Connect the film underfloor heating. High-quality installation of film heat-insulated floors. How to ground a warm IR floor

12.11.2019

Exist different ways home heating - centralized heating, stove, geothermal, etc. But recently, film underfloor heating (or infrared, as they are also called) has become increasingly popular due to its practicality and efficiency. In today's article we will talk about how to properly laydo-it-yourself film underfloor heating.

The heating floor technology itself can hardly be considered new. Long time water and electrical systems warm floor. In the first variant, an electric cable installed under the floor was used for heating, in the second, a heat carrier moving under the finishing coating (usually water).

Both options have their drawbacks and difficulties in installation, which cannot be said about the modern film field. It differs in that it heats the room by means of infrared rays, due to which objects heat up and spread heat in the air.

Note! IR rays are emitted by a special carbon paste, which is sealed in a polyester film. Hence another name for the system - carbon floor.

The system works as follows: silver-coated copper cables (it prevents burning) are energized, and the mentioned paste converts it into IR radiation. It is characteristic that the connection of such a design is carried out exclusively through a thermostat.

Installation sequence

All procedures are quite simple and occur in this sequence.

Stage 1. Buying everything you need

The following components are required for operation:

Now a few words about this coverage. As noted earlier, carbon film is suitable for any finishing material, it practically does not affect the system kit. However, the substrate for each coating requires an appropriate material.

For a wooden floor, the heating film is covered with polyethylene.
For tiles, everything is the same, only the plastic film is additionally covered with a masking net. For fixing, dowels are used, and when laying, a special adhesive solution for underfloor heating is used.
With soft flooring, the floor is protected by a hard substrate - plywood, chipboard, etc.

Note! Best of all, the film floor is combined with tiles. The fact is that this material has good heat-saving properties, so energy is spent more economically.

Stage 2. Surface preparation

Step 1. The infrared floor is extremely demanding on the coating on which it is installed, so the base is first cleaned of dirt and dust. To do this, you can use a vacuum cleaner.

Step 2. Then the surface is checked with a horizontal level and if the "difference" exceeds 3 mm, then alignment and re-cleaning is carried out.

Step 3. Upon completion of cleaning, a waterproofing layer is mounted to protect the floor from moisture.

Step 4. A heater is installed on top of the waterproofing. This will prevent heat loss from rays going down, and, as a result, reduce the amount of electricity consumed. Do not believe the "specialists" who claim that this is superfluous.

As a heater, you can use any of existing options but under ceramic tiles it is necessary to lay only a technical cork. The insulation is laid with a metallized surface up, leveled, and the joints are sealed with mounting tape.

Stage 3. Scheme of the future floor

Step 1. Before starting installation, you need to determine the location of the thermostat - ideally, it should be 15 cm from the floor surface.

the system cannot be installed under household appliances and overall furniture;
the first strip should be laid at a distance of 10-40 cm from the wall;
if the film floor is the only source of heat, then you need to make sure that it occupies at least ¾ of the entire room;
if it is only an auxiliary system, then ½ will suffice.

Stage 4. Installation and final connection

Step 1. According to the scheme drawn up at the previous stage, a heating polyester film is laid on top of the insulation. If necessary, the material is cut along the marked lines.

Step 2. The film must be laid so that the copper surfaces of the contacts are directed downwards. In this case, you need to move towards the wall on which the thermostat is installed.

Step 3. Screw terminals are connected to the edge of each copper strip, after which the cables are connected.

Note! All joints and cuts are carefully sealed with a special mastic based on bitumen.

It should be remembered that the longer the length of the heating film, the fewer contacts there will be. But the maximum length should not exceed eight meters.

Step 4. Some of the clamp contacts must be placed on the surface through which the current will be passed, while the rest - in the film itself.

Step 6. Upon completion of laying, connecting all cables and clamping contacts, a thermostat is installed. It is recommended that this device be installed permanently, but if desired, it can be connected as an ordinary electrical appliance - using an outlet.

Note! Experienced builders assure that most of the cables leading from the thermostat to the film must be passed under the baseboard.

Step 7. At the end, the structure is connected to electrical network.

Stage 5. Trial run of the system

Before laying the finish coat, the performance of the film floor should be tested. If everything was done correctly, then the film will warm up evenly, the contact connections will not spark or overheat. After successful testing, the infrared floor is covered with another layer of polyethylene film, then you can start laying the finishing coating.

As a conclusion

Of course, it is quite possible to mount the film floor with your own hands. And even in the absence of any skills in working with it, you can always read the installation instructions (it should come with the system) or find information on the Web. There are many tutorial videos, one of which is shown below.

Video - Film floor installation

The warm film floor belongs to infrared electric heating systems with high technical characteristics. Installation of this type of device is quite simple, but it can be difficult to connect it to the electrical network. Therefore, not everyone can install equipment on their own. How to properly connect a film underfloor heating and what should be considered during installation work?

A warm film floor is quite simple design. A carbon mixture acts as a heating element in the device, which is located in the form of strips between a soldered heat-resistant film. Admission electric current happens with the help copper wires. Each conductor connecting the carbon tapes is covered with a protective sheath.

A feature of the film floor heating system is a parallel type connection. Due to this, a failed separate heating element of the structure does not affect the working process of the entire equipment.

They produce film rolls 50 meters long, while the width of the product for floor heating can be in the range from 50 centimeters to 1 meter. A carbon mixture that emits infrared radiation can be located between the layers of the film in the form of strips, and in more expensive models the carbon heater is a continuous sheet.

The film that forms the basis of the infrared floor heating is made of strong polypropylene, which does not change shape when heated to 120 degrees. In this case, the thickness of the material, depending on the model, can be from 0.23 to 0.47 millimeters.

heating system film type is used for all finishing floor coverings. Installation is carried out on a rough basis. Screed after laying is not required. Facing material placed directly on the film.

An important point in the installation of this type of underfloor heating is a small power consumption. On average, a film heating system consumes 25 to 35 watts per hour.

Criterias of choice

Models of manufactured warm infrared film floors have distinctive technical indicators. There are several factors to consider when choosing a system:

film quality and size. The characteristics of the product indicate the characteristics and material of manufacture of the warm floor. The denser and more layers of the film coating, the higher the resistance to mechanical damage. The width of the roll is selected depending on design features premises and areas.
Power. The size of the heated room and the purpose of the underfloor heating system itself affect the value of this parameter. For equipment that is installed as the main heating, a sufficiently high power rating is required.
Integrity and completeness of the system. When buying a warm film floor, you must visually inspect the product to exclude damage. The presence of all elements included in the heating device package will also be checked.

A high-quality infrared heating system is recommended to be purchased in specialized stores, where a quality certificate for products and a guarantee of its use are provided.

Scope of application

Film equipment is widely used for heating various types premises. The system can act as:

additional heating device;
main source of heat.

Also, a warm floor can be installed to maintain the temperature of individual sections of the room. The film floor is most often used for heating;

living rooms;
bathrooms;
utility rooms;
loggias;
bathrooms;
winter gardens;
public buildings;
sports halls.

Often, a film heating system is used in kindergartens or game rooms. The device gained such popularity due to numerous positive characteristics, which include safety of use.

Advantages and disadvantages

A warm infrared film type floor is considered one of the best floor heating systems. Its main benefits include:

the possibility of installation without a special load on the floor due to the low weight of the heating product;
ensuring uniform heating of the entire surface of the floor covering during operation;
the ability to fully function in case of damage to individual elements of the device;
absence of electromagnetic radiation;
long period of use;
cost-effectiveness of use due to the low consumption of electrical energy, if you do not take into account the installation of the system as the main heating;
ease of installation work.

A screed is not required for laying the film, and the top coat can be used regardless of its type. The system warms up fairly quickly without drying out the air.

Among the shortcomings of a warm film floor, sometimes there is a low resistance to mechanical stress and a relatively high cost for quality products.

Mounting Features

Laying a floor heating film is not particularly difficult, but connecting the device requires precision and certain skills. Incorrect connection of equipment can cause a quick failure of the entire system. Therefore, if the installation of a film underfloor heating is planned to be carried out independently, then all actions should be carried out strictly according to the recommended scheme, taking into account all those indicated in the instructions. technological features heating product.

Scheme and styling features

Before spreading the film, you should calculate the parameters of the room. Laying can be done both longitudinally and across the room. It is necessary to arrange a material that emits infrared radiation based on the features of the layout of the room.

If the heating system will be used as the main heating, then the captivity will cover more than 60 percent of the floor area. When installing equipment as additional heating, it is possible to lay out the layout in separate areas. You also need to take into account that the minimum distance from the walls should be 20 centimeters.

In order to avoid overheating of the system, it is recommended to exclude laying under overall equipment and large pieces of furniture. In this case, the overlapping of the strips of the film should not be allowed, and the cutting of the material should be carried out only along the lines marked on it.

It is necessary to spread the film so that the heating elements are directed upwards, and the copper strips are directed towards the base. To properly install the device, follow all the installation recommendations specified by the manufacturer in the attached instructions.

Foundation preparation

Installation of a film-type warm floor is carried out on a rough concrete screed. The main condition for the installation of equipment is a clean and level ground. If the old coating has significant defects, then it should be removed. The working surface of the floor must be free of dirt and dust.

Installation of a warm infrared floor requires the use of a special substrate. The heat-reflecting material is spread over the entire area of the pre-prepared base.

The underlayment should fit snugly against the walls. To connect its strips, adhesive tape is used. The edges of the heat-reflecting material are also fixed. You can use a stapler for these purposes.

Film mounting

It is necessary to lay the film according to the scheme planned in advance. Strips of polypropylene material are cut into the required parts according to the specified markings. In this case, the film should be located from wall to wall in a continuous layer.

After placing the strips, they are fixed to the substrate with adhesive tape. All sections of the cuts with outward copper conductors must be insulated.

Connection

To connect contacts you need:

copper strips are fixed with a special clip;
one side of the terminal must be inside the film, and the other outside;
for tight adhesion of the contacts, the clamps should be pressed well on each side of the film material;
wires are connected to correctly installed terminals - alternating "phase" and "zero";
the connection points of the contacts are completely isolated with a special bitumen tape.

Installation of thermostat and sensor

The place on the wall for the regulator is determined before laying the system. It must be located near the existing electrical wiring. At the same time, furniture or other objects in the room should not block the device.

All wires coming from the installed thermostat are placed in the strobe. The contacts connected to the film must be on the side of the control device.

The sensor is fixed with adhesive tape under the film coating. It should be located near the thermostat. So that the device does not protrude above the surface of the film, it is recommended to deepen it into the substrate.

After completion of installation and connection of all equipment of a warm film floor, a trial run of the system is required.

Laying the finish coat

Floor cladding can only be carried out after a complete check of the working process of the heating system.

Soft finishes such as linoleum or carpet should be laid on top of fiberboard or other thin wood material. Such protection will avoid further mechanical damage. heating equipment.

For other stronger floor coverings, it is enough to cover the film with a thin polyethylene substrate.

Possible mounting errors

For the correct functioning of the film heating system, perfect precision in laying and connecting the entire device is required. In the process of performing independent installation work, mistakes are often made. Therefore, you should know what you can not do when installing such equipment:

lay the film overlap;
install one thermostat on two separate circuits;
fasten the film to the base with nails or other sharp fasteners;
install equipment near other heating appliances;
connect the device without isolating the contacts to the electrical network;
use a foil containing material as a substrate;
cover the system with cement mortar;
install dimensional pieces of furniture in the places where the film passes;
bend material with a carbon mixture at a right angle.

To avoid damage to the film during repair work in the room, it is recommended to maintain accurate laying patterns.

Compared to many other floor heating systems, the installation of film heating equipment is much easier. Following the diagrams and instructions specified by the manufacturer, the installation of the device can be done by hand. But to connect the system to the network, certain professional skills are required. Therefore, the process of connecting all devices must be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Increased focus on infrared warm floors quite
justified, because specifications this innovative heating system
demonstrate a number of advantages and allow you to equip an energy-efficient home.

Infrared film underfloor heating - what is it

Infrared floor heating is popular due to its unique principle
work. Although it is a kind of electric warm
floor (because it requires electricity to function),
infrared floor is much more economical and safer than its predecessor.

The principle of operation of IR underfloor heating is based on the release
thermal energy in the infrared range. Long wavelength radiation heats up
person and the surface of surrounding objects: furniture, walls. And they, in their
turn, being a secondary source of heat (reflectors) heat the air in
room. This approach to home heating allows you to subjectively feel the heat up to
how the air warms up.

Advantages and disadvantages of infrared underfloor heating

no electromagnetic radiation;

simultaneous damage to the entire system is reduced to zero,
due to parallel connection of blocks;

mounting on any surface (horizontal, vertical,
oblique) does not cause difficulties;

uniform heating of the floor surface. What is very important when
an infrared warm floor is installed under the laminate;

do-it-yourself installation will not be difficult;

it is possible to dismantle the film, for example, when moving;

installation of the floor is possible in any room
(including wet) and under any type of coating;

we allow the installation of the film in an open room (veranda,
terrace) and closed (rooms in an apartment or house, office, warehouse, etc.);

high heat transfer (97%) and efficiency (30% higher according to
compared to other electric underfloor heating systems).

the need to comply with the rules of connection and operation
systems;

not recommended as the main source of heating
due to the high inertia of the system (heats up quickly, cools down quickly);

unlike a water heated floor, film is unstable to
mechanical stress and damage.

Types of infrared film underfloor heating

Despite the relative novelty of the infrared
heating, manufacturers offer several varieties of them:

film infrared heat-insulated floor. The essence of this system
consists in the fact that the heating element is a fiber laid
between two layers of plastic film. The heating film is flexible,
strength, wear resistance, besides it is a good dielectric.

In turn, the film floor has its own varieties. AT
The division is based on the composition of the heating element:

carbon - carbon-graphite;
bimetallic - copper and aluminum.

The first system became more widespread among
users.

rod infrared heat-insulated floor. The feature of the system in
the fact that the function of the heating element is performed by carbon rods,
connected by wire. This is the most innovative of the systems that allow
reduce heating costs by 60% (compared to other systems).
The ubiquity of carbon rod floors is hindered only by their
high price.

Comparison of these systems for specific conditions
functioning, will make it possible to find out which infrared warm floor
it is better.

Do-it-yourself installation of infrared floor heating

Installation instructions for infrared film underfloor heating
consists of a series of successive stages, which need to be studied in detail in order to
exclude the possibility of an error:

Creation (development) of the project and calculation.
Selection of equipment and materials.
Installation of the IR warm floor system.
Test run (verification).
Clean finish.

Stage 1 - project development and calculation

An important feature of installing an infrared film floor
is that it is not mounted under furniture. Thus, starting
calculation of the required amount of material and determining the place of laying the film
you need to subtract the area under which the film will not be laid.

Note. For the system to be considered effective, the film
should cover at least 80% of the surface of the room in case the film
the floor will be the main heating system of the house/apartment and at least 40% if
auxiliary (alternative, additional).

Calculation of infrared film underfloor heating

calculation of the total area of the premises: Sp \u003d a * b * 2;

calculation of the heating area Sb \u003d Sp - (X, Y, Z)

a, b - length and width of the room, m;

Sb - heating area, sq.m.;

X, Y, Z - fixed and / or low-standing interior items
(furniture, Appliances etc.).

Note. Calculation of the heated area is made with
taking into account the fact that the IR film is laid no closer than 100 mm to any
vertical (adjacent) surface or object.

After calculating the heated area, you need to calculate
sufficient system power. Be aware that the power range
heating film is 150-220 W/sq.m.

Calculation of energy consumption of infrared floor heating

The energy consumption indicator for the film floor can be
calculate by the formula: E \u003d Sp * k * T

Where, E - energy consumption, W / h;

Sp - total area premises sq. m.;

k - conversion factor (depends on the installed
temperature, if the system is turned on by 40% - the coefficient will be 0.4);

T - thermal power floor.

Infrared floor heating costs are easy to calculate,
knowing the electricity tariff in a particular region.

Calculation of the power of infrared floor heating

It is possible that the area of the room is sufficient
large and for the installation of a film heating system, it is necessary to use
several sets of infrared film - in this case, their power
summed up. P total = P1 + P2 + ... + Pi,

If part of the kit was used, the calculation is made according to
formula:

P total = 110 L

P total - the total power of the film floor, W;

P1…Pi is the power of a single set of film, W.

L is the length of the infrared film that is used when
installation;

110 – film floor power conversion factor.

Calculation of the number of thermostats and their installation location

Thermostat function for infrared floor heating -
adjust the heating level.

With regard to the quantity, you should know that when
connection of several sets of film flooring, it is necessary to install
several thermostats, because the power consumption of a warm floor
summed up.

Install the thermostat preferably at a height of at least
150-200 mm. above the level of the finish coating, and for comfortable use on
a height of about a meter (the height of the sockets). The second option is possible if the installation
Infrared floor heating systems are made before the repair work is carried out.

Advice. The thermostat is placed on the wall
located perpendicular to the direction of laying the strips. This approach will allow
reduce wire length.

The thermostat is mounted next to the electrical wiring hidden or
external way.

When exceeding permissible load on the thermostat
There are two connection options:

zoning and connecting each zone to its own thermostat;

inclusion in the circuit of a solid state relay or magnetic
starter. In this case, the system will be controlled by one relay. Such
connection requires certain knowledge, which requires the involvement of an electrician.

The scheme of laying infrared film for underfloor heating includes
includes an indication of the direction of placement of the bands. Manufacturers and craftsmen
recommend laying the film along the longer side, this will reduce
the number of cuts of the heating film on the turns.

Rules for placement (laying) of infrared floor film:

the first row of film should be placed no closer than 100 mm. to
wall (or to another object), but no further than 400 mm;

film cut line pitch – 250 mm. cut film in others
places is prohibited;

the distance between adjacent film strips is at least 10
mm.;

extremely allowable length floor strips - 8,000 mm.

The project of infrared film underfloor heating should
contain:

calculation of usable area;

calculation of system power;

the place of installation of the thermostat (and their number, if
installation of underfloor heating in a large room);

the direction of laying the film strips;

number of stripes (depending on the width of the film).

The result of the design should be an installation scheme that
necessary for both installation work and for further
operation and repair.

Stage 2 - selection of equipment and building materials

Film underfloor heating is sold as a kit, which includes:

infrared film for underfloor heating;
connecting clips;
scotch;
thermostat;
temperature sensor.

Note. The set depends on the manufacturer. For example,
heat plus, caleo systems contain everything you need to work.

Additionally you need to buy:

electrical wire (preferably copper, stranded,
section 1.5-2.5 mm);

thermal insulation material. Electric infrared
underfloor heating allows the use of any type of insulation: foil
film (polymer-coated), polyethylene foam, natural cork and
etc.

waterproofing film;

Tool: mounting knife, scissors, pliers, screwdriver,
wire cutters, adhesive tape, hammer, tester, drill bit (nozzle for a drill), puncher,
square, pencil.

Stage 3 - installation of infrared floor heating

Step-by-step instructions for beginners with no experience in construction:

1. Preparation (learning security measures)

If the work is performed by a non-professional, you need to familiarize yourself with
installation technique and safety measures:

minimize walking on the laid film. Protection
film from mechanical damage, possible when moving on it,
achieved through the use of soft covering material (thickness from 5
mm);

do not allow installation of heavy objects on the film;

prevent the instrument from falling onto the film.

Safety rules for installing IR floor heating:

It is forbidden to connect a heating element to the power supply
film rolled up;

film installation is carried out with no power supply;

connection to the power supply is carried out strictly according to SNiP and
PUE;

film installation rules are observed (length, indents,
no overlaps, etc.);

only suitable insulation is used;

installation of the film under furniture and other heavy
items;

installation of a film under low-standing objects is excluded.
These are all items that have an air gap between the bottom
surface and floor less than 400 mm;

contact of the film with communications, fittings and
other obstacles;

isolation of all contacts (terminals) and lines is ensured
cut conductive copper busbars;

the film floor is not installed in rooms where high
risk of frequent water ingress;

obligatory installation of an RCD (protective device
shutdowns);

break, cut, bend the heating cable;

mount the film at temperatures below -5 °C.

2. Preparation of the thermostat installation site

Includes wall chasing (for wires and sensor
temperature) to the floor and drilling a hole for the appliance. Power on
the thermostat is supplied from the nearest outlet.

Advice. It is advisable to lay the wires in the corrugation, this technique
will simplify Maintenance and repairs if necessary.

3. Foundation preparation

Infrared film is laid only on a flat and clean surface.
surface. Horizontal deviation of the surface exceeding 3 mm is also
unacceptable. Masters recommend treating the surface with a primer.

Note. Dismantling of the old floor (rough) is not required,
if its surface is not satisfactory.

4. Laying the waterproofing film

The function of the waterproofing film is to protect the electrical
underfloor heating system from moisture coming from below.

5. Installation of thermal insulation material

As evidenced by user reviews - insulation
allows you to increase the heating efficiency due to the fact that heat does not escape
down. However, when installing an infrared floor heating system on the second floor -
rarely anyone used a heater, because. thermal energy will warm up
ceiling between the first and second floors.

Advice. Foil insulation should be laid metallized
side to the floor.

6. Laying infrared floor heating

drawing markings for laying on the floor;

preparation of a strip of film of the desired length. note
you can cut the film only along the cut line;

the film is located towards the wall, which
designed to install a thermostat. Oriented strip copper
heater down;

the recommended distance from the wall of 100 mm is maintained;

the recommended distance (gap) between
edges of infrared film sheets of 50-100 mm (film overlap is not
allowed);

strips near the walls are glued to the insulation with adhesive tape
(squares, but not a solid strip). This will avoid shifting the canvas.

7. Installation of clips

At the ends of the copper bus you need to attach metal
clamps. When installing, it is necessary that one side of the clamp fits between the copper
tire and film. And the second was located above the copper surface. Crimping in progress
evenly, without distortion.

8. Connecting the wires of the infrared floor

The wires are installed on the clamp, followed by
insulation and tight crimping. The ends of the copper bus are also insulated in place
cutting. The requirement of parallel connection of wires is observed (right with
right, left to left). In order not to get confused, it is convenient to use a wire of different
colors. Then the wires will be laid under the plinth.

Advice. To prevent the clip with the wire from protruding above the film, its
can be placed in a heater. A square is pre-cut in the insulation
under clamp.

9. Installing the temperature sensor for the thermostat

Installation of a temperature sensor for underfloor heating film

10. Connecting the infrared floor heating to the thermostat

Wiring diagram for film floor heating thermostat

Connecting a thermostat for infrared floor heating

Stage 4 - test launch of the system (check)

Test connection of infrared floor heating is mandatory
stage before laying the final floor covering.

The normal laying of the film floor is evidenced by:

absence of extraneous noise (cod);
lack of spark;
uniform heating of the film.

Additionally, the reliability of the isolation of places is checked
wire connection.

Stage 5 - fine finishing

Before installing the floor covering, the film floor
cover with plastic wrap (100-200 microns). Further work is carried out in
in accordance with the instructions for laying the floor covering.

The specifics of laying the film floor under different types coatings
shown in the picture:

Infrared underfloor heating under laminate (pie) - infrared underfloor heating under laminate, parquet board

Infrared warm floor wooden floor fit
the same way.

Infrared warm floor under linoleum (pie) - infrared warm floor under linoleum, carpet

Infrared underfloor heating under tiles (pie) - infrared underfloor heating under tiles, stone

Masters do not advise using a film floor under a tile,
due to the need to perform "wet" work, which reduces heat transfer
gender.

Operation of infrared film underfloor heating

when a significant amount of water gets on the film
floor, it must be immediately turned off and dried (naturally);

do not turn on the system in order, for example, to dry
carpet after wet cleaning);

it is not allowed to fasten something (for example, a limiter
doors or skirting boards) using hardware. They will damage the film sections;

it is forbidden to spread carpets, blankets on the floor,
metallized films (foil), as well as rearrange furniture. It may
cause the system to overheat.

Video instruction for installation of infrared floor

Since its introduction, infrared underfloor heating has shown growing interest from potential consumers. They are reliable and easy to install, if desired, they are easily mounted independently, without the involvement of specialists. It is this topic that our review will be devoted to - we will tell you how to independently mount a film underfloor heating and what is needed for this. We will also give full information about infrared film.

Features of infrared underfloor heating

Traditional warm floors are made on the basis of a thin pipe made of cross-linked polyethylene (or metal-plastic), through which a hot coolant circulates. All this economy, together with insulation and vapor barrier, is hidden under a thick layer of concrete screed. The result is a kind of "sandwich", which allows you to get a warm floor covering.. Adults and children can safely move on such a floor without fear of catching a cold. Warmth is also relevant for those whose feet are constantly cold.

Water heated floors have quite serious disadvantages:

A large load on the floors - it is created by a thick concrete screed. Therefore, in multi-storey buildings, their installation is undesirable and even dangerous;
Possibility of leakage - oozing water can penetrate concrete and flood the basement or lower floor;
Difficulty in installation - nothing prevents you from laying water-heated floors on your own, but in reality, the complexity of the work is higher than it seems after reading the step-by-step instructions.

In some cases, instead of pipes with a heat carrier, a heating cable is laid. He does not need a powerful and heavy concrete screed, so it can be laid even in an apartment. But it is best to replace it with a heating mat - it is easy to install and fits under most floor coverings, especially tiles or porcelain tiles.

A warm floor provides a more uniform and rational heating of the room, which has a very positive effect on human comfort.

Film underfloor heating is a modern alternative to all the above types of floors. Its basis is an infrared film laid under flooring. Electricity is supplied to it, as a result of which it begins to generate infrared rays. Reaching the surface of tiles, wood, linoleum and any other coating, they are converted into thermal energy.

Consider the main features and advantages of film underfloor heating:

Easy installation - in some cases it takes a maximum of two hours. Moreover, it is more difficult to remove and put back the removed coating than to mount the film;
There is no load on the interfloor ceilings - thanks to this, the film can be used for installation in apartments;
Film floor heating is safe for humans and animals - it does not negative impact on health and is not a source of electromagnetic radiation;
Compatible with almost any floor coverings;
Durability - a properly laid film can work for 10-15 years (some manufacturers guarantee up to 50 years of operation) without requiring replacement.

There are also disadvantages:

Expensive - prices for film warm floors, although falling, remain high;
Electric heating leads to high energy costs - there is no getting away from this;
Lack of resistance to loads - in the case of using linoleum, it will be necessary to protect the film with plywood sheets.

Some experts note the low reliability of film underfloor heating, but it all depends on the chosen film - if you chase cheapness, then everything will be bad with reliability.

The main feature of film underfloor heating is that they do not reduce the height of the ceilings, as water pipes and heating cables do.

The principle of operation of infrared floors and auxiliary equipment

Temperature control is carried out by a sensor located in the thickness of the floors.

You can mount an infrared film underfloor heating on your own, without the help of specialists. To do this, you need the appropriate amount of film, a thermostat and connecting wires. The scheme for connecting a film underfloor heating is simple - individual sections are connected to each other in parallel (not in series), after which they are connected through a thermostat to the mains.

Film warm floors are very thin - their thickness in most cases does not exceed 1 mm. But the width varies from 50 to 100 cm. The film is supplied in long rolls, and it is easily cut into separate sections of a certain length. But you can’t cut at random - only along the cut lines, otherwise its performance will be impaired. In addition, on these lines there are contact pads for connecting to the electrical network.

The general principle of installing film floors is as follows:

We lay a layer of thermal insulation on the draft floors;
We mount the temperature sensor;
We lay out the film according to a pre-drawn scheme;
We make electrical connections.

The final stage is testing. A positive result will be uniform heating of the floor covering in all areas under which the film is laid.

Choosing the right film

If you are going to mount a film underfloor heating without the involvement of specialists, start with the main thing - by choosing the right film. It is necessary to determine what role is assigned to this heat source. Choose 180-200 W/m² foil if it will be the only source of heat in the room. In other cases, a power of 100-130 W / m² is sufficient.

As for the width of the film, here it is necessary to focus on the laying pattern. This scheme you should draw it yourself, having decided on the places for installing furniture. Where furniture elements without legs will stand, warm floors are not needed - here they will become unusable due to overheating. Depending on the size of the room and the dimensions of the areas to be heated, select a film of suitable width.

The reviews of some experts indicate that it is better not to lay the film underfloor heating under the tiles. They advise giving preference to other types of heating equipment, such as heating mats.

When choosing a film for underfloor heating, you need to pay attention to the future flooring. In the case of an engineering board, laminate or linoleum, it is enough to take the simplest film material. If you plan to lay tiles or porcelain stoneware, you need to purchase a perforated film - it has small holes that ensure reliable adhesion of the mixtures used to the subfloor.

Underfloor heating film installation

It's time to deal with step by step instructions for laying underfloor heating film. If it will be mounted under an engineering board or laminate, prepare the following materials and tools:

Rolled warm floor of suitable width and length;
Scissors for cutting the film base;
Thermal insulation material;
Thermostat with temperature sensor;
Connecting wires;
Scotch;
Connecting brackets;
bituminous insulation;
Soldering iron with flux and solder.

Let's go through all the operations in more detail.

As an example, let's take a situation where we have new house, which already has draft floors. First you need to level them to get a surface ready for installation. This is done using a leveling mixture for the floor (for example, a leveler from trademark Kreps - a bag weighing 25 kg costs about 280 rubles). Dilute the mixture with water in the indicated proportions, fill in the rough surface and wait two days until it completely solidifies.

The next step is the laying of a heat-insulating layer. We recommend taking inexpensive Penofol for this. One of its sides is shiny - it reflects heat in the opposite direction, preventing it from escaping into the screed. If necessary, you can use any other types thermal insulation materials, including tiles. Their fastening is carried out with mounting brackets or dowels with wide caps. Separate sheets or plates are interconnected with adhesive tape.

On the this stage we need a tape measure, a sheet of paper and a simple pencil. We measure the dimensions of the furniture (length and width), draw the layout of the room, place the furniture elements on it. Where the furniture will stand, the film is not needed - we have already written why this is done. In accordance with the data obtained, we buy a film for film underfloor heating. We cover wide areas with a wide film - it's more convenient. But in general, you should focus on the dimensions of the room.

The film is cut according to the cutting lines. We prepare sections of the required size, set them aside. We mark the places for laying wires. If you don’t want to make a lot of intersections, we act as follows - we lay out the wires with phase and zero along the side walls of the room, lay out the film perpendicular to them, connect one end to the phase and the other to zero. How to connect a film underfloor heating using this method is indicated in the figure below.

Now we know how to connect film underfloor heating in such a way as to avoid unnecessary wire crossings - this way there will be less confusion, and the crossing wires will not rub against each other. Let's see how to route the wires and how to install the thermostat. This is done very easily - with the help of a construction knife.

Before laying, you need to figure out the wiring diagram in your mind, determine the location of the thermostat. It is to the thermostat that we will pull the connecting wires for connecting film underfloor heating. For their laying, we make grooves in the thermal insulation. Here we make a cutout for the temperature sensor, we bring a signal wire to it. After that, we send all the wires along the grooves to the thermostat. In order for the conductors not to fall out of the grooves, we fix them with tape.

Let's talk a little about connecting film underfloor heating. We have already said that there are contact pads on the film - it is to them that we will connect the wires using contact groups. These contact groups are compressed by pliers, as a result of which they fit snugly to the sites. But not all experts practice this approach - many of them strongly recommend soldering all connections for greater reliability and durability of the connections.

Do not rush to lay the flooring - the film floor heating must be tested. We connect it to the mains, set the temperature to +30 degrees, after 15-20 minutes we turn off the system and check all sections. If any of them remain cold, check the electrical connections.

In fact, our film floor heating is ready, it remains to lay the floor covering. Let's consider three special cases:

With laying tiles;
With laminate flooring
With linoleum flooring.

In case of tiles thermal insulation becomes a stumbling block - it will interfere with the normal contact of the adhesive with the subfloor and tiles. Therefore, it is recommended to pour a thin screed over the thermal insulation, lay a film on it, throw a reinforcing mesh on top, and only after that start laying tiles using tile adhesive. There is a second option - instead of an intermediate thin screed, lay drywall slabs.

With laminate, everything is simple - it has sufficient strength to protect the floors from bursting. Therefore, we lay a polyethylene film or substrate on the IR film, and already put a laminate on it. At this point, our warm film floors are completely ready for use. If, instead of laminate, it is planned to use linoleum, then we lay plywood or fiberboard on top of the substrate or plastic film. Already on top of a solid surface we put linoleum.

Video

Installing a warm floor in one day and doing without screed work seemed like a fantasy a dozen years ago. Today, they are widely used all over the world and conquer domestic open spaces, but with their spread, a lot of low-quality products have appeared. To take full advantage of the technology, it is necessary to implement right choice and installation of an infrared film underfloor heating, and for this it would be nice to know what you need to pay special attention to when buying, which manufacturers you can trust, and what the connection specifics are.

No. 1. The design of the film underfloor heating

The film heat-insulated floor gives infrared radiation and heats not air, as other systems, and surrounding objects. The heat obtained in this way can be compared to solar heat Therefore, it is called the most harmless and even beneficial to human health. Infra-red rays are emitted by 16 mm wide carbon strips, and electrical energy is supplied to them through silver-plated copper bars, due to which heating is carried out. The film is laminated on both sides with a polymer that protects the elements of the heating structure from moisture and mechanical stress and prevents possible fires.

Due to the design features and dense arrangement of heating elements heating is much more even than when using or conventional electric underfloor heating. Moreover, since the film consists of separate elements independent of each other, the failure of one of the parts will not lead to a breakdown of the entire system - it will be enough to replace the damaged area, and even until it is replaced, the rest of the film will continue to radiate heat.

In addition to the film panels themselves, the system of infrared underfloor heating also includes temperature sensors and thermostat. The purpose of these elements is clear from the name: the sensors record the temperature of the floor, and the regulators, which come in a variety of modifications, allow you to track the readings of the sensors and adjust the degree of their heating. The thermostat is mounted on the wall, and close to the switch or outlet, to make it easier. If the power of the underfloor heating is higher than 2 kW, then it will be necessary to connect the system through a separate circuit breaker.

Carbon elements boast Efficiency at the level of 98%, they efficiently convert electrical energy into thermal energy. With the organization of normal thermal insulation, electricity consumption will be at the level of 35-50 W / m 2 * h.

No. 2. Pros and cons of warm film floors

The design features of the film underfloor heating allow us to talk about its mass benefits:

simplicity and high speed of installation, no need for arrangement, which allows you to install a warm floor in the shortest possible time even after all repair work completed;
manufacturers say that dismantling the film is as easy as installing it, so you can literally take it with you when moving;
the minimum film thickness and the absence of a screed allows maintain the height of the room;
the floor heats up almost instantly;
uniform heating floor and room surfaces;
the possibility of using any floor decorative coating, incl. and . Difficulties arise only when laying tiles, but more on that later;
versatility. The film can be mounted not only on the floor, but also on walls and ceilings. Moreover, the characteristics of the material allow it to be used in rooms with heavy loads on the floor covering, incl. in gyms, shopping malls, offices. The film can be heated and also used to prevent icing;
complete harmlessness (and even usefulness) for the health of all the inhabitants of the house.

disadvantages technology also has:

it is still quite an expensive system;
susceptibility to mechanical damage, so you should be especially careful during installation;
Improper installation and operation may cause the film to ignite.

Heating elements cannot be laid in places where large-sized furniture will constantly stand. This recommendation applies to absolutely all underfloor heating systems, but in the case of infrared film, we can deal with the failure of the whole fragment as a result of overheating due to insufficient heat transfer.

The film is heated to a temperature of 33 0 C, which allows it to be used together with such a “delicate” coating as linoleum, but this imposes restrictions on operation as main heat source: in this case, the film must cover at least 70% of the floor area. Comfortable temperatures can only be achieved in regions with mild winters - otherwise such a warm floor can be used as an auxiliary heat source, providing comfortable movement barefoot on the floor and allowing in the autumn-spring period, when central heating already or not yet working.

No. 3. Types of infrared film floor

According to the type of carbon coating, modern film floors are divided into two types:

those on which the coating is applied in strips;
those that have a continuous coating.

A film with a continuous carbon coating is also divided into separate blocks, but if a separate section is damaged, the heating temperature will be lower only near a cut or hole - in other areas, the indicators will be unchanged, and this is already a big plus. Moreover, since the carbon coating is continuous, the heating is even more even than when using a striped film, because there are no so-called. dead zones. The service life of such a film is about 50 years, but the price is several times higher. Tests and comparisons in the video below.

No. 4. What to look for when choosing?

When buying film infrared underfloor heating, it is important to pay attention to the name of the manufacturer, the declared characteristics and appearance films. How should it look quality film, and what operational qualities to possess? When choosing, pay attention to the following parameters:

power, on which it directly depends on which flooring the film can be used with. The power consumption of the system ranges from 130-450 W/m 2 . For laying under linoleum and other light floor coverings, a film with a power of up to 160 W / m 2 will be enough, under and it is better to take a more powerful film - up to 220 W / m 2, and everything that is more intended for use in industrial conditions and infrared saunas ;
film thickness depends on the thickness of the polymer and carbon layers, it ranges from several microns to several millimeters. The minimum allowable thickness is 0.3 mm, the generally accepted thickness is 0.338 mm. The greater the thickness, the more durable and resistant to deformations the protective shell will be. Some manufacturers insist that the film should be as thin as possible so as not to take away the height of the room, but the difference in height when installing the film of 0.3 and 3 mm will be imperceptible, and the durability of the latter is many times higher;
film width. The material is produced in rolls with a width of 50, 60, 80 and 100 cm. During installation, the film is mounted so that adjacent sections are as close to each other as possible, but do not overlap. Based on this rule and the parameters of the room, the most suitable roll width is selected to ensure the fastest installation and minimize waste;
strips of silver and copper alloys must have clear contours, not be translucent, not have damage and signs of oxidation. The higher the silver content, the more reliable and less sparkling the film will be. The silver part can be 1.5-2 mm wider than the copper part;
preference should be given to those films where copper and silver tires are connected by a “dry” contact, which allows minimizing the thickness of the air gap and extending the life of the product;
copper bar width should be at least 13-15 mm, otherwise we can talk about the low quality of the film. Through copper, carbon strips will not be visible and felt;
the carbon layer should be applied evenly and not show through. The thicker its layer, the longer the film will last;
some manufacturers add silver to the carbon paste to minimize its resistance to current and improve contact with the bus. Over time, a cold tire can peel away from the constantly heated carbon part, resulting in sparking and reduced heating power. Large companies that are constantly improving their products come up with different ways to avoid sparks. The most effective development is the arrangement of a grid of silver stripes at the border of the carbon coating and the copper bus. Such a configuration is called an anti-spark grid;
the gaps between the carbon strips can be transparent or cloudy - the difference is in the production features. The first option is obtained by applying adhesive technology, second - during lamination. After a few months of use, adhesive strips become brittle, and laminated strips last for years, so give preference to them;
the heating rate of a high-quality infrared film is 5-10 seconds.

No. 5. Large manufacturers of film infrared floor

The quality and compliance of the actual technical properties indicated on the packaging depends on. Today, there are more and more different companies producing warm film floors, but many of them, unfortunately, do not offer the most durable products. When buying, pay attention to the products of reputable manufacturers:

Caleo- the largest company in the industry, it owns numerous innovations and developments. Manufacturer from South Korea has been producing warm film floors since 2006, and since then has become a real leader in the field. It is this company that owns the development of floors with anti-spark mesh. Today, the range includes several modifications of underfloor heating: from budget to elite options. In any case, the quality is on top, the guarantee is from 7 to 15 years, there are also thermostats, cable underfloor heating and heating systems, pipes and drains;
heat plus is another Korean company that, over several years of activity in Russia, was able to make the brand recognizable, establish sales and service in many large cities. The company produces striped and continuous infrared film with power from 80 to 450 watts;
is a Korean company that produces only striped film, the minimum thickness is 0.37 mm. Given that correct installation The film can be used for 30 years. Roll width from 50 to 100 cm;
Rexva- a major Korean manufacturer, whose share in the home market is about 60%. The domestic buyer not so long ago got acquainted with the brand's products, but has already managed to appreciate its highest quality. The company is also one of the leaders in terms of innovation. Due to the double-sided lamination with electrotechnical polyester, complete moisture resistance is ensured. In addition, the products withstand high temperatures, are difficult to ignite, and do not emit acrid smoke. Film width is 50, 80 and 100 cm, thickness 0.338 mm;
Eastec- the company is all from the same South Korea, where the technology of infrared underfloor heating was invented and where today most of these products are produced. The company offers a film with a width of 30 cm and a power of 65 W, so its products will be interesting in cases where the offers of other manufacturers do not suit;
is a Ukrainian company that positions itself as the only manufacturer of film infrared floors in Europe and the CIS countries. In its activities, the company combines the best Korean developments and the achievements of domestic scientists. The manufacturer has a lot of its own solutions, including a film without silver paste, but with an increased carbon layer, which suggests a more stable electrical contact. There is also a special film for tiles in the assortment, which is distinguished by the presence of many holes, which improves the adhesion of the adhesive to the subfloor during tiling. The company produces striped and solid coatings of 60 and 34 cm with a power of 135-600 watts. There is a film where the graphite coating is applied with a snake, as well as products with a width of 24, 20 and even 10 cm that can be used on, for mounting on the contour of doors, windows, etc.

No. 6. Installation of film underfloor heating + video

The process of laying underfloor heating film is simple, all work takes one working day. Some prefer to lay the film on their own, and entrust its connection to the network to a professional. To evaluate own forces, you need to know what you will have to face, and for this we will study sequencing:

installation of a thermostat in a convenient place;
cleaning the main floor from dust and dirt, leveling if necessary, laying thermal insulation to keep the heat from escaping. Penofol, isolon or roll can be used as a heat insulator. The latter option is the most convenient from the point of view that grooves can be easily cut out in the cork for laying cables. When laying on some masters, it is advised to lay a plastic film as a waterproofing;
cutting and unfolding of the film. Before installation, you must clearly know where the overall pieces of furniture (sofas, wardrobes, beds, etc.) will be located, so as not to lay the film in these places. In any case, the film cannot be laid strictly under the wall - it should retreat 15-20 cm. The length of one piece of film should not be more than 10 m, it can be cut in strictly marked places (these are white lines that are not coated with graphite). Specialists use a film of different widths when working, but you can get by with a roll of only one width - the main thing is to correctly compose, for which it is sometimes better to pre-draw everything on paper so as not to spoil the expensive material;
cut fragments of the film are laid with the matte side up, with copper tires down, taking into account the distance from the walls. Each fragment is fixed with ordinary tape so that the film does not move from its place during the installation process;

the next fragment is stacked butt to the previous without overlapping one part with another. The joint is also glued with tape to secure. This is done until all fragments are decomposed. Do not forget that it will be necessary to install a temperature sensor not far from the thermostat, so at this stage we do not fix the part of the film where the sensor will be mounted later with adhesive tape. This does not fix the edges of the film, to which the wires will later be connected;
when the film is laid out, the most crucial moment comes - connection to electricity. Do not overestimate your capabilities - if there are doubts about the implementation of at least some stage of work, it is better. The easiest way is to use the special contact clamps that come with the kit to connect the wires to the film. The clip is inserted into the cavity between the film and the silver strip, after which you can compress it with pliers;

the location of the clamps on the film will depend on the connection scheme of the underfloor heating. Standard scheme involves connecting wires on one side of the film, while the upper tires are connected to the upper ones, the lower ones to the lower ones. There is installation diagram without crossing wires. In this case, the upper tires are connected with a wire on one side, the lower ones on the other side (seen in the diagram);
from the wire, which will be used to connect the films to each other and from the thermostat, remove the insulation, insert it into the already installed clamp, and carefully fix the latter with pliers. From above and below such a connection is closed with insulation. So that the surface of the warm floor is even, and in the future no elements are damaged by the floor covering, holes are cut out in the cork for wires and clamps (see video);
the connection of the lower and upper tires is conveniently carried out with wires different colors. Cables and film are fixed to the cork with insulation. The wires are connected according to a pre-selected scheme, for them it is better to make strobes and then fix them with bituminous insulation. She also recommends closing unused tire sections. It remains only to lead the wires to the thermostat;
mounting the temperature sensor near the location of the thermostat. From the edge of the film, it can be at a distance of 15 cm. It must be attached to the graphite strip using aluminum tape. It remains to connect power to the sensor and check the performance of the entire system. If nothing sparks or smells, heats up evenly, you can proceed with the installation of the floor covering.

or, damaging the coating, so it is better to lay the film on top, and fix the joints with adhesive tape. Things are somewhat more complicated with tiles. For it, either a special perforated film is chosen, or a reinforcing mesh is used on top of the film, which will strengthen the structure. It will be possible to turn on the warm floor only after the glue has completely dried, which is about 1 month.

Now it remains only to objectively assess your strengths, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the infrared film floor heating and decide whether it is worth using it and who to entrust the installation to yourself or professionals.