Warm floors today can be called the most optimal and acceptable option for heating. Among the characteristics of such a system can be identified reliability, efficiency, safety and hygiene. Most often, pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene are used to equip a warm floor . This allows you to mount a heating system that will be distinguished by durability and efficiency.
Specifications
If you will use a pipe for a heated floor made of cross-linked polyethylene, then you should first familiarize yourself with its main characteristics and properties. Crosslinked polyethylene can be attributed to polymerization ethylene, which has a maximum molecular density. In the raw or uncrosslinked form, the thermoplastic has molecules that are not connected to each other, they are located inside the polymer matrix.
Features
In the process of cross-linking, a forced reaction occurs by the method of chemical coupling of molecules, which allows to obtain polyethylene with mechanical indicators, which are expressed by stiffness, resistance and tensile strength. Elongation at break becomes much less. The presence of these mechanical characteristics allows this polyethylene not to undergo melting when exposed to high temperatures, ensuring the quality of thermoplasticity. If you will use a pipe for a heat-insulated floor made of cross-linked polyethylene, then you should know that the cross-linking process involves the operation of uniting individual links of molecules into a single bond by the formation of transverse free bonds during the course of a chemical reaction.
Key Quality Benefits
A pipe for a cross-linked polyethylene underfloor heating has many advantages. They allow you to use the material in the manufacture of products that will form the basis of a warm floor. Among the main advantages, the most optimal ratio of strength and flexibility can be distinguished. Products have the property of shape memory, which is due to the presence of a significant amount of carbon bonds in the molecules. It should be noted and low sound conductivity, which eliminates the lack of creaking in the installed heating system. Even at high flow rates, consumers will not hear any extraneous sounds. The cross-linked polyethylene underfloor heating pipe is corrosion resistant and also tolerates the effects of chemicals. Deposits do not form inside, and even when stressed, the products are not covered by cracks.
Frost resistance
You can count on high frost resistance, thus, products will be able to withstand many cycles of freezing and thawing. Each master will be able to carry out installation work without storing special materials and tools for cross-linked polyethylene. Products have high impact resistance and viscosity, these characteristics are preserved even when exposed to extremely low temperature (minus 50 degrees).
Choosing a manufacturer by cost
If you are looking for a pipe, cross-linked polyethylene, the price of which will be mentioned below, is perfect for arranging a warm floor system. However, initially it is important to determine the manufacturer, choosing one of those that have established themselves in the market of relevant materials. The most popular brands today are Wirsbo, as well as Rehau, the first of which is located in Sweden, while the second is in Germany. These manufacturers use peroxide technology. The Kan trademark is a joint production of Germany and Poland; in the manufacturing process, the method of radiation crosslinking is used.
The most popular products today are those made of cross-linked polymer with a high density (PE-X). They can be used both in hot and cold water supply, therefore they are universal. As the basis for standardizing products made of crosslinked molecular polyethylene, the outer diameter, wall thickness and inner diameter are taken. Pipe normalization is carried out according to standard sizes, each of which has a corresponding ratio of the outer diameter of the pipe wall parameter. REX pipes are available in bays, the length of which can vary from 100 to 600 meters.
Optionally, you can purchase segments of different lengths. If you choose pipes for a warm water floor, cross-linked polyethylene will be an excellent solution. However, initially it is necessary to determine the technical characteristics and the company, on which the cost will depend. For example, the Rehau company, which manufactures products of the highest degree of crosslinking, offers to purchase goods at a cost of 95 rubles, as for the size 16 x 2.2. The highest cost for goods from this manufacturer is 270 rubles, which you will have to pay for a pipe size 32 x 4.4. Tece offers the same sizes, however, the cost will be much higher, prices range from 113 to 297 rubles. In the conditions of the plant, professional engineering equipment is produced, which involves an average degree of crosslinking and the presence of an oxygen barrier.
Positive reviews
If you choose a pipe, cross-linked polyethylene, the price of which is higher, will be the most optimal solution. However, it is important to read customer reviews before purchasing. They argue that during operation there is a slight noise level, since the pipes have flexibility and the ability to absorb pressure surges well. The material is lightweight, which provides ease of installation. These features are to the liking of a private buyer. Every homemaker wants to save money when repairing his own home. Crosslinked polyethylene for heating allows achieving such an effect - pipes can be operated for 50 years or more. Experts emphasize that such systems have the least likelihood of explosions that can occur after defrosting the system.
Convenience of work is also confirmed by the fact that during installation, you can use press-fit and compression fittings for cross-linked polyethylene.
Negative characteristics
Among the minuses, the harmful effect of ultraviolet radiation on the material can be distinguished. If we talk about REX pipes, which are sometimes compared with metal-plastic ones, the first ones are devoid of an aluminum layer, so working with them can be a little more difficult, as more manipulations are required to strengthen the pipe and keep its shape. Information (technology) about warm water floors must be studied by you before starting work, because if you do not know some of the nuances, you may later encounter troubles. For example, on the outside of the product there is anti-diffusion protection, which should be handled very carefully. If you do not follow the installation rules, the protection may be damaged, which can lead to various problems in the future. Therefore, sometimes there is a need to involve certified specialists in the manipulations, which can be quite expensive.
Conclusion
Technology about warm water floors suggests the need to observe many nuances. However, before starting work, it is imperative to think about what is more important for you - quick heating or low cost. Plastic products are characterized by rapid heating and excellent thermal conductivity, and are also characterized by ease of installation. But sewn polyethylene costs less, and also allows you to save on gaps when laying, which is especially true for large areas.