Owners of apartments and private houses, in addition to standard radiators, seek to install underfloor heating. After all, no matter how well the room is heated, in the cold season it is much more pleasant to stand on a warm surface, and in houses where there are small children, this question is especially relevant.
Today, for these purposes, several types of systems are used, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. We will consider one of the latest developments for heating homes - the core floor, and pay attention to its operational characteristics, features and installation method.
What are core heating systems?
The core floor system consists of flexible high-tech carbon rods interconnected using stranded wires. Conducting busbars are located inside the device and on both its sides, and the rods themselves are fixed at a distance of 10 cm. Thus, a “carpet” is obtained that looks very much like a rope ladder.
Inside the conductive elements there is silver, carbon and copper, due to which the surfaces adjacent to the system are heated.
The width of one such thermomat is 83 cm, and the maximum length is 25 meters (in a sequential arrangement). The core floor is equipped with a special temperature controller and a sensor for measuring temperature.
What is the system based on?
The principle of the carbon system is very similar to the process of heating rooms using film floors - it consists in the emission of infrared waves. The length of such a wave varies from 8 to 14 microns.
Manufacturers claim that the owners' savings when using such devices is about 60%, which is achieved by quickly and evenly heating all items in the room.
Specifications
The main characteristics that the rod floor is endowed with can vary depending on the manufacturer, but average values can still be derived. They are as follows:
• roll width standard - 83 cm;
• mat thickness is - 3-3.5 mm;
• power consumption is from 110 to 180 W / lm (depends on heating temperature);
• energy consumption per 1 running meter - from 20 to 50 W / hour;
• powered by 220 V.
Scope of application
Due to the excellent performance characteristics, these devices can be used in all rooms of residential premises, on the loggia, in the bathroom, in winter greenhouses, sports halls, public places, warehouses and as anti-icing systems.
A great advantage of the device is the ability to use it with any type of coating. It goes well with natural wood finishes, parquet and laminate. Since the heating elements are mounted on a small layer of cement screed, it is optimal to lay the rod heat-insulated floor under the tiles and porcelain. It is also possible to install mats on the glue used for laying tiles, which can significantly save on repair work.
The main advantages of carbon floor heating
Profitability and high quality of heating - not all the advantages that a rod warm floor has. Customer reviews speak of the following positive qualities:
1. Long service life - up to 50 years.
2. High degree of fire safety.
3. Low weight.
4. Resistance to moisture.
5. Resistance to mechanical stress.
6. Fast and uniform heating of the room.
7. The ability to eliminate stubborn odors.
8. Does not create electromagnetic radiation.
9. Excellently heats rooms of a large area.
Unlike analog film systems, heavy electric furniture and household appliances can be installed on an electric heated floor (core). This allows you to calmly make a rearrangement in the room and make cosmetic repairs, without paying attention to the location of the mats.
Their installation can be carried out both on the floor, and on the walls and ceiling. The presence of a thermostat prevents the occurrence of overheating of elements, thanks to which the system serves for many years.
The disadvantages of core floors
Despite the fact that the core heat-insulated floor is recognized as the most optimal way of heating, which has no analogues today, it has some disadvantages.
First of all, they are associated with the installation technology of such systems. For their arrangement, it is necessary to fill in the screed, which does not allow the device to be transferred to other rooms or taken with you when moving to another house. The same circumstance makes it difficult to repair and replace the rods in case of failure.
The second drawback, which has a rod heat-insulated floor - the price of the device is quite high. Depending on the region of sale and the manufacturer, the cost of a carbon heating system varies from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles per square meter.
Preparing to install the system
Before proceeding with the installation of carbon floors, you should check the availability of all components of the device. The set should include:
• carbon mats;
• wires;
• connecting and end set;
• installation instructions for the system;
• corrugated tube with plug;
• heat-insulating material;
• temperature regulator;
• sensor for temperature control;
• bitumen insulating material;
• adhesive tape.
If all the elements of the system are available, you can proceed to the preparation of the base for laying.
Carbon rod heat-insulated floor is laid on a flat surface, in which there are no significant differences in height (more than 3 mm). If the floors have cracks, troughs and other defects, they are pre-aligned with leveling compounds.
At the preparation stage, it is necessary to grind the walls to install a temperature sensor and lay a corrugated pipe with a sensor. The hole for the thermostat is installed next to the power source, to a height of 1 meter from the floor level.
Installation of carbon core floor
After the preparatory work is completed, proceed to the installation of the system. The technology of its installation includes the following steps:
1. Laying thermal insulation. Insulation (foil can be used) is placed at a distance of 5 cm from the walls and fastened together with tape. Reflective materials are laid out with a foil layer. To exclude the mobility of the elements, they can be fixed at the base with an adhesive.
2. Installation of a heating device . The rods are laid on the prepared surface and fixed with tape. If necessary, the heating "carpet" is cut, turned 180 degrees and laid next to the first strip. The distance between adjacent paintings should be at least 5-7 cm, and the length of one strip should not exceed 25 meters.
3. Laying the temperature sensor . A special sensor is placed in a corrugated pipe and placed in a prepared strob. Insulation in this place is cut through. To prevent the solution from getting inside the pipe, its open part is covered with a plug.
4. Mounting the temperature controller . The device is installed in the hole and the wires of the core mat are connected to it (as indicated in the instructions).
5. Checking the health of the system . After connecting the device, check its operation. The first turn on of the system should not last more than 15 minutes.
6. Filling the solution . For these purposes, it is better to use dry adhesive mixtures. The optimum thickness of the screed for the carbon floor is 2-3 cm. If tiles are laid on top of the system, the screed is not poured for it. After pouring the solution, it is not recommended to turn on the system earlier than after 28 days.
In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the manufacturers of such systems. Especially popular among domestic consumers are products of the South Korean manufacturer Excel, HOTmat and EcoOndol.
Excellent quality, but more affordable cost characterized by the system of Russian production. A striking example of this is the Unimat rod heat-insulated floor, which managed to show itself perfectly in operation. Devices of unknown companies that have too low a price tag are not recommended to be purchased, since their service life is much shorter than usual.