What is more profitable: ceiling heaters or underfloor heating?

Choosing a warm floor for specific conditions

To finally decide for yourself which underfloor heating is better to choose, you must first of all carefully examine the base on which these floors will be laid. And then you can choose at random, and then learn with chagrin that this heating system does not fit the existing base or conditions at all. Let's take a look at some of the options ahead of time.

What floor can be used if the room is supposed to fill the screed

If you have a new apartment or house or you are doing a major overhaul, then the floor as such is not there yet. In any case, in most cases this is the case. In a private house with an autonomous heating system, you can arrange a water heated floor. In the apartment, in this case, a heating cable system is installed. After the installation of a particular system, the entire base is poured with a cement-sand screed.

What to do if there is already a screed, and there is no way to increase the height of the floor

Here it is best to use the system of mini-mats. Such a “rug” is rolled out on the old base with heating cables hidden inside. By quickly connecting it, you can start laying decorative tiling. Tiles are laid directly on mini mats.

Applying adhesive to ceramic tile mats.

It is possible in this case to mount and infrared heat-insulated floors. Having laid them on the base, you can immediately start laying the material with which it is supposed to finish the floor. But you should not mount an infrared floor under the tile, as the glue will not stick to it.However, if there is a strong desire to do this, then use only the dry method and put sheets of drywall or glass-magnesium on the carbon film, and then tiles.

What underfloor heating to use under laminate, linoleum and carpet

If you are tormented by the question of which warm floor is better - cable or infrared, intending to lay one of these coatings, but the screed is not supposed to be poured, then give preference to the second. For carpet and laminate with linoleum, a thin carbon film is the best option. Its thickness is only 0.3 millimeters, and only it will perfectly warm up any of these materials.

When underfloor heating is installed, it is usually decided immediately whether the house will have some other source of heating besides these floors. As a rule, the main heating system is already in place (or planned), and underfloor heating is used to create additional comfort. However, more and more often underfloor heating is chosen as the main heating system. Therefore, here you need to figure out which floor heating system to use in a particular case.

#one. If a warm floor is just an addition to the main heating system.

Here you can afford almost any of the systems listed above. Naturally, given the fact that different types of underfloor heating require the presence or absence of a screed, as well as a certain floor covering. Well, let's not forget that the water system is only suitable for underfloor heating in a large private house with an autonomous heating system. Otherwise, the choice is unlimited.

#2. If a warm floor is the only source of heat in a frosty winter.

In this case, you need to remember an important thing: the heated floor surface area should be no less than seven tenths of the total area.Only then will the house be warm. When mounting the heating cable section, it is necessary to lay adjacent turns of the cable as close to each other as possible. So we will increase the specific power (calculated per square meter), respectively, and heat transfer.

It should be noted that the heating mats, which are rigidly assembled, initially do not have very high power. Nothing can be done about it, so they are not suitable as the main source of heat. And when deciding which warm floor to choose as the main one, it’s better not to even look in the direction of mini mats. But infrared film, a water floor or cables will do just fine. At the same time, in a private house with an autonomous heating system, it is best to stop on water-heated floors. Their installation is carried out during the installation of the entire heating system of the house, after which the screed is poured and further finishing is carried out.

Which balcony heater is more economical

The efficiency and economy of heating depends on the right heater. First of all, it concerns power.

In the case of electric models, an important rule must be taken into account: regardless of the design of the device and the principle of its operation, 100 W of power is required for high-quality heating of 1 m2 of area

Infrared models optimally heat the entire space of the balcony if they are suspended from the ceiling

In addition to power, other important parameters are taken into account:

1. Mounting method. Conventional portable heaters can be installed anywhere. Even wall-mounted models are easy to move by screwing the brackets into place. It is difficult to dismantle an electric underfloor heating if it is not suitable as heating. Here you need to consider whether it is worth laying electric mats on the balcony.
2. Duration of work.For short-term heating, a cheap manual electric heater is suitable. If you need a device for permanent heating, it must have the ability to work autonomously.
3. Safety. Electrical appliances are dangerous in terms of electric shock and fire. If they work unattended or are accessible to children, it is necessary to have auto-shutdown functions in case of tipping over, overheating, short circuit.

In terms of economy, infrared heaters win. They consume little electricity, have high efficiency, but are expensive. You will have to pay for efficiency, but the costs will pay off with daily use. Underfloor heating will be expensive, you will need to hire experienced professionals. This option is optional. Conventional electrical appliances with spirals and heating elements are cheap, but consume a lot of electricity. They are beneficial for occasional use.

Radiators are clear and simple

With radiators, everything looks much simpler. Having an autonomous heating boiler or a central heating system, we ourselves determine how the pipeline will be installed and the heating devices will be connected. Two types of heating systems are commonly used, open and closed. In the first case, you will need to lay one highway, into which all the batteries in the house will be connected in series.

With an open heating system, you will have to lay two pipes, a supply line and a return line. Batteries are connected in this case in parallel. This connection scheme is very convenient. You can always turn off one of the radiators, thereby reducing the load on the boiler and lowering the temperature in the room.

Of all the things you will need to equip this heating option, the most expensive component is the radiators. These appliances, cast iron or steel, are quite expensive. However, in terms of operation, efficiency and durability, it is difficult to compare other materials with them. Bimetallic or aluminum radiators are cheaper, but inferior to cast-iron batteries in terms of efficiency and reliability.

New models are installed in new buildings, where in most cases there are autonomous gas boilers.

Ability to use various energy resources

Ceiling heating can only be powered by electricity, as well as electric underfloor heating. But air and water heated floors can work from any energy source if a suitable type of boiler is installed. For example, you can combine gas and wood boilers if you have access to cheap firewood and mains gas. In settlements located near power plants, it is advantageous to install wood or coal-fired boilers in parallel with electric ones. During the day, you can heat with wood or coal, and at night, when electricity is very cheap, with an electric boiler. heating costs turn out to be small, and the boiler will not have to be melted so often. Therefore, according to this parameter, the warm floor wins.

Before arranging the heating of the loggia

It makes sense to heat a well-insulated loggia with high-quality glazing (double-glazed windows). No matter how much heat insulator you put on its walls, floor and ceiling, cold air from the windows (following the laws of physics) will go down to the floor itself, and then, rising, fill the entire room, “eating up” the heat on the loggia.

Since the glazing of balconies has a large area (for such a small, in fact, room), then a lot of cold air is obtained. Heating a loggia glazed with ordinary glass (using any heating system) is a waste of time: you can win a few degrees, but they will cost you a lot. Therefore, glazing balconies with double-glazed windows in such cases is a necessity that cannot be avoided.

Water floor heating connection diagrams

Now let's see practical schemes for connecting a warm floor in a house.

Direct connection from the boiler

This scheme is the easiest to install, but has a number of limitations for implementation.

• Firstly, it can only be used in low-temperature boilers with the ability to control the temperature of the coolant. As a result, this scheme can only be used when there is no radiator heating, and underfloor heating is the only source of heat in the house.
• Secondly, despite the apparent ease of installation, the scheme is “capricious” to the nuances of connection and requires experience in such work.

This connection scheme is implemented using 3-way or 2-way valves.

3 way valve

The task of a 3-way valve is to mix hot (direct) and cold (reverse) coolant flows. In the diagram you see the option of installing a 3-way valve. Here he plays the role of a thermostat.

The thermostat is a device for ensuring a constant temperature, in our case, the coolant.

This scheme has a number of features. Firstly, it does not work in circuits longer than 35-40 meters. Secondly, it is not suitable if you need to separately control the temperature of each circuit.

• The first drawback is eliminated by installing temperature sensors with servo drives and thermostatic valves for each circuit.
• The second drawback is eliminated by installing a circulation pump.

2 way valve

An alternative to a 3-way valve is a 2-way valve or supply valve.

Its task is to provide not a constant, but a periodic addition of water. This admixture is provided by a thermal head with a temperature sensor included in the design of the valve. In essence, a 2-way valve either cuts off hot water from the boiler or adds it to the system.

The advantage of such a scheme is its simplicity and impossibility of overheating. The disadvantage is the 200 meter limitation of the heating area. Restrictions in the installation of circulation pumps with the organization of a parallel or sequential (popular) type of mixing are solved.

Scheme of connecting the ECP through the pumping and mixing unit

This scheme is used to simultaneously connect radiators (main heating) and a water-heated floor (additional heating) to the heating boiler.

To implement this scheme, a collector assembly with a pumping and mixing assembly is required. The collector unit is sold ready-made and is included in the assembly of the underfloor heating collector cabinet. The price of the collector unit is 10-20 thousand rubles. Experienced craftsmen assemble the pumping and mixing unit themselves.

The task of the pumping and mixing unit is to provide a high speed of the coolant in the system with the possibility of accurate and, most importantly, independent temperature control. Thanks to the pumping and mixing unit, the water-heated floor circuits work independently from the radiator circuit.

Such independence of the circuits ensures the guaranteed reliability of operation and the quality of the connection of the water-heated floor system in the house.

Direct connection of VTP from a heating radiator

It is used to connect one thread of a warm floor in a small room up to 10 sq. meters.

Connecting the TP through a thermostatic valve is the easiest and at the same time the most controversial way to connect. And that's why.

Firstly, this method only works for very small rooms with an area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 10 square meters. meters. Secondly, this scheme does not provide a high speed of the coolant and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the coolant reaches 40-45˚C, instead of the standard 5-10˚C.

If you briefly describe the essence of connecting a warm floor through a thermostatic valve, this is another room heating radiator, only laid in the floor. A loop is made in the radiator heating circuit, a tee is placed, a valve cuts in and an air vent is installed.

Adjustment in such a circuit is carried out through a thermal head with a sensor (overhead or submersible) attached to the heating pipe. there are options for adjusting the temperature of the air in the room.

hydraulic separator

This circuit is used in combined heating circuits with radiators. In fact, it is a scheme for the hydraulic separation of a radiator heating system and a warm floor system.

If a circulation pump is used in the radiator heating system, then the presence of a second pump in the mixing unit can lead to a conflict violation of the hydraulic regimes.

For parallel operation of two pumps, a hydraulic separator or heat exchanger is installed in the heating system. An example in the diagram.

Energy efficiency at home

Russian YouTube is full of videos about air heat pumps on air conditioners, and for some reason there is a clear trend everywhere that if someone scolds them, they will definitely miss the advantages of the device and inflate the cons, and vice versa.

This article will touch on both positive and negative aspects of the issue.

Before thinking about heating with air conditioning, check the thermal insulation and energy efficiency of your home.

If it is useless, then no matter what power you set the unit, you will not get warm in winter. And the type of heating will have nothing to do with it.

No wonder they say - the best heating is insulation! When everything is in order with this, you can start choosing an air conditioner.

How to compare heating methods

Before comparing heating methods, it is necessary to determine the parameters for comparison, which will help to understand the qualities of one and another method. For example, installation costs or monthly costs to maintain a given temperature in houses of the same size, as well as with identical heat losses.

Therefore, we propose to compare according to the following parameters:

• equipment and installation costs;
• the possibility of using various energy resources;
• the possibility of using with other types of heating;
• heating costs for an insulated house with an area of ​​100 m²;
• fire hazard;
• subjective feelings.

What is baseboard heating

It is possible to install baseboard heating with your own hands - there is nothing complicated about it. But before we give information on installation work, it is necessary to understand what a warm baseboard is in general and how it works. We will also talk about the varieties of plinth heating equipment.

The warm plinth, which we will make with our own hands, is a modern heating equipment with a minimum size. Already from one name it is clear that it is intended for installation in the plinth area.Here, compact radiators are used, resembling skirting boards in appearance, only of a larger size.

The very principle of operation of baseboard heating is interesting. It is convection, that is, the most ordinary natural convection works here. And the equipment itself is a compact convector heaters. These heaters work as follows:

A huge plus of warm baseboards is that they warm up not only the air in the room, but also its walls.

• Skirting convectors heat the air inside them, as a result of which it rises;
• Rising along the walls to the ceiling, warm air displaces colder air masses from there;
• The colder and denser air that has descended is sucked into the convectors and heated to go up again.

After some time, the room becomes noticeably warmer, because the air circulation covers the entire volume.

Warm baseboards differ from conventional radiators in that the warm air coming out of them sticks to the walls, gradually heating them up. After a while, they will stop pulling cold. Separately, it should be noted that the air near the floors will be almost as warm as in the middle of the room - thanks to this, users will not have the feeling of freezing feet.

Gonna make warm do-it-yourself plinth, you will save money in the family budget. There is nothing complicated here, and any special or expensive tools are not needed for installation. And the efficiency of self-assembly will not suffer a bit.But you will get at your disposal an extremely compact and almost imperceptible heating.

How to heat with skirting boards - the system is included

It is enough to install a heating baseboard around the perimeter of the room, and the heating is ready. Directly to the finished product. True, a warm skirting board must be connected by pipelines hidden in the floor to a distribution manifold, the same as for a warm floor - with a pump and a thermostat to set the overall heating temperature.

Each pair of pipelines from the collector connects one mini-radiator in baseboards, the length of which is usually limited to 10 meters, maximum - 15 meters. The coolant flow for each branch, and hence the power and temperature in each room, is regulated on the manifold by a flow valve.

It is interesting: Micathermic heater: device, advantages and disadvantages

Which underfloor heating is better electric or water

water system

+ Plus:

If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house is large (more than 60 square meters), then it is economically beneficial to use a water-type floor.

- Minuses:

• Such a system (like any heating system) needs regular inspection and maintenance.
• Installation of pipes with water will cost more, and the pipes themselves, filters and pumps will pretty much empty your pocket.
• These floors are heated only when the heating boiler is turned on.

Electric floors

+ Pros:

• Possibility of use in any conditions (even in a sauna, pool or on a balcony);
• You can turn on such a floor even in summer, if necessary;
• Quick and easy installation, which is on the shoulder not only for builders, but also for non-professionals;
• Management of such a floor is extremely easy;
• Adjusting the temperature allows you to set the optimum in each room;
• Like ordinary wiring, an electric floor will last at least 50 years without requiring maintenance.

- Minuses:

• If there is no temperature controller, then it is unprofitable to heat large floor planes with electricity.
• Electromagnetic radiation, although small, is present. However, the use of a good shielding braid can minimize it (300 times less than the norm).

Battery types

Radiators are made from different materials. They are:

• cast iron;
• steel;
• aluminum.

Each metal has its pros and cons, which must be considered when replacing.

Cast iron

They have a working pressure of 9 bar. As for other characteristics, they are:

• height - 350-1500 mm;
• depth - 50-140 mm.

Such batteries, although they began to be used a very long time ago, are still very popular. Their main advantages:

• relatively low price;
• the ability to add sections;
• durability;
• the ability to use with any coolant;
• high efficiency.

If we talk about the shortcomings, which must be taken into account when comparing what is better than a warm floor or cast iron batteries, then they are also very significant:

1. The room heats up for a long time after the batteries are turned on.
2. The heat transfer of cast iron batteries is 110 W per section, which is quite small.
3. You need a lot of coolant.
4. These batteries are heavy.
5. As a rule, the design does not differ in variety.

Aluminum and bimetallic

They appeared later than cast iron, but quickly gained popularity. Users appreciate:

• high heat transfer;
• ease of installation
• profitability;
• little weight.

In bimetallic batteries, most of these shortcomings are eliminated.

Steel

These batteries are of two types:

• panel;
• tubular.

The working pressure can be from 5 to 16 bar.Steel radiators give temperatures up to 120°C. They may have the following dimensions:

• height - 200-900 mm;
• depth - up to 225 mm.

Steel batteries are much more durable than others. They also have other advantages:

• high heat transfer;
• reliability;
• strength;
• low cost;
• simple installation;
• different connection options.

The best inexpensive economical heaters according to experts, TOP-15

When choosing a heater, it is often difficult to understand whether it is good or not by one of its types in a store, and checking for performance is also not enough.

Before going to the store, it is important to know exactly which of the heaters will really do the job, and which one should not be considered.

To this end, we have compiled a rating of the best and most inexpensive heaters suitable for the home, cottages or apartments, with the expectation of a room of 20 sq.m, with a power of 1000 to 2000 watts. This rating is based on expert opinion and experience of use by other users.

When choosing, also additionally pay attention to the reviews of other users and the cost in retail stores

Electric (fan heaters)

Electrolux EFH / S-1115 1500 W (1100 - 4000 rubles)

Zanussi ZFH / C-408 1500 W (1450 - 4000 rubles)

Ballu BFH / C-31 1500 W (790 - 3600 rubles)

Oil coolers

Ballu Classic BOH / CL-09 2000 W (2800 - 3300 rubles)

Electrolux EOH / M-6209 2000 W (3600 - 4900 rubles)

Timberk TOR 21.1507 BC / BCL 1500 W (3400 - 3950 rubles)

Convectors or convection heaters

Ballu Enzo BEC/EZER-1500 1500 W (4230 - 4560 rubles)

Electrolux ECH / AG2-1500 T 1500 W (3580 - 3950 rubles)

Electrolux ECH / AS-1500 ER 1500 W (4500 - 5800 rubles)

infrared

Ballu BIH-LW-1.5 1500 W (2390 - 2580 rubles)

Almac IK11 1000 W (3650 - 3890 rubles)

Timberk TCH A1N 1000 1000 W (4250 - 4680 rubles)

Infrared mikathermic

Polaris PMH 2095 2000 W (7250 -8560 rubles)

Polaris PMH 2007RCD 2000 W (6950 - 8890 rubles)

De'Longhi HMP 1000 1000 W (6590 - 7250 rubles)

Underfloor heating in the corridor, bedroom, children's room or living room

The sanitary condition of the premises in which we live or often stay affects our well-being and health.

high indoor humidity often causes mold on exterior walls. It, like room dust, contains a large number of microbes and viruses.

A working underfloor heating prevents mold and also does not raise dust during operation, which is especially important for a bedroom, a playroom for children, a living room, a large hall or a corridor

Warm floor

How to make a warm floor in a greenhouse with your own hands. Methods of heating the soil by various means. Schemes of heating systems.

What is an infrared rod underfloor heating. Design, principle of operation, description of installation. Real advantages and disadvantages.

What does a comb for a warm floor consist of and how does it work. How to assemble a factory and homemade distribution unit. Setting Recommendations.

Recommendations, how to assemble collector for underfloor heating. The composition and arrangement of the mixing and distribution unit, the principle of its operation.

How to properly perform preparatory work for pouring and how to withstand the thickness of the underfloor heating screed. Recommendations for the device of expansion joints.

Recommendations on which pipes are better to choose for underfloor heating.Types of pipes applicable for floor heating systems, their characteristics. Cost calculation method.

Types of heating elements and recommendations on how to choose a warm floor for tiles. The nuances of using water or electric floor heating systems.

Recommendations for laying a warm floor under the tiles with your own hands. Features of installation of electric and water heating elements.

How to choose and arrange an electric underfloor heating in a house or apartment with your own hands. Types of floor heating systems, recommendations for their selection and installation.

How to choose the right type of floor heating and make a warm floor in the bathroom do-it-yourself room. Recommendations for the installation and connection of the system.

Electric floor heating

Warm floors with electric and water heating are becoming more and more popular.

The latter often serve as the main heating system for private houses, and electric floors are widely used for additional heating of rooms. This factor, as well as a number of other reasons, has made electric heating more in demand.

We propose to consider the design, principle of operation, as well as the possibility of self-arrangement of electric underfloor heating.

Ceiling heating or underfloor heating - which is better

If you use infrared heating as the main one, you will have to choose where to mount it: on the ceiling or on the floor. For floors, only film heating options have been developed, and both IR film and panels can be hung on the ceiling.

Ceiling infrared heating panels designed for ceiling heights from 3.5 meters. They emit high temperature rays, so they are not used for low rooms (they can cause discomfort to people if they get on the head).

For rooms with a ceiling height of 2.8 to 3.5 meters, low-temperature energy-saving film is recommended. Such ceiling heating systems are designed specifically for residential areas, and the radiant flux range is safe for residents. The heating element in ceiling foils is aluminum resistive foil.

Heating film is often used to heat the attic, as pipes take up a lot of usable space.

For floors, a slightly different type of infrared film is used. The formation of an IR flux in it occurs due to the graphite strips to which the electrodes are connected.

If you remember why traditional radiators are not placed near the ceiling, then preference should be given to the reproductive system, because it also gives heat from below, circulating air masses. But everything is not so simple: water heating radiators heat the air, and the film heats objects and people, and from them the air. Therefore, with infrared heating, there is no such rapid movement of air flows, which means that the room is heated unevenly.

Unlike convection systems, infrared devices warm up the lower zone better, thereby reducing heat loss.

Features of IR film

Comparing the effectiveness of floor and ceiling films, many experts recommend using the second option as the main heating. And that's why:

• On the floor, at least 70% of the area must be covered to ensure uniform heating of the room. At the same time, it is undesirable to put furniture on the film, otherwise it will dry out. But in an apartment you can’t do without furniture. Therefore, in fact, the film is mounted only in open areas, and in the corners where there are cabinets or sofas, mold or frost may appear in winter.
• A warm floor will provide 22-23 degrees in the room only at maximum heating, i.e. when its temperature is over 30 degrees. And if the finishing coating is ceramic tiles, then it will be uncomfortable to stand on it with bare feet (too hot). Linoleum at such temperatures will begin to emit an unpleasant odor.
• Graphite has a service life of up to 15 years, and then the entire floor will have to be opened to replace the film. Metal strips on the ceiling last 50 years or more, which means they will give the owners less trouble with repairs.

Underfloor heating is good in those rooms where there are problems with humidity, as it helps to quickly dry the decorative coating.

How infrared panels work

In public places, such as bars, outdoor cafes, factories and enterprises, infrared panels are in greatest demand. They are much more powerful than plan, and can work on different energy sources:

• on gas (the heating element is a ceramic plate or metal);
• on electricity (heating source is heating element);
• on water (a liquid that moves through the tubes is converted into IR rays) - this option is often called ceiling heating radiators.

In hot weather, liquid-powered tubes can be filled with refrigerant, and then instead of heating, they will cool the air.

Infrared panels are convenient for offices, as they can be turned on at certain times when people are at work and turned off at night.

If you have made a choice in favor of infrared heating, buy systems only from trusted manufacturers. Otherwise, there is a risk of buying a cheap Chinese fake plan, which, when connected, will buzz, heat unevenly, or, worse, burn out from the first power surge in the network.

Benefits of classic radiator batteries

Standard radiators also have a number of advantages:

First of all, they can quickly heat up a poorly insulated room and do not need any auxiliary heat sources. A warm floor needs several hours, while a convector heats up a room a few minutes after it is started.
Secondly, battery installation is much faster and easier.

For example, when replacing the heating system in an old house, you do not have to tear off the floor covering.
Equally important, the batteries will perform much better in rarely used rooms, as well as in rooms where most of the floor surface is hidden by various types of equipment and furniture.
The next aspect to note is the wood floors. According to statistical studies, wood is still a very popular and often chosen material for flooring.

It turns out that precious woods, especially thick ones, are an excellent heat insulator. This means that on a warm floor, wood will significantly reduce its effectiveness. In addition, wooden floors are extremely sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature - boards expand and contract under the influence of these factors.

In this case, heated floors can lead to the destruction of the wooden floor - its matting, deformation and the formation of unaesthetic gaps.
Therefore, people who love beautiful wooden floors should opt for classic radiators.
The fact that designers do not ignore radiators makes them more and more popular. According to demand, manufacturers every year offer batteries that are more attractive in appearance.
Thus, heating radiators for the home are becoming more and more interesting - you can find models as geometric sculptures, as well as options in vibrant colors.

On the market, you can also find decorative grids for the battery. which can be an interesting interior element and hide an old and ugly battery.