The essence and options for cable floors
You can make a heating system in the bedroom using warm floors of the classic type - based on heating cables. Another option is heating mats: in them, the cable is laid on a thin mesh, which simplifies installation and makes it possible to lay it under the tiles.
When implementing a heating system of any kind, the installation sequence must be followed and completely followed. For cable floors, the main installation steps are as follows:
- Cleaning the base from dirt, dust and debris.
- Applying hydro and heat insulating layers.
- Fastening the strips of the mounting tape.
- Laying the heating cable with a snake and fixing it to the tape.
- Placement of the temperature sensor in the corrugated tube between adjacent turns.
- Installation on the wall of the thermostat, bringing wires to it from the sensor, heaters and power supply.
- Checking the correct operation of the electric floor.
- Pouring concrete or cement-sand screed.
- After 3-4 weeks (after complete drying) - installation of any topcoat.
Installation of thin mats differs in that the mounting tape and screed are not needed: the mats are placed in a layer of smoothing or tile glue, and the floor tiles are placed on top.
Infrared underfloor heating
Newer types of electric floors are infrared films and carbon rods. IR heating has a beneficial effect on well-being and does not dry the air: first, the surrounding objects are heated, and the heat they generate increases the air temperature. As with the cable floor, the heating extends from the bottom to the top.
Infrared rods are laid under a tile or in a screed, that is, the process of their installation is similar to that discussed above. The infrared film together with the thermal sensors is placed without a screed - immediately under the finishing floor (carpet, laminate, parquet, linoleum), on a layer of thermal insulation.
Pros and cons of underfloor heating in the bedroom
The advantages of a warm floor in the bedroom are obvious:
- A more favorable temperature environment in the room. Underfloor heating distributes heat with the aid of electromagnetic waves. Such heating has a beneficial effect on the well-being and performance of a person. Studies have shown that in a better temperature environment, it is easier for a person to fall asleep and more pleasant to sleep, which is especially important for the bedroom.
- Ease of operation. Conventional radiators accumulate dust on themselves, this is largely due to convection, due to which the room is heated. Air currents move dust throughout the room. Air does not participate in the radiation heat exchange between the floor and the bedroom surfaces, which means there will be less dust on high surfaces and in the air.
- Profitability. Economy refers to the parameters of the system. Underfloor heating is a low-temperature heating, that is, less fuel is spent on heating the coolant, which means that the system is more economical than the usual convective heating. As for the electric underfloor heating, it is more economical than an electric boiler equivalent in power.
Warm floor in the bedroom is a great opportunity to increase the comfort in the room and not worry about drafts. Installation of a warm floor is not more difficult than conventional heating, but a warm floor is more economical. You should not believe the myth that this system has overgrown at the beginning of its existence, rely only on your own preferences and real information.
Advantages and disadvantages
To answer the question of whether it is possible to make warm floors in the bedroom, consider the pros and cons of email. warm floors. Advantages:
- Thanks to installation under the topcoat, any interior design can be organized.
- The thermostat can be used to set the temperature daily routine weeks, including weekends and working days.
- The risk of thermal burns is reduced to zero, since the floor temperature does not exceed 30 ° C and is comfortable for the feet.
- Regular activation of the heating system reduces humidity, solving the problem of fungi and dampness on the floors.
- With careful insulation, high-quality materials and a modern model of the temperature controller, it is possible to save up to 30-50% of electricity.
- Due to the small temperature difference in the room no drafts.
- On a warm floor, dust settles more often, which makes cleaning easier.
Relative disadvantages include:
- One-time costs for materials and installation of underfloor heating in the bedroom. However, you can choose an inexpensive model and install the electric floor yourself;
- Growth in monthly electricity costs (the share depends on the area and intensity of the heating system);
- The topcoat must transmit heat well. If necessary, you can even find parquet and natural stone suitable for this condition.
- As with any electrical appliance - the need to follow the instructions for use.
As you can see, the negative aspects of warm floors in the bedroom can be minimized, and the benefits can be used to create a comfortable microclimate.
Why you can't do warm floors in the bedroom: an expert's answer
With an enviable frequency, both on the Internet and from the lips of real people, one can hear judgments about the inadmissibility of installing heating circuits in some rooms. For example, intended for sleep. To clarify the question of whether it is possible to make warm floors in the bedroom, you need to understand their modern design.
Harmful radiation
Over the past several decades, humanity has been repeatedly frightened by the growing level of the electromagnetic background, which affects the human body. The heating system under the screed acts here as another oscillator, along with a TV, computer and microwave.
However, this is true only for an electric underfloor heating. The water circuit cannot give out any radiation, at least those that can affect the body.
Emission of volatiles from floor coverings
It is also known from the school physics course that under the influence of high temperature, substances begin to disintegrate and pass into a gaseous state. This is especially true of polymeric materials based on hydrocarbons, that is, any plastics that are produced by humans.
However, this is true only when heated to critical values. The temperature of a warm field rarely exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. This is clearly not enough for the evaporation of harmful products. Probably, the TV horror stories about how we are slowly being killed in our own homes add fuel to the fire.
Uncomfortable sleep at high temperatures
This is the most compelling argument. Some people complain of feeling unwell and poor sleep in an overheated room. Indeed, underfloor heating heats the air from below, and at a distance of 70–100 cm from the floor it is warmer than at the head level of a standing person.
On the other hand, the same effect is observed when operating at full capacity of batteries or heating convectors. A logical step would be to install a thermostat on the loop of the line that goes into the bedroom. This will allow you to lower the temperature to comfortable limits without abandoning the underfloor heating system.
As you can see, most of the considerations of opponents of underfloor heating belong to the period when neither equipment nor floor coverings were perfect. Indeed, cheap linoleum, produced in violation of the norms, can smell bad even with minimal heating.Modern hidden tube heaters, both water and electric, have significantly improved, as have the means for controlling their operation.
Popular misconceptions and their explanation
There are two negative opinions about electric floors in the room, including in the bedroom. What are they and why are they myths?
- "Heat near the head is harmful to health." Some people believe that sleeping near a warm floor is harmful to sleep, well-being and physical condition of the body. And in the bedroom, on the contrary, you need freshness and chilled air. Well, it’s worth agreeing with that. And here the floor heating can just help, which is able to automatically maintain the desired temperature thanks to the thermostat. That is, you can set both a higher and a moderate temperature, which is comfortable and right for you personally.
- "Warm floors are intended only for non-residential premises." This is absolutely not the case. Perhaps this misconception appeared due to the use of a low quality topcoat, which can smell unpleasant when heated. But today in any hardware store you can find high-quality flooring materials that do not emit odors and harmful compounds when heated and are environmentally friendly. This means that the warm floor in the bedroom can be made and put into operation without health concerns.
Now you know what electric floors are, what pros and cons they have, and what installation schemes are used for each type. We hope this information will help you make a more objective choice when planning your bedroom heating.
If you need help in choosing a specific model of a warm floor, we will be happy to help. Call us!
Varieties of warm floors
There are two sources of energy for underfloor heating: heated water and electricity. The latter option is more often used for local heating, and the first for autonomous main heating.
Attention! Water floors are a budget option for heating a room.
Water heated floor
Uniform heat exchange in the room
Underfloor heating in a bedroom with a liquid heat carrier is considered durable, less costly, but problems can arise during installation and maintenance. The structure consists of a pump, pipes and a boiler. There are several ways of laying it:
- concrete screed;
- wooden floor;
- laying the finished floor on aluminum sheets;
- self-leveling floor.
Electric floor
The arrangement of an electric heated floor covering in the bedroom is carried out on the basis of the use of a special cable, mats made of heating elements. The latest technologies include infrared floors, which are based on rods and films. Such a floor is used for additional heating. To equip an electrical heating system, it is required to comply with some safety requirements:
Electric floor laying scheme
- dry coating;
- installation of a thermal relay;
- high quality insulation and grounding.
Installation of the structure has the following nuances:
- The warm floor for the organization of direct exposure is laid as close to the covering as possible.
- Cables and mats are of small thickness, so they are used even in rooms with low ceilings.
- The system is capable of storing heat.
Attention! Cable underfloor heating has a long service life, if you choose the right floor covering, laminate is better.
Infrared films
Installation of a film underfloor heating
Heating the floor covering in the bedroom with infrared floors involves the passage of an electric current with the formation of electromagnetic radiation, which heats the finishing coating. In this case, warm air moves over the entire area from bottom to top.
Mat and cable constructions work only if the correct floor finish is chosen.For them, it is preferable to use a laminate, and for a film warm floor in the bedroom, it is allowed to choose carpet, laminate, wood, linoleum.
