What is the difficulty
Carpet is a common floor covering, but when used in a floor heating system, a number of questions arise, since it is a good heat insulator. There are fears that heat will accumulate under the covering, without heating the room to the required degree.
Infrared film warm floor
Experts recommend to correctly select the type of material, as well as provide an insulating layer with a heat-reflecting surface during installation. In this case, the heating system will function efficiently. The advantage of long pile carpet is the fact that it additionally retains heated air, which allows children to play on the floor without fear of catching a cold. There are two types of similar material:
- shaggy with the effect of homemade coarse yarn, characterized by abrasion resistance;
- catlup with an interesting texture that creates the effect of a multi-level surface.
Step-by-step instructions for laying carpet on a warm floor
Water floor
This type of underfloor heating is a laying of pipes with a liquid heat carrier in a concrete screed. The maximum heating on the surface of the water floor is 30-35 °. This type of heating is characterized by a rather complex installation of both the installation itself and the connection to the heating system. Pipes filled with hot working fluid heat up the concrete screed. Subsequently, it gives off heat to the room.
The surface heats up quickly enough and builds up temperature over a period of time that is not recommended for carpeting. The flooring can behave in the most unexpected ways. In this regard, it is worth considering whether to lay the carpet on a warm water floor.
Another problem can be the degree of heating and the maximum surface temperature. The recommended temperature of the water floor is 35 °, but taking into account the fact that the floor will cover the flooring with poor thermal conductivity, the set degree of heating will have to be changed and the degree increased. It is undesirable and unsafe to do so. Accordingly, it is not recommended to combine a water floor with a carpet.
Pros and cons of an electric heating system
Considering the electrical type of underfloor heating, it can be noted that it occurs in the form of a cable that requires laying according to a specific scheme, or a heating mat ready for installation.
There are several of its advantages for such a topcoat as carpet:
- uniform heating, which helps to maintain the integrity of the coating;
- the ability to regulate the optimum temperature for the carpet (≤ 30 ° C);
- simple installation.
Heating mat laying diagram
Among the shortcomings, there is the possibility of overheating zones on the areas under the furniture, which negatively affect the quality characteristics of the carpet.
What type of device to choose
All manipulations are carried out in stages. The types of electric underfloor heating can be divided into three groups:
- Thermomats. It is a mounting mesh, on the surface of which heating elements are fixed. The cable is used both single-core and two-core. For installation, you will need a layer of tile glue or a screed.
- Resistive. The package includes a heating cable (self-regulating), which is laid on the surface of the rough coating. Placed in the screed layer.
- Carbon (infrared) floor.It is a thin film on the surface of which heating elements made of carbon are placed (they emit infrared rays). To achieve greater strength, the material is laminated. In this case, the screed is not required.
Laying scheme under the carpet
Most masters agree and recommend the installation of infrared film devices. The use is due to a number of advantages:
- high level of fire safety;
- saving space. The height of the room will remain the same, since the height of the mats used does not even reach a centimeter;
- installation work is carried out by hand, without the involvement of third parties. If necessary, the material is divided into several fragments, while the screed is not needed;
- the device allows you to partially heat the room;
- mats can be used in combination with any type of flooring;
- if necessary, the device is dismantled and placed in another place;
- environmental friendliness. Heat accumulates under the floor. The heat is distributed evenly, but not higher than the level of human growth.
Installation of cables and heating mats
Choosing a warm floor under the carpet from the range of electrical systems, it is necessary to carry out all the operations for its installation correctly.
Heating cable system
- Preliminary work is being carried out to level the base and clean it from dirt.
- Thermal insulation is spread over the prepared surface. It is recommended to use versions with a heat-reflective topcoat.
- According to the previously developed scheme, the cable is laid out and fixed.
Intelligent heating mat design for easy installation - Steps are taken to connect it to a temperature sensor and a thermostat.
- The screed is in progress. Its optimum thickness is 50 mm. So that subsequently the carpet lies perfectly evenly, the cement-sand surface is ironed.
- To fix the carpet around the perimeter, double-sided tape or special glue is used.
Distinctive features of infrared heating
Infrared radiation is recognized as the most effective heating method, surpassing its electrical counterpart in many respects.
Features of infrared heater
- The carpet does not deform due to its slow and uniform heating.
- When exposed to infrared rays, practically no overheating of the flooring occurs.
- Less power consumption.
- Fast, easy-to-do assembly.
Since the infrared film does not require the arrangement of the screed, the floor level rises slightly, practically without reducing the overall height of the room. This circumstance determines the launch of the warm floor into operation immediately after the end of all work, since there is no need to wait until the screed gets stronger.
Infrared heater
Arrangement of the film floor
When installing an infrared warm floor under the carpet, you should start with the acquisition of the necessary equipment, including a heating film, installation wires, thermal insulation with a foil surface layer, and a thermostat.
The installation of a warm floor itself consists of several stages.
Film floor device
- Cleaning, and if significant defects are found, leveling the base.
- Arrangement of thermal insulation with sealing joints with adhesive tape.
- Laying the film cut along special lines, excluding the overlapping of stripes.
- Connection of wires with insulated contacts.
- Connecting them to a thermostat.
The structure of the film underfloor heating - Installation under the film of a temperature sensor with a wire leading to the temperature regulator.
- Plugging into the network for performance check.
- Laying moisture-resistant plywood on a pre-laid waterproofing film.
- Carpet flooring with tape fixation. You can use special glue.
It should be borne in mind that if the electric floor can be mounted almost over the entire plane, then the infrared analog is not recommended to be laid under furniture.
Infrared underfloor heating under the carpet, why choose this option?
There is already such a stereotype that all heating elements of underfloor heating systems must be in a concrete or cement-sand screed, directly on which the finishing coat is laid.
However, not every owner is “eager” to lay a concrete screed on a finished subfloor or on an outdated finish coating and lay heating elements in it, so all specialists strive to find a suitable heating system option just for their requirements.
A variant of a modern heating system, the heating elements of which do not need to be poured with a screed, is an infrared warm floor under carpet, laminate or linoleum. In addition, the installation of the film flooring is very simple, and it has a small height, which will not interfere with the opening of the doors during installation.
It should be remembered that the recommended thickness of the "pie" of water-heated floors should not exceed 8 cm, and electric - 6 cm, but too thin a layer of screed can lead to its rapid destruction and failure of the entire heating system.
Infrared floor heating
Infrared floors heat the room well
Infrared underfloor heating is the latest version of a modern heating system. The principle of operation of these coatings is that heat is emitted by infrared rays, which do not heat the air (it can be eroded), but objects in the immediate vicinity of the flooring.
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This coating is visually a carbon film in which thin plates of dielectric material are mounted, which are heating elements of the infrared warm floor system and are interconnected by thin silver-plated conductors.
You should be aware that infrared film is a roll material. Certain groups of plates are sectioned and have special terminals for connecting conductors.
The film is free to cut with ordinary scissors and does not require any special handling. The only thing that cannot be made is that the cuts are not along the lines drawn, otherwise the heating elements will not work.
The use of infrared underfloor heating under the carpet
IR foil does not overload the supporting base
The use of a warm floor under the carpet should be regulated by certain requirements, which are put forward not only by the owners of the premises where the installation will be carried out, but also by all specialists.
Indeed, there are a number of requirements on the basis of which suitable options are determined:
- uniformity of the flooring;
- thin layer of construction;
- secure connection;
- load tolerance.
It is recommended to lay a flooring under the carpet
Only one type of underfloor heating can fully meet all the requirements - this is an infrared film. It is the film that is a homogeneous material that does not deform under load from a person's weight.
In view of this, you can be sure that a short circuit will not occur. Conductors are connected in parallel to the ends of the film (terminal connection), which are subsequently led out to the thermostat.
Many experts recommend laying a flooring of sheet material on top of the film, and only then lay the carpet. It should be remembered that when choosing a carpet for warm floors, you should pay great attention to its thickness.
Do not forget that the heat source is under the finish cover; accordingly, the carpet will be heated first of all, and only then the rest of the items.
So that the material does not delaminate and does not create unpleasant and harmful odors, you should choose products with a thickness of 8-12 mm or more.
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Mobile floor
A convenient option for summer cottages or temporary housing is a mobile warm floor. It is also good if you need to heat the local area in the room.
Mobile Warm Field Information
The peculiarity of such infrared models is that the finished warm floor is simply spread over the existing coating - parquet, tile, laminate or the usual linoleum, and then the carpet is laid. Using the supplied cord, the system is connected to the mains.
Among the advantages of this option is the ability to quickly move it if you need to heat another room. Also important is the fact that the installation is accessible to any person. Since automatic regulation of the heating intensity is provided, such a floor is safe and can be used in children's rooms. It is quite economical, which enhances its attractiveness.
What's with the carpet
If you choose a floor heating system, taking into account the fact that carpet will be laid in the house or apartment, then a film heater will be the most preferable option. Thanks to the stepless power control, you can easily limit the maximum heating temperature.
Important! The synthetic fibers from which the carpet is made are able to withstand heat stably, provided the temperature does not exceed 50 ° C.
In water-heated floors, this is not possible, the temperature of the water circulating in a working heating system is 60-80 ° C. Therefore, if a decision is made to lay pipes, then instead of carpet, it is better to use carpets made of natural fibers. As a last resort, you can pick up a carpet with a cellular structure. In this case, it is possible to improve heat transfer and reduce the heating temperature of the carpet.
Expert advice
Installation of infrared film under the carpet
An electric or innovative infrared floor can be selected to fit under a carpet that is comfortable for tactile sensations - the solution to this problem depends on their characteristics and the conditions in which the installation will be carried out.
If we take the criterion of ease of installation as a basis, then the preference is given to infrared film floors, which can be mounted within two to three days, including the day necessary for the carpet laid out after transportation to straighten. He doesn't need a screed.
For temporary conditions, mobile options for warm floors are selected. An electric floor under the carpet is practically not recommended due to the possibility of its deformation in the event of possible overheating.
Thermal insulation properties of carpet: is there any point in underfloor heating?
Warm floors and carpet in the minds of many people are incompatible things. This opinion was formed because the thickness of the coating itself allows it to act as a heat-insulating material. In other words, some of the heat will be reflected from the carpet and go virtually nowhere. This is absolutely justified for thick, dense carpeting, but it is fundamentally wrong for standard tufted flooring options - in terms of their thermal insulation properties, they are very similar to laminate or linoleum, and therefore the answer to the question of whether it is possible to lay carpet on a warm floor depends entirely on whether what kind of it you plan to use.
Warm infrared floor under the carpet
It is also important to take into account the fact that heat loss can be compensated by taking care of thermal insulation under the floor heating system.
