Horizontal heating? how to combine efficiency and comfort


Installation of heating pipes in the floor screed is the most popular heating system device. Heating systems are constantly being improved and become more convenient. Warm floor allows you to make the room comfortable and comfortable.

Heating of this type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

  • Comfortable conditions;
  • Fast and high-quality warming up;
  • Uniform heat distribution;
  • Cost savings due to the large heat exchange area.

To order the installation of heating pipes in the floor screed - call +7 495 205-205-2

However, the installation of pipes does not always take place according to the technology of pouring and laying pipes. Therefore, if repair is necessary, it will be necessary to break the entire screed and remove the floor covering. Also, improperly performing the gasket may result in leakage.

Features of fastening heating pipes under the floor

The technology of installation and fastening of the heating pipeline in the floor depends on the selected type of pipes, their wall thickness and diameter. Indeed, in the process of installing a hidden heating system, they try to avoid inserts, joints and other sections connected with fittings.
In other words, the pipeline should be laid in a screed or in a wall in one section, and it is advisable to create all bends, corners and roundings with your own hands or using pipe benders. Naturally, such a pipe laying scheme is only suitable for flexible construction materials such as XLPE, reinforced plastic and copper.

You need to know that the distribution of heating in the floor should be carried out according to a previously drawn up scheme. If you cannot work it out on your own, then you should use an alternative solution - a wiring diagram of the pipe system, outlined on a heat insulator or waterproofing substrate.

Pipes are attached to the floor using special strips, inside which there are landing slots for the required diameter. Alternatively, you can use single clips or paper clips. The best option is to lay pipes for heating in the floor or screed, certainly in the grooves cut in the panel insulation.

As a mandatory heat-insulating material, special plates of extruded polystyrene foam are used, in which holes are pre-equipped for laying a pipe of the required diameter. These boards are installed on bitumen waterproofing mastic. The pipes themselves fit into the grooves and bend if necessary.

Screed pipes

All of these characteristics are possessed by plastic pipes. When making a choice in favor of these pipes when laying heating pipes in the floor screed, it is necessary to choose reinforced products.

Each type of underfloor heating pipe has pros and cons. Let's consider their differences from each other.

laying heating pipes in the floor screed

Polypropylene pipes

The undoubted advantage of these pipes is their low price. But for the device of warm floors, polypropylene pipes are used very rarely. This is due to a number of disadvantages.

The bending radius of polypropylene pipes is up to 8 diameters. Adjacent turns of the pipeline with a diameter of 15 mm will need to be located at a distance of 1.2 meters from each other. In this case, there is no need to talk about any efficiency of the heating system. And the use of additional fittings will lead to an increase in the cost of the entire system and an increase in the chances of pipe leakage at the joints.

Types of floor pipes

Which pipes are better for heating Pipes for heating a private house - reviews, price

For laying heating, four types of pipes are used: cross-linked polyethylene, metal-plastic polypropylene, corrugated steel, copper (and copper in a plastic sheath). Copper ones are very expensive, difficult to install, equipment and a welding specialist are required. Therefore, despite their strength and durability, they are very rarely used in floor heating systems.

Reinforced plastic polypropylene

Polypropylene is the most popular heating material. Resistant to corrosion, strong enough, somewhat fragile (compared to other plastics), sufficiently plastic, chemically inert, withstands water hammer. The big advantage is the low price and easy installation.

It can work at high temperatures, but has a high coefficient of thermal expansion and lengthens greatly with increasing temperature. Reinforcement with aluminum foil reduces this disadvantage. A pipe, especially a reinforced one, bends poorly - it is mounted using soldering / welding. Therefore, it is a budgetary and reliable, but not ideal material option for a warm floor.

Corrugated stainless

Corrugated stainless steel pipes are also produced. The advantages of such a pipe:

  • Strength.
  • Long service life.
  • Corrosion resistant.
  • Chemical inertness - they practically do not overgrow from the inside with calcium and magnesium salts.
  • Very wide range of flexibility.
  • High resistance to mechanical stress.
  • Resistant to high temperatures.

The disadvantage of metal corrugation is a rather high cost. This variety did not become widespread only because of the low awareness of consumers.

PE-X pipes

Crosslinked polyethylene has crosslinks between molecules, due to which a volumetric cellular network with crosslinked molecules is formed. Cross-linked polyethylene (PE-X) has a significantly higher strength than low and high pressure polyethylene, and a higher strength compared to metal-reinforced plastic. The durability of cross-linked polyethylene is about 50 years.

PE-X is resistant to high temperatures - withstands heating up to + 95 ° С (for a short time - up to + 110 ° С); has other advantages of plastics: it is not subject to corrosion, it is resistant to hydraulic shocks, it is plastic, not fragile, chemically inert, and does not overgrow with salts from the inside. Compared to polypropylene, it has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion.

The disadvantage of PE-X is its relatively high cost.

Choice of pipes

Most often, water is used as a heat carrier in heating systems. Antifreeze or ethylene glycol solution can act as an alternative. To ensure the minimum energy consumption for the efficient operation of the system, it is important to determine the installation scheme and select the appropriate pipes.

All elements of the underfloor heating system should be selected based on the following characteristics:

  • Strength... It is taken into account depending on the conditions of the working pressure and the temperature of the coolant.
  • Durability... The longer the service life of the pipes, the later it will be necessary to replace or overhaul the system.
  • Heat dissipation... The most important criterion. The amount and intensity of heat for warming up the air space of the room depends on it.
  • Minimum bending radius value... Affects the choice of the scheme and configuration of the underfloor heating system.
  • Expansion ratio... This figure should be minimal. Under the influence of a heat carrier under high pressure, the outer diameter of the pipes increases. Unlike open heating systems, heating pipes in a floor screed can deform the screed itself and the floor covering due to expansion.
  • Environmental friendliness... The heating system used should not harm the health of its users, that is, not emit harmful substances into the surrounding space.

Installing a sewer pipeline in the bathroom

Technical characteristics of polypropylene pipes for heating

The installation of sewer pipes in the bathroom floor is carried out in several stages. First you need to draw up a project for the future sewerage system, prepare materials. It is recommended to use plastic pipes with a sealed structure. Don't skimp on quality, as repairing a pipeline hidden in the floor can be very expensive.

Cast iron products are rarely used today for the installation of an internal pipeline. This is due to their high cost and weight. You should also prepare tools. If you still use cast iron pipes, you will need a grinder. When working with plastic products, you need a hacksaw for metal. During the installation process, you cannot do without a hammer and screwdriver.

If the sewer pipeline is being replaced, you first need to dismantle the old pipes, then you should free the room from foreign objects, clean the pipes, connect them, seal them, connect plumbing fixtures.

Methods for installing heating pipes in the floor

DIY installation of heating in a private house from polypropylene pipes

In this block, we will look at two options:

  • installation for pouring;
  • installation under a wooden floor.

Flush mounting

The method is suitable for both apartments and houses, even with wooden floors. The screed can also be poured onto a wooden sub-floor. In both cases, the algorithm of actions is the same:

  • waterproofing is spread;
  • insulation is laid;
  • reinforcing mesh is laid;
  • pipes are bred and fixed;
  • damper tape is glued;
  • everything is filled with a layer of solution.

Now about everything in order. Waterproofing is spread on the floor to prevent moisture from entering from below, and also to avoid contact of the wet mortar with the wooden sub-floor. Then the working surface is insulated. The best insulation option is polystyrene and its derivatives, such as penoflex. A steel mesh is laid on the insulation, which will distribute the load in the layer of solidified mortar. Without reinforcement, the screed will crack.

There are special foam mats, on the surface of which there are bumps. They are arranged in rows at regular intervals, like grid cells. Such mats are simply laid on the floor, wiring is carried out on them, and all this is poured with a solution. Easy, fast and high quality. New technologies, however.

Scheme of the heating pipes in the floor "snail"

The distribution of heating pipes in the floor is carried out according to one of two schemes:

  • snail;
  • snake.

The snail scheme implies a circular masonry of the contour from the walls to the center of the room. At the same time, there are no sharp turns in the direction of circulation. The snake passes from one wall to the opposite one and at each segment the direction of water movement changes by 180 degrees. Not to say that this is very bad, but the first scheme is preferable.

The contour must be fixed to the surface, while remembering that it increases in length. Therefore, the mount should not be rigid, the line should be able to slide in it. Alternatively, you can use plastic clips that are screwed to the floor. It is easier to use ordinary clamps that attach the pipes to the mesh.

In fact, a warm floor is a layer of solidified solution, in which heating pipes are hidden. At the same time, the cement slab does not have a rigid connection either with the subfloor or with the walls. This large rectangular parallelepiped simply lies on the floor, periodically increasing and decreasing in volume.

In no case should you forget about the damper tape.This is a strip of foamed polymer that is glued around the entire perimeter of the room to the wall. The bottom edge should run across the floor. The damper tape compensates for the expansion of the screed and prevents the mortar from sticking to the walls during pouring. The thickness of the screed over the heating pipes should be at least three centimeters, and only about seven centimeters. If the layer is not thick enough, it will crack, if too thick, the surface temperature will be lower than expected.

Installation under a wooden floor

Heating pipes in a wooden floor

This method is not as effective as screed pipe installation, but it is sometimes used. First you need to create a buffer zone for laying heating pipes in a wooden floor. For this, lags (bars) are laid. Then pipes are laid between the lags. At the intersection of the contour and the bars, grooves are cut in the wooden logs so that the entire highway is in the same plane. Naturally, it is necessary to provide insulation and waterproofing so that all the heat goes up. The finishing floor is neatly punctured on the logs so as not to puncture the highway.

Now let's summarize. For the installation of heating pipes under the screed, products made of cross-linked polyethylene reinforced with ethylene vinyl alcohol, marking PEX / EVON / PEX, are best suited. There should be no breaks in the highway, everything is done from one segment. The floor must be insulated and waterproofed before pouring. The thickness of the heating pipe screed must be at least three centimeters and no more than seven. A damper tape is glued around the perimeter of the room. The temperature in the underfloor heating system is about 40 degrees, and on the surface of the finished floor - about 30 degrees.

Pipes for heating in the floor (in the interfloor or basement overlap) are installed either during the hidden laying of the heating system, or during the installation of the "warm floor" structure. It is worth noting that in these cases, pipes are used in principle and various technologies for assembling the pipeline are used.

Therefore, in this article we will describe the installation of heating pipes in the floor, placing emphasis on all the details of the technological process. In addition, we will say a few words about the "warm floor" technology itself.

Disadvantages of the location of heating pipes in the floor

Disadvantages of the underfloor heating system:

  • The most serious drawback is the complexity of repairing communications in case of damage. The rule of laying in a screed only a single piece of the pipeline should be strictly observed.
  • The flooding of housing with warm water in the event of a leak creates considerable problems.
  • Significant cost of the entire complex of works on the installation of the system.
  • Significant cost of a pump, a manifold with a mixing unit.
  • It is necessary to allocate space for a collector cabinet - one cabinet for each floor in the house;
  • The complexity of the design - it is desirable to involve specialists.
  • Such a system cannot be installed in apartment buildings in which it was not provided for in the project (and this happens only in new buildings). The large weight of the screed creates a large load on the floor slabs and creates the danger of breaking the load-bearing structures of the house. The law prohibits connecting underfloor heating systems from centralized heating and hot water supply systems.
  • The height of the entire structure of the screed + insulation reaches 110-120 mm, the weight of the screed is large - this should be taken into account when designing a house (both in terms of the height of the room and the strength of the floor structures).
  • The heating system limits the choice of flooring - carpet, parquet with good heat-insulating properties make the heating work ineffective. Tiles, stone, porcelain stoneware, laminate are preferable. Only high-quality linoleum can be used - in cheap varieties, substances with an unpleasant odor will be released when heated.
  • Significant thermal inertia - the screed heats up slowly.
  • Water heating systems cannot be cooled below zero - it will not work to heat the porch, terrace, garage and walkways or equip a weekend cottage with such a system. Antifreeze can be used, but it is expensive and is also very poisonous.

How to get started with the installation of water floor heating?

In order for water heating of floors to last a long time, it is necessary to develop a drawing before starting work, which will indicate the location of the ball valve with a mud filter, check valve, three-way mixer, pump, bypass valve, air vent, drain valve, and apply a pipe installation diagram. This will help to take into account all the nuances of the future process, will help to calculate in advance an estimate for the installation of a heating system "warm floor", negotiate prices with the customer of services.

When the drawings and the diagram are ready, it remains to buy all the necessary components, prepare the power tools and start work. Taking into account a wide segment of construction and repair materials, qualified craftsmen select system components based on the customer's requirements and the possibilities for the implementation of services. When planning to supply water floor heating, the price of which will be affordable for you, remember - all questions should be asked to the performers of our company. Professionals will not only explain and justify the correct choice of material and method of installation of the system, but will also select the most profitable option for you.

Features of installing a warm floor

Reflective insulation under floor heating

After the materials from which the pipes are made have been determined, it remains to deal with the laying of heating pipes in a wooden house. At the same time, it is necessary to make a warm floor so that it has maximum efficiency and is reliable. Stages of laying heating pipes in a screed:

  • laying of hydro-barrier and thermal insulation.

A water barrier is needed if moisture can seep from below. When placing heating pipes in panel houses under a layer of mortar, this is not necessary, but thermal insulation should be in any case. In this capacity, materials from expanded polystyrene are suitable. Reflective insulation will not be superfluous;

  • laying of reinforcing mesh.

A metal mesh with a large mesh is suitable for this. In addition to the fact that it will distribute the load, it will also serve as a markup for laying heating pipes in the floor;

  • system wiring.

There are two schemes for the hidden laying of heating pipes - a "snake" and "snail". In the "snake" scheme, the contour passes from one wall to another, while the direction of movement of the coolant changes by 180 degrees. In the "snail" scheme, the contour is laid out in a spiral from the walls to the center of the room, while there are no sharp turns;

If the warm floor is the main heating, then the distance between the pipes should be 20 cm. If this type of heating is auxiliary, then a distance of 30 cm is allowed, but no more.

  • fixing the contour.

In order to secure the contour, you can use plastic clips, or ordinary disposable clamps. In the case of clips, they can be pre-fixed to the floor and wired along them. It is easier to use plastic clamps with which the contour is attached to the reinforcing mesh;

  • gluing a damper tape.

The damper tape is made of polyester foam. It is glued to the wall along the entire perimeter of the room. Its bottom edge should be in contact with the floor. During operation, the screed increases and decreases in volume, therefore, it is necessary to leave a gap to the wall so that the warm floor does not crack;

  • filling the screed.

Warm floor in a wooden house

There should be approximately 3 cm of solution above the circuit. In total, the screed can be from 3 to 7 cm thick, while the recommended thickness should not be less than 5 cm.Too thin a layer will not be strong enough and may crack. Any covering can be laid on top of the screed.

In wooden houses, heating pipes are sometimes laid under the floor, while the technique is slightly different from wiring under the screed. An air buffer is created between the subfloor and the finish. To do this, lags are laid along the perimeter. In the logs, grooves are cut out in which the contour will pass. The depth of the grooves should be slightly larger than the diameter of the pipes, so that from the system to the topcoat it is about a centimeter. In this case, you also need to take care of insulation.

Especially carefully you need to sew up the logs so that you do not accidentally break through the contour with a nail or self-tapping screw.

Stainless steel and copper in the heat supply system

Heating pipes made of stainless steel are characterized by reliability, high corrosion resistance to various media and heat carriers, strength, resistance to mechanical damage, durability, hygiene, and most importantly, aesthetics and versatility. The most common brand of metal is 10X17H13M2T and 12X18H10T, the latter brand is able to withstand temperatures of 1000 degrees. What are the disadvantages, you ask? The disadvantage of such a product is its enormous cost, therefore, stainless steel was most used in technological workshops of industrial enterprises, and not in an apartment.

Heating systems made with copper pipes are durable, corrosion resistant, and also have high strength.

Heating systems made with copper pipes are durable, corrosion-resistant and also highly durable. The temperature range for copper is up to 200-250 degrees. Copper products are versatile and antibacterial. The indisputable argument is that such a scheme is capable of withstanding five times defrosting, does not allow oxygen to pass through and is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. The connection of copper pipes is carried out using soldering and press fittings. The disadvantages include: high cost, susceptibility to mechanical stress of suspended abrasive particles in the transported medium, inadmissibility of connection with steel and due to undesirable electrochemical processes.

Benefits of horizontal routing

Horizontal wiring implies the presence of inputs in the apartment that allow you to connect to the only powerful heating pipe. It is from it that pipes are laid to all heating radiators. This allows:

  • install heat meters for each apartment;
  • regulate the consumption of heat energy, based on their preferences;
  • disconnect the apartment from the general heating system at any time, for example, for urgent repairs;
  • to ensure the independence of the heating system of each individual apartment from the neighboring ones.

In other words, you can consume as much heat as you need to maintain a comfortable temperature in the apartment, and not overpay for the heat that you do not need.

Installation

The technology of laying the "warm floor" system will be clear to any person after one instruction. Before installation, you need to prepare tools, consumables:

  • reinforcement for the manufacture of mesh or finished metal mesh;
  • grinder, file;
  • pliers, drill;
  • pipes, fittings;
  • waterproofing material, insulation;
  • drill attachment - mixer;
  • container for mixing cement;
  • trowel, level.

To calculate the number of consumables, you must select the thickness of the screed. Masters recommend making it about 7 cm.

Before installing the waterproofing, it is necessary to prepare the base. To do this, you need to level out irregularities, cracks, grooves to grind along the edges in order to ensure better adhesion with the mortar.

Installation:

  1. Fastening the insulation plate made of extruded polystyrene foam.
  2. Placement of the waterproofing film.
  3. Bonding damper tape.
  4. Connection of individual elements using fittings. The pipes must be secured with arcuate brackets so that they do not float when the concrete is poured.
  5. Securing the reinforcing mesh. To do this, you can use clamps or staples.
  6. Launching the pipeline. You need to carefully examine the connection. Water should not leak anywhere.

The seams are checked for several hours. During this time, you need to gradually increase the pressure in the system. It is enough to raise it to 0.6 MPa. Better to check 24 hours. During this time, you will need to bleed the air three times.

Underfloor heating installation

Heating in the floor allows you to forget about the usual batteries forever, since the system transfers more heat to the room. There are certain rules and an algorithm of actions, according to which the installation of underfloor heating should be carried out.

  • Surface leveling;
  • Waterproofing.
  • Installation of thermal insulation. Extruded polystyrene foam can be used as a guide frame for pipes.
  • Competent pipe installation. Products should not have large gaps and joints.
  • Reinforcing screed device.

In order to simplify installation as much as possible, a raster grid should be used. If you follow this scheme, you can easily make a heating system that will evenly warm the floor surface.

Before the installation process, special attention must be paid to insulation. This is especially important for homes where the floor is above a cold surface.

In this case, it is necessary to supplement the insulation layer with additional panels. Uniform heating can be achieved with a serpentine heating device. Also, it is necessary to leave expansion joints that allow the pipes to expand when heated. Only after that, you can proceed to the final pouring of the concrete screed.

The modern world makes high demands on the level of housing comfort. Therefore, new materials and methods of installation work appear. This leads to the fact that warm floors are gaining more popularity and becoming more affordable. They can be ordered inexpensively on the Internet, or purchased directly on the construction market.

Underfloor heating assembly rules

Heating pipes in the floor under the screed allow you to abandon all the usual batteries, which only create a negative for the interior of the room. Among other things, in this way, the system transfers more heat to the room than heating batteries, saving money. The entire floor covering becomes a radiator. Such a system can be arranged in absolutely any room, while observing the sequence of actions and installation requirements.

There are certain rules by which the underfloor heating is assembled. Only if they are observed, floor heating in an apartment in a screed will have the best efficiency.

  1. Leveling the surface. For this, a self-leveling floor is made on top of the floor slab. "Rough" floor in this case get rid of irregularities, cracks and other defects. The heating pipes in the floor screed will be positioned correctly and evenly.
  2. Installation of a waterproofing layer. As a material, a coating or roll waterproofing agent is usually used. If mastics are taken, then they should be water-based, which in turn will also act as an adhesive for insulation.
  3. Installation of thermal insulation. An excellent option would be extruded polystyrene foam. It will also serve as a guiding frame for heating pipes in the apartment screed. The minimum insulation layer should be 10 mm.
  4. The next installation step is pipe laying. Gaps, joints of elements should be avoided. The optimum usable pipe diameter is 1.6 cm.
  5. Reinforcing screed device.At the same time, attention is drawn to the material of the pipe for heating the apartment under the screed, since heavy loads, for example, on polyethylene materials will lead to deformation and damage. But this stage should be discussed in more detail.

System installation

Work always begins with a plan, procurement of materials, search for tools. Warm floor is no exception.

The wisdom of choosing pipes

What pipes are the most reliable for arranging heating? You are free to choose copper, but it is very expensive. It is better to dwell on polymer products consisting of polyethylene and polybutylene. Such a "duet" is resistant to pressure - both external and internal: it does not cause trouble if everything is correctly assembled. Polypropylene pipes should function in the floor screed, since their only drawback is their low hardness. Composite structures made of metal-plastic are no less good.

As for the installation of metal elements, in this case the risk will be unjustified. Water from the mains is sometimes replete with "chemistry", and the material may not withstand such aggressive impact - as a result, rust will appear, and then flow. Hard water also has a detrimental effect on metal. Therefore, polymer pipes are a wise decision, and at an affordable price.

Premises preparation

The installation of the network is carried out after removing the connection points of other communications, as well as after installing windows and doors. The room should be freed of furniture, the old heating network should be dismantled, or left if you want double heating of the room. Permissible surface irregularities are up to 1 cm. If they are larger, the base will have to be leveled.

Task number 1 - level the floor surface

Rooms located above the cold zone (basement) must be separated with insulating panels so that you heat the house, not the cellar.

The final stage of preparation is cleaning. An industrial vacuum cleaner will perfectly cope with such a task. It remains to ask the family not to interfere and proceed with the installation.

Intermediate stage of work

Installation of the structure

Work begins on the installation of underfloor heating with thermal insulation. You already understood that the hot air should be at the top, not below. For thermal insulation of the network, you can use materials in the form of sheets or rolls. The main thing is to make sure that there are no gaps between the joints of the heat insulator, if you see gaps, cover them with a special tape. Polystyrene or basalt fiber coated with reflective foil is ideal for this task.

How to lay pipes? The uniformity of heating is important, so use such options for the arrangement of elements as a snake or a spiral.

The main thing when laying the net is to adhere to the same pitch between zigzags or turns. Step size matters too. For rooms up to 20 m², a distance of 20 cm is sufficient. If you are installing the network in large rooms, it is recommended to mount several coils / snakes.

Laying is done wet or dry. If you choose the first one - the more common, in which the heat transfer is maximum, then you will have to install a reinforcing mesh. You are free to purchase a factory set or build a reinforcement structure on your own. The size of the cells depends on the pitch, but the side of the cell should not exceed the pitch distance. The armature is fixed with clips, but if special heat insulators with bosses are used, then the fasteners are not needed.

A reinforcing mesh is also installed on top of the pipe network - for safety net, so that the elements do not deform under the weight of the screed. Next, the mesh is poured with a solution (gypsum, cement or other building mixture). The thickness of the screed varies between 3-7 cm.

This is important to know! Check the piping for leaks before pouring the screed. ...

The dry method of "masking" the net is also practiced.

How to hide pipes in a dry screed? Use chipboard plates.The technology differs only in that instead of a solution, chipboard sheets are installed on top of the structure. The technique is simple, you don't have to wait for the screed to dry. However, dry styling cannot be called popular, since it has a drawback - voids inhibit the heat transfer of the network.

The shape of the structure is at your discretion

Using pipes in a floor screed for heating is not at all a luxury, right ?!

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