In the market for heating equipment, film floor heating has turned from exotic into an effective, popular and economical alternative to traditional heating solutions. The reason for the popularity is very simple - the appearance on the market of relatively inexpensive film materials, the installation of which does not require serious expenses and special skills. Any home master can install such solutions. Connecting a film underfloor heating to electricity is no more complicated than connecting any other device. Let's look at the various ways of installing this system, advantages and disadvantages, the best models and manufacturers.
Operating principle
Most heating systems are based on the principles of direct heat exchange. For example, traditional heating radiators or batteries transfer heat through the air, which naturally or forcibly distributes heat throughout the room. In this case, infrared radiation is minimized.
Similar processes occur in water and electric "warm floors". The only difference is that it is not the battery that is warming up, but the concrete screed in which the network of pipes or cable is installed. Heat is transferred from the screed to the finish flooring, and only then the air in the room warms up.
Such systems are characterized by inertness - it is necessary to spend more amount of energy on the preliminary heating of the concrete screed. The concrete floor cools slowly, which leads to the efficiency of heating.
Film systems are built on the basis of a different principle. Between two sufficiently dense layers of polyester are parallel strips of carbon paste. Each strip on each side connects to a copper bus that connects to the electrical network. When a current passes through such a strip, it does not heat up to high temperatures and emits infrared radiation. It is quite rigid - the wavelength is about 20 microns. This stream of powerful energy can heat any surface or objects in the way. Energy is not wasted on transferring heat to a distance. The sun's rays also warm in about the same way - everything that they touch is heated.
Benefits
The film of the warm floor is quite thin - its thickness is only 5 hundredths of a millimeter. If necessary, it is easily mounted under any finishing floor coverings. Unlike water or cable floors, the system does not require complex work in the process of pouring screed. The arrangement of peat-insulating layers will not be needed. In addition, infrared film underfloor heating does not lead to a significant increase in the level of screed, which is the decisive issue in a city apartment.
The surface of the floor warms up evenly. Laminate with frequent temperature changes can "be capricious" - seams may diverge, or the coating swells. In the case of infrared film solutions, this will never happen. The heating element, even with a broken thermostat, does not heat up above 40 degrees Celsius. This temperature is not critical for a laminate floor .
In multi-storey buildings, there are certain difficulties with pouring screeds for reasons of heavier floors. With film floors, such problems will not arise at all.
Infrared radiation not only warms the surface of the finish flooring, but also, passing through the coating, gives off heat to other surfaces and objects in the room. This allows you to get the most comfortable microclimate.
It is very important that energy is transmitted almost instantly - when you get home without high energy costs, the temperature is easily brought to a comfortable level. The electronic control system is easily integrated into the systems of “smart homes”. You can create a program to remotely turn on the "warm floor" or turn on the timer.
The infrared floor does not dry the air and creates a certain background. It is believed to be beneficial for people with chronic respiratory diseases.
Manufacturers
Most of the models presented on the market of film floors are of domestic or South Korean production. The most famous brands are Q-Term, Heat Plus, RexVA, Stem, Hit-Light. When buying, the consumer raises the question of which film underfloor heating is better.
The rating is represented by brands recommended by installers. First in the ranking are the Heat Plus and Caleo brands. Both the first and second manufacturers from South Korea. These are the true leaders in the production of infrared films.
Heat Plus Products
Heat Plus is known for not only ordinary customers among its customers. A regular customer is Samsung. Most products are shipped to Japan. Products are characterized by the highest efficiency among analogues. For soft finishes, the company offers extremely durable premium films. For rooms with high humidity, increased power models are recommended. This is the only brand that produces film for tile mounting. The products are completely safe. We can say that these are the best film warm floors.
Caleo
This brand also managed to find its niche. To install a warm floor, you do not need special skills - the company produces ready-made kits. You can purchase a complete set, where in addition to the film there are all components. Installation of a film heat-insulated floor is carried out completely by yourself. The service life of the products is quite high, and the manufacturer’s warranty is 15 years.
Economy segment
Here you can choose from the following brands. This is Hi-Heat, Rexva, Korea Healting. All companies produce infrared film for underfloor heating of quite normal quality. Products differ from the premium segment in lesser thickness and heating temperature. And although this film is not very strong and its quality can not compete with German, it is quite possible to use it under a screed. Manufacturers warranty of 5 years or more (depending on the specific manufacturer).
Preparation for installation
Before you connect the film underfloor heating, you should carefully consider the scheme. When drawing up the scheme, a variety of principles are taken into account.
So, the surface of the subfloor is never completely covered with infrared foam. Films are not placed where stationary furniture will be installed. Why do they do that? Such an enclosed space will interfere with normal heat exchange with the surface of the laminate. Overheating can cause damage to the laminate.
For these reasons, film floors are laid at a safe distance from walls and from stationary heating devices. It is necessary to retreat at a distance of at least 300 millimeters. The film rolls need to be oriented along the long wall in the room - this will help reduce the number of contact joints in the process of connecting a film warm floor. You need to cut the film only in special places - there are corresponding marks on its surface.
The films are laid out with an interval between adjacent sheets of not more than 50 millimeters. Do not overlap the product. In order to get full heat, you need to lay the film on 60-70 percent of the area of the room.
Switching Features
First of all, you need to find the optimal place for installing the thermostat. It must be installed no lower than 500 millimeters from the floor surface. The place is chosen so that it is convenient to conduct the cable and connect the device to a 220 Volt network.
The total power of all elements can be very high. Therefore, they do not directly connect the film-heated floor to the outlet. It is better to provide the wiring of a dedicated power line. The cable must have a suitable cross-section. The rule of thumb is a separate machine. It is safer to include an RCD device in the circuit.
Most thermostats are designed for wall mounting in a standard socket for a wall outlet. To conduct the cable, a strobes measuring 20x20 millimeters are made in the floor surface. Then the corrugated pipe is laid at the bottom, and the wires are removed into it. You can also use cable channel.
When you plan to lay wires for connecting the film floor, it is important to consider that these wires do not intersect. The connection diagram may be different. Most often, cables are connected on one side of the films. But there are situations when it is more advantageous to connect the zero and phase wires with strips on opposite sides of the room. This method requires attention. It is important not to connect the two pins to the same copper bus.
After the circuit is created, you can proceed to the connection of the film warm floor with your own hands.
Surface preparation
When laying under the laminate, there are requirements for the base floor. The surface must be even and primed. The first stage is a thorough cleaning of the rough basis from any dust and debris. Next, the surface is covered with a special substrate. Part of the substrate with the foil should be outside. The backing is laid end-to-end, fixed to the surface of the floor on a double-sided tape. Parts of the substrate are interconnected with a special adhesive tape.
Useful recommendation: the substrate must be of special thickness - this is very important. Grooves will be made in it, where cables, terminal connections, a temperature sensor, isolation of contacts will be laid.
Stacking
All work should be carried out as carefully as possible. Do not violate the integrity of the film. In case of ruptures or any other damage to the live part, the fragment must be replaced.
The film elements are stacked so that the copper bus is at the bottom. To fix to the substrate, tape is used. After laying the element, the cut sections of the busbar are immediately isolated. In the future, these places will be needed to connect the wires of the film underfloor heating. For insulation, bitumen tape is included.
In the part of the web under which the temperature sensor will be installed, in the substrate under the sensor, a place and a channel for the cable are cut out. The sensor body should be installed approximately in the center of the web.
Terminal setting
Next, you need to install the terminals in places where the film will be connected under the laminate floor. Many models already have clip-on terminals. The upper part of the clip is inserted into the contact incision. The second lobe should be at the bottom of the carbon film.
Next, gently, but tightly, both parts of the clip must be crimped with pliers. This ensures reliable contact with the copper busbar. Some types of floors differ in another connection system - on rivets. How to connect a film heat-insulated floor, we will consider further.
DIY cable management
The cable is laid exactly according to a pre-made scheme. The stripped wires are installed in the terminal connected to the carbon film. Then all contact groups are carefully isolated. Where is bitumen tape used? It is glued on the bottom and top of the film. As a result, when connecting a film warm floor with your own hands, you should get a completely tight capsule. It is important that there are no bald spots.
Warm floor and thermostat
After the installation phase, all wires should converge near the thermostatic device.
An important recommendation: if several sections are connected to the device, then there should not be twists and other similar connections. In this case, when connecting a film underfloor heating to the thermostat, certified terminal connections are used.
We continue to study the question of how to properly connect a film heat-insulated floor. Next, the wires are mounted to the connector on the thermostat strictly according to the instructions. Mark the connection points of the supply wires and ground wires, as well as the load. In addition to the thermostat, a temperature sensor is connected. Then the device is installed in a regular place.
Conclusion
Installing a laminate on such a floor is practically no different from standard technology. After the installation of the finish coating is completed, you can start the system. But here you need to be careful. If the film heat-insulated floor was connected to the thermostat, then the system is not set to full power. It is best to first set the value within 20 degrees and gradually, adding five degrees, bring the installation to the calculated level of operation. If you immediately start the heating system at full capacity, this can lead to sad consequences.