The use of infrared emitters for heating residential premises is a fairly new type of heating. It has a number of advantages over traditional methods. Such systems are economical and easy to install and use. Repair and installation of a warm film floor does not require special knowledge and can be used for quite a long time.
Now, due to the constant increase in prices, as well as a limited limit on electric carriers, an economical type of heating is becoming increasingly popular. Not only residents of private houses and high-rise buildings, but also heads of organizations and large enterprises, where there are large rooms with high ceilings, for example, garages, production shops, gyms, etc., began to think about their heat costs. Therefore, film infrared underfloor heating, the price of which is affordable for most consumers, is becoming increasingly popular and in demand.
Kinds
Now the market offers only two varieties of such a heating system: carbon and bimetal. The first is a resistive element. It includes two working layers. They consist of a lavsan film with thermal elements connected by serial and parallel methods.
The bimetallic one is composed of a thin polyurethane film, and inside it there is a patented element consisting of two layers: the first is an alloy of copper with special additives, and the second is aluminum and also with an admixture.
Description and principle of operation
They put a film underfloor heating under the laminate, tile, parquet, linoleum and other types of floor coverings. As a heating system, such a system uses infrared radiation having a wavelength of 5 to 20 microns. Its source is carbon paste, sealed in a plastic film. A voltage of 220 V passes through the copper busbars, where at the contact points there is a small layer of silver to prevent burning, while the thickness of the emitting element is 0.4 mm.
The heating film of the warm floor is connected to the mains through a special temperature controller that allows you to control its operation and select the required temperature regime.
The principle of operation of such a system differs from the types of heating that are already familiar to us. It lies in the fact that when heating rooms, the infrared floor heats the surrounding objects, and not air.
Advantages
The first thing to say about the most important features that a film underfloor heating under a laminate has. The first of them is the lack of the need to make a preliminary cement screed, and the second is increased efficiency in terms of energy consumption.
The main advantages of film floors:
● the possibility of laying even in rooms with high humidity;
● absolute safety, which guarantees the complete absence of the risk of a short circuit, and then a fire;
● high productivity - 97%, which is by far the best than other types of modern heating systems;
● ease of installation, allowing you to lay the material yourself without the help of professionals;
● excellent compatibility with almost any type of flooring;
● the ability to install the system not only on the floor, but also on the walls, ceiling and other surfaces, including carpets, paintings, mirrors, etc .;
● there is no electromagnetic radiation;
● good resistance to various mechanical damages; even if the film ruptures, you won’t have to completely change the entire system - for this it will be enough to replace or repair only the damaged section;
● simplicity and ease of dismantling when moving to another place of residence;
● absolute noiselessness;
● Such a warm floor is made from environmentally friendly materials.
Recommendations for use
Warm floors electric film practically have no significant drawbacks. But in order for them to serve for a long time and please with their warmth, it is necessary to observe several very important recommendations given by the experts themselves:
● Do not place too heavy furniture on the floor;
● it should be as open as possible, because otherwise it will start to overheat, which will damage not only the coating, but also the furniture in the room;
● Do not cover the place where the sensor is installed that measures the temperature of the floor and air, otherwise it will not work correctly.
Necessary materials
I must say that it is quite easy to install a film underfloor heating with your own hands. But it is worth remembering that the reliability and long-term operation of the entire heating system will depend on how well its installation is done.
Laying a film underfloor heating does not require a large number of tools. It will be enough pliers, scissors, a breadboard knife and a screwdriver with indicator.
In addition, you will have to purchase some additional materials, such as:
● polyethylene film required for installation under parquet or laminate;
● hardboard or a similar basis;
● heat reflecting film ;
● double-sided or single-sided tape , depending on the conditions in which the installation is carried out.
Preparation for installation
When laying a heat-reflecting layer, professionals strongly do not recommend using materials for this, which include aluminum foil.
It is good to install a heat-insulated floor either on a propylene, or on a mylar metallized base. Soft heat-reflecting materials, such as infraflex, PPE-3003 isolon, penofol and others with a thickness of up to 5 mm, are perfect for this.
First you need to prepare all the materials you need for this:
● a temperature controller with a sensor that detects and sets the floor temperature;
● thermal film of the required length;
● wiring kit;
● insulation and contact clamps.
When laying Caleo films, it is recommended to use a stranded copper wire with a cross section of 2 square meters. mm at a current of 16-22 A.
Immediately prior to installation, you need to outline a place to place the thermostat, to clean the space where the floor will be warm, from debris using a vacuum cleaner or a broom.
Styling area
The first step is to determine the area of the base on which the installation of the warm film floor will be carried out. The most economical option for laying strips is their location along the wall along the length of the room. Such placement will help to reduce the number of not only connection points, but also wires. At the same time, one should take into account the fact that some professionals advise laying Caleo floor warm film only in places where there is no provision for any furniture. Also, in no case should you place household appliances on it.
Calculations
Before installation, you need to calculate the power that the warm floor will consume. Caleo film has a maximum power consumption of 0.22 kW per 1 sq. m, and the thermostat UTH-200 - 4 kW.
In addition, you must definitely check the highest indicator of the current flowing through the circuit breaker. It is also necessary to calculate the energy consumption of the room where the infrared heating system will be installed.
Warning of experts: the consumption of each of the segments of thermal film should not exceed the mark of 10 A.
Mounting
Laying of the film is carried out on heat-reflecting material. But before that, it must be cut into strips of the desired length. I must say that in the floor kit Caleo film comes in a roll. Special cutting lines are drawn on it every 17.4 cm. The length of one strip should be less than the parameters of the room, since a gap of about 10 cm must be left on each side of the wall.
Lay the film on top of the heat-reflecting substrate in rows so that it covers the entire surface allotted for heating. And so that she does not leave, she is attached to the material underneath with the help of adhesive tape.
Installation of a temperature regulator and its connection
This is best done next to existing wiring. But this option is suitable only if it was not planned to lay a separate one in order to connect an infrared film warm floor. The temperature controller can be installed either permanently or connected to a conventional outlet using an electric plug. The optimal location is considered to be a distance of 20 cm from the level of the floor itself.
The temperature controller is necessary to set the desired temperature level, program the frequency of heating, as well as automate the on and off times of the underfloor heating system.
First, a well-insulated temperature sensor is connected to the underside of the heating film somewhere in the middle of the second section. It consists of a small thermometer with a head made of a polymer element soldered to the wire.
Further, holes are cut out for wiring with the sensor. In the event that the wire needs to be bent, a smooth rotation is made in the film so that the cable does not break during operation.
When the whole process of installing the sensor and connecting the wires is completed, proceed with the installation of the controller itself. Experts advise the main parts of the wiring to be placed under the baseboard.
To connect the film underfloor heating under the laminate, use the same principle of connecting the thermostat as for other types of electric heating. Namely: on one side, the wires are secured from the film, on the opposite side are two contacts attached to the sensor, and power supply wiring is inserted into two elements located in the center. The system ground is connected to the terminal, not to the terminal.
Testing
Before putting the film underfloor heating under the laminate into operation, it is necessary to check its operation. This must be done before you begin to lay on it a finishing decorative floor covering. The quality of thermal film is determined by the absence of sparking and overheating of some of its individual sections.
If no defects were found, then before laying the laminate on top of the warm floor, its surface is covered with a thick plastic film of not less than 80 microns. It will protect against accidental liquid ingress on the heating system. It is lapped along the bands of infrared film.
Cost
I must say that recently the demand for film underfloor heating, the price of which can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer, has increased significantly. Every year, new offers from various manufacturers appear on the market. And among such a variety, it is rather difficult for a consumer to make his choice in favor of one of them.
Let's start with the Caleo brand, existing on the Russian market for the longest time. It offers a fairly wide range of its products, namely film infrared underfloor heating, the price of which is designed for buyers with various incomes. Caleo is not only the simplest and most cost-effective, but also innovative and self-regulating heating systems: from the second generation to the fifth exclusive. In addition, for ease of installation, the film is produced in different widths.
The cost of the kit, which includes thermal film, contact clamps, wiring, bitumen insulation and installation instructions, can vary significantly, depending on the width, specific power and length of the film. So, the price of 1 linear meter of Caleo warm floor with a width of 50 cm is from 1085 to 2320 rubles.
The American company Calorique, whose specialists were the first to develop this technology, has the highest production culture. It makes film with reliable electromagnetic shielding. The company has a rather complicated control system that completely eliminates the appearance of any defective products on sale. Therefore, acquiring such a film underfloor heating, the price of which varies from 800 to 2030 rubles per 1 running meter, you can be sure of its safety and durability. It comes complete with a shield, grounding and waterproofing.
The principle of operation of a heating system with infrared radiation is almost the same for all manufacturers, so there is no need to describe each company that produces such products. It is enough to know that the main criteria by which such heating should be chosen are quality and price. Therefore, before deciding to buy an infrared warm floor, it is worthwhile to find out the prices for it at all points of its sale, since the cost of the same product in different stores can vary significantly.