose the most suitable option, which is the most suitable for the specific conditions of the installation and suits at its own cost. The choice is quite large - similar nodes are produced both for small rooms, and able to optimally distribute heat carrier flows in significant areas.

works. As a rule, for such mixing units a collector cabinet is provided, which can be completely hidden in a niche cut in the wall. The location is chosen for reasons of maximum simplification of the layout of the warm pipe system, access to the supply risers and the return of the central heating system. With small heating areas and small dimensions of the unit itself, it is sometimes located directly on the external wall.

Pipe laying and connection, " warm floor "

The installation of warm pipes is usually performed in the of the following sequence: :

• The ground condition is checked. If necessary, is removed from its defects - the repair solution of the cavity and cracks is closed, and the projecting places are cut to an even surface. After garbage collection and dust removal it is necessary to walk through the primer of deep penetration - it will raise the strength of the base, create an additional waterproof barrier.
• A layer of waterproof film with a thickness of at least 200 μm is covered. It should be found on the surface of the walls at 150 ÷ ​​200 mm. Neighboring strips are laid lapped with overlapping of 150 mm, the formed seams are pasted with a sturdy construction tape.
• A damper belt is attached to the entire perimeter of the wall, which will compensate for the thermal expansion of the future screed covering the pipes of the heating circuits. The height of the of lifting the tape onto the walls should correspond to the planned thickness of the screed plus as yet 20 ÷ 30 mm.
• Thermal insulation mats are laid. It is also desirable to glue the joints with waterproof tape. If the EPS polystyrene on the is equipped with a reflective foil layer of , it is necessary to lay with and a thin foil-backed polyethylene foam substrate.
• According to a pre-designed scheme, the pipes are laid out. Begin the layout from the collector cabinet, and here it should end. In order to ensure the connection of the pipe to the manifold, the always requires the to have the necessary stock.

• If profile mats are used, the pipes are fixed between the bosses. With flat heat insulation panels, plastic clips and mounting plates are used. Alternatively, the pipes can be tied to a reinforcing mesh. It is best to conduct such actions with an assistant, who will immediately fix the pipe in the right place as the bay and layout are unwound.

• Both outputs of each circuit are hermetically connected to the corresponding manifold in the switch cabinet.

Video: recommendations for the correct laying of the "warm floor" contours

• The next step of is the leakage test of the system. For this, the is carried out by its crimping - all contours and elements of the mixing cabinet are filled with water under operating pressure. If it is possible to use compression equipment, then the pressure should even be increased in the one and a half - two times. The filled system must stand for at least 24 hours during which the manometers are monitored and visual - for the condition of the pipes and all fitting or threaded connections. In the event of a leak or pressure drop, the necessary repairs are made and the process crimping is repeated. Only with a stable positive result can you go to the closure of the contours " warm floor" screed.

• The screed is carried out in the usual way - with reinforcement, setting up the beacon system. Use a concrete mortar grade of not less than M200 with fine sand. It is highly desirable to add a plasticizing compound which will facilitate the laying of the solution in difficult places( near the pipes and on the projections of the mounting plates or embossed mats), to avoid the formation of air voids - they can not only reduce the strength of the coating, but also degrade the heat engineering characteristics of the heating system.

The thickness of the screed must be at least 50 mm. Too thick layer to break the heat balance and will become unnecessary load of and on pipes, and on ceiling. Insufficient thickness of the screed will not ensure the safety of the circuits from dynamic loads, and will not allow it to cope with the role of the heat accumulator.

Before pouring concrete pipes must be filled with a coolant to prevent deformation of their walls with increasing weight load.

Before drying the screed( 3 - for 4 weeks, depending on the kind of solution used), it is forbidden to raise the temperature of the coolant in the system - the screed set should pass in a stable temperature regime.

Completely dry concrete surface will become the basis for laying any type of finishing flooring.

Video: version of the screed over the "warm floor" pipes

If the application of "concrete" technology is impossible( because of the too large concept of the floor level or because of the unacceptable heavy load on the ceiling), " warm floor"in wooden modules using heat exchanger plates, which have already been mentioned above.

Similar plates can be applied to profile mats, if you choose them in full accordance with the diameter of the pipes and the distance between the bosses.

Alternatively, even in the usual mats of their extruded polystyrene foam, it is possible to cut out grooves for installing heat exchanger plates and then laying pipes in them.

panels. On such a surface, after crimping , you can immediately lay the finish of the floor. If laminate flooring is planned, only a polyethylene foam substrate will be needed. In case when is applied to the floor by linoleum or tiles laid, the plywood layer( OSB, GVL ) is first spread over the metal plates, and then the finishing coat is installed.

And, finally, features of the start-up of the warm floor system from option. In no case you can not immediately run it at full capacity. Commissioning should be carried out stepwise, with a smooth rise in the temperature of the coolant to for the settlement .Recommend this process to stretch to 3 - for 4 days.

What is the conclusion of all this? Is it possible to name the process of creating warm floor from the existing heating system simple, for which one can take anyone? Probably not. follows scrupulously will weigh its desires and possibilities, think through all the stages of obtaining a license for installation and practical implementation of the project, and most likely will have come to the conclusion that without the help of qualified specialists in this question can not be avoided.