If you choose the right flooring and the type of warm floor, you can implement a combined system. Moreover, no matter what the purpose of the buildings and how many floors they have. A variant of the combined system is ideal for private residential buildings with two floors or more. In this case, the ground floor is equipped with a floor heating system.
Warm air rises. Moreover, it warms up not only the air, but also the ceiling, which is the floor of the second floor. Radiators are installed directly on the second floor. In the article we will consider the principle of operation of the combined heating system, its components. And we will pay special attention to the "heart", that is, the boilers and their types.
Design features
On the ground floor, it is best to use tiles as flooring. As for the rooms on the second floor, absolutely any floor covering can be used for them. In that case, if you decide to install thermostats, you can easily maintain the necessary microclimate in the house, regardless of the time of year or day. For example, you can set the temperature low for the day, and increase it at night.
The article provides an approximate diagram of a heating system. It is suggested that the heated floor is mounted only on the first floor of the house. The second floor, according to the scheme, is heated only by radiators. But you can make changes to the scheme in order to get rid of any shortcomings that are characteristic of it. For example, to equip a system of underfloor heating on the second floor.
Ideally, if the combined design is initially laid in the project. But, as you know, nothing is perfect. Therefore, you need to focus on what you have, take into account all the restrictions. Please note that in multi-apartment buildings you can’t make a liquid heated floor. And is it even necessary if you do not live on the ground floor? But in apartment buildings, you can install heating systems with heat exchangers.
A bit about flooring
In order to make a water floor heating in your apartment, you will have to draw up a project and coordinate it in the appropriate services. As you know, this is an extra waste of money and time. It is required in advance to determine what type of coating will be laid on top of a warm floor. Many builders recommend tile or laminate flooring. Do not use carpeting and parquet, as they have a high degree of thermal insulation. Therefore, the efficiency of the entire heating system is significantly reduced.
Linoleum can be used, but it is not recommended to purchase cheap species. It is recommended to pay a little more, but to buy really high-quality and reliable material that will last for many years. Please note that some types of linoleum can produce harmful substances when heated. And they are very dangerous for people.
Quite often, electric heated floors are installed in the apartments, which complement the centralized radiator system. But if you decide to make such a system, you need to make sure that the wiring can withstand the load.
Which heaters to use?
If you live in a gasified house, then this question by itself disappears. After all, gas is by far the cheapest type of fuel. By installing a good condensing type boiler, all heating problems will be resolved. But if there is no gas pipeline nearby, you have to choose liquid or solid fuel. Installation of gas holders is not always an option, since the cost of liquefied gas is very high, but it is enough for a short period. Especially if the "appetite" of the boiler is decent.
You can convert boilers - for this, install nozzles that will run on the right fuel. But not every boiler model allows such a refinement. If you have the opportunity to purchase diesel fuel at a low cost, it is most reasonable to install a boiler that runs on liquid fuel. This is just perfect for homes that have a large area. But not everyone has the opportunity to purchase cheap diesel fuel, so most homeowners stop on solid fuel boilers for long burning.
If you are designing a heating system with radiators and underfloor heating, then one thing must be taken into account. Namely, the fact that floor heating is more economical. But this does not mean that the need for radiators disappears completely. Their first and main mission is to create a curtain of heat near the windows and prevent the cooling of the whole house. If you choose the right elements of the system and carefully consider its control, then you can make heating efficient and cheap.
The most efficient devices are condensing type boilers, which have a very high efficiency. They are non-volatile, have an electronic ignition system. Connection of a combined heating system is carried out in different ways, depending on which circuit is selected.
Liquid or electric underfloor heating - which one to choose?
If all installation work is carried out without errors, then the efficiency of both electric and liquid is almost the same. The question is only one - the cost of installation and operation of both systems. Immediately you need to highlight the following points:
- The cost of manufacturing a liquid underfloor heating is more than electric.
- But the cost of operating a liquid is much lower.
Therefore, you need to look at all the pros and cons, evaluate them reasonably. You only mount and buy all the equipment once, but you pay for heating at least 6 months a year. That is why most homeowners prefer liquid construction heating systems. Together with it, it is more reasonable to install a condensation boiler and radiators with high efficiency. It is desirable to include a circulation pump in the design. The combined heating system in this case will work much more efficiently.
It is possible to make a liquid underfloor heating in an apartment building, but it is more difficult to do. Especially if you have central heating. More often, apartment owners connect electric underfloor heating - electric cables, carbon mats, films. According to the ototrubny scheme, a combined heating system with natural circulation can be performed. But it’s better to put a pump - it will increase the efficiency.
Two-pipe heating systems will require significant costs - you will have to purchase specific components and materials. It is much cheaper to install a single-tube system, which copes well with its main task. But if you do not have a very big house, then you should not save on a heating system.
Combined heating system options
Sometimes it becomes necessary to manufacture a combined system in which there will be two or more sources of heat generation. There are many advantages of manufacturing heating according to this scheme. You can increase the efficiency of the centralized system, increase comfort in the house, etc. The main options for arranging heating systems:
- Gas, solid fuel or electric boiler and air pump.
- Infrared heaters and radiators.
- Infrared ceiling system, underfloor heating and solar panels.
The latter option will be very expensive, since the cost of solar panels, equipment and batteries for storing electricity is very high. But other options have many drawbacks. In fairness, it is worth noting that the benefits still outweigh.
The cost of manufacturing a heating system is very high, but in the future, if, of course, everything is done correctly, it will pay off. Due to the high efficiency of radiators, underfloor heating, boiler, you can spend less fuel and get more heat.
Varieties of heating boilers
Several types of boilers can be distinguished, depending on what kind of fuel they run on:
- Gas.
- Electric.
- Solid fuel.
- Fuel oil.
- Combined.
Next, we consider the features of all these boilers.
Gas heating boilers
These are the most popular heating appliances, if there is a highway near the house, then it is most reasonable to use gas. Boilers have these advantages:
- Fairly low fuel cost.
- The efficiency of the units is high - from 92%.
- Simplicity of operation due to design automation. You only need to set the desired temperature value and there is no need to observe the process.
- High degree of profitability.
- A variety of designs. There are single-circuit, which allow you to heat the house. But there are two-circuit ones that can provide residents with hot water.
- There are both floor and wall types of boilers.
But there are also disadvantages:
- It is necessary to bring a gas pipeline to the house. If it is not, then you have to pay a tidy sum for it.
- It is necessary to receive documentation in the gas service.
Oil boilers
As a rule, such designs work on diesel fuel. Typically, such boilers are selected if it is not possible to connect to the gas main. It is also wise to use the boiler if there are problems with the power supply in the area. The advantages of liquid fuel boilers include:
- High efficiency.
- Easy control - as a rule, all models have an automatic control system.
- In order to use natural gas, it is enough to install an appropriate burner.
But there are disadvantages that outweigh the advantages:
- The cost of the boiler itself is very high - gas ones are cheaper. Burners also have a high cost.
- Diesel fuel today has a high cost.
- The unit makes a lot of noise during operation.
- It is necessary to ensure the constant presence of diesel fuel in the tank. Moreover, the tank must be mounted in a designated place.
- The boiler is very dirty when burning fuel, it is often necessary to clean it.
- Sometimes the fuel has to be cleaned of impurities - sand, water, resins.
- If there is sulfur in diesel fuel, then the destruction of the metal elements of the boiler will occur much faster.
Electric heating boilers
Such designs are also found in private homes, they have both advantages and disadvantages. It is worth highlighting two types of boilers:
- With direct heating (heating elements installed).
- With electrodes. The coolant is liquid, a discharge is supplied into it, which, in fact, carries out heating.
The advantages of these designs include:
- There is no need to equip a chimney.
- Safety and environmental friendliness at a high level.
- It runs silently.
- The cost is quite low.
- The devices are compact.
- There is a possibility of automatic control.
- A huge selection of models - you can find one that fits perfectly into the interior.
But flaws sometimes cover everything:
- The power is high, so the unit consumes a lot of electricity.
- If the power is very large, then you will have to get permission to install the boiler.
- If you plan to use the boiler as the main source of heat, then get ready to spend large amounts on a communal apartment.
Solid fuel constructions
You can make a combined heating system with your own hands on the basis of such a boiler, but you will have to store firewood for the future. The advantages of using such aggregates include:
- Affordable cost.
- The ability to use any fuel - coal, firewood, wood waste, etc.
- High degree of profitability.
- Low fuel cost.
- There are models with automatic control systems that will simplify operation.
The disadvantages are as follows:
- A large amount of carbon monoxide enters the atmosphere.
- You have to manually load fuel.
- It is necessary to clean the furnace and chimney.
- Constantly need to seek and purchase fuel.
- If there is no automation, then the temperature will not work.
Combined heating boilers
These are the designs that took on the pros (and cons) of all the boilers listed above. You can highlight the most popular variations of boilers in combined heating systems:
- Gas wood burning.
- Gas-diesel - can provide greater heating power in large houses.
- Gas-diesel-wood burning - very high functionality, but the efficiency is small, as well as power.
- Gas-diesel-electric models are able to heat homes of a large area.
- A variety of designs of heat generators operating on diesel fuel, gas, electricity, wood, can provide complete independence from external factors (for example, if frequent power outages occur).
Be sure to consider all the points that are associated with heating a house when buying.
The most common scheme is underfloor heating and radiators
This scheme has earned popularity because it has high efficiency. A combined heating system with radiators and underfloor heating is expensive to manufacture, but you will not have to invest in it during operation. Firstly, the walls are heated with radiators. Secondly, heat rises from the floor up to the ceiling. It is very convenient, especially if there are children in the house. And going out after a shower is not very pleasant on a cold floor. As a rule, even if all rooms have underfloor heating, the owners do not refuse radiators.
About 70% of all heat comes from the floor, the remaining 30% from radiators. For this to happen, the coolant entering the floor must have a temperature of 60 degrees. And the one that goes to the radiators is 75 degrees. By the way, you can use electric heated floors and the same batteries. True, power consumption will increase many times.
Typical equipment scheme for a private house combined heating system:
Warm walls - nonsense?
A good combination that will increase the efficiency of the heating system. By analogy with the floor, pipes are mounted on the walls that are connected to the heating system. It should be noted that you will not be able to observe excessive heating during work, but the temperature in the room will be as comfortable as possible. For a private house, a combined heating system of this type is perfect. Especially if you live in cold regions. But there is no need to put the tubes in all the walls - it is enough only in the exterior.
True, warm walls impose certain requirements. Of course, hammering nails or drilling walls must be extremely careful, as you can damage the pipe. It is advisable to somehow outline the location of the tubes at the manufacturing stage - this will subsequently protect you and avoid trouble. It is also worth noting that this design can be used in the summer for cooling - it is enough to apply cold water inside the tubes. But the temperature needs to be selected, since a very cold one will have a negative effect - perspiration will appear on the surface, which will gradually destroy concrete.