Often, an underfloor heating is used as an additional heating device to the main heat supply. The most common types of underfloor heating are water and electrical systems. The electric type of underfloor heating is mostly used in order to heat up cold tiles used as finishing on the floor of a loggia, veranda or bathroom as quickly as possible. Sometimes such heating is equipped as additional to the central heating. Electric underfloor heating is mainly installed in rooms where hot water heating cannot be installed. The reviews of many users indicate that the invention of "Warm floor" is profitable, convenient and comfortable.

Underfloor heating in an apartment or house: installation principles

Underfloor heating water in essence is a complex multicomponent system, where each part performs its function.

According to the principle of arrangement, warm floors are divided into the following types:

• Dry, used mainly in private houses with wooden floors;
• Wet, poured with screed and concrete.

The most common type of installation is wet, since it is concrete floors that need heating most of all.

The warm water floor must be installed on a stable and solid base. They can be any concrete slab or solid ground. A vapor barrier is laid on such a base, mainly made of polyethylene. Its thickness must be at least 0.1 mm. At the next stage of laying the "pie", a heater is applied. It can be extruded polystyrene foam, which has a very low thermal conductivity, reasonable cost and high mechanical strength. A cement-sand screed is laid on top of the insulation. For ease of laying and mobility of the mixture, it is imperative to add a plasticizer to it. The screed must be reinforced with a metal mesh made of wire, with a cell pitch of 50 * 50 mm. Sometimes weaving of 100 * 100 mm is also used. Warm heating pipes with a coolant circulating through them must pass along the screed inside. The height of the screed above the pipes should be at least 3 cm. However, experts say that 5 cm will be better, since the strength of the coating in this case is much higher, which means that the area of ​​heat distribution over the floor will be more uniform.

Underfloor heating water from central heating: types of flooring

In the place where the floor adjoins the wall, as well as at the ends of the hot water heating circuits, a damper tape must be laid to compensate for the thermal expansion of the concrete during heating. The upper floor covering is the very material that is designed to work with heating.

The following types of construction activities are most suitable for these purposes:

• Ceramic tile;
• Laminate;
• Porcelain stoneware;
• Carpet.

However, when choosing the material that you will use for arranging a warm floor, check for the presence in the marking of a special icon indicating the suitability of the material for use in arranging a warm floor. In addition, it must be remembered that for a longer service life of the floor covering, it is necessary to observe the thermal regime in the room.

How to make a water-heated floor in an apartment: room requirements

In addition to the requirements for the floor covering, for the correct functioning of the "Warm floor" system, it is necessary to observe other conditions that safely affect the operation of the equipment. Some of them relate to the room in which the heating will work.

The most competent solution is the option when the construction of the underfloor heating pipeline is planned at the initial stages of the construction of the house.

This heating system is now quite widespread in countries such as Sweden, Germany, Canada and Norway. Other, economically successful countries, in which energy resources are quite expensive, also use systems that help reduce heating costs, including underfloor heating. Underfloor heating is considered 30-40% more economical than the usual radiator heating.

It is also quite possible to equip the "Warm floor" heating system in an already finished room, however, for this, the room must meet the following requirements:

• Considering that the thickness of the warm water floor covering reaches 8 - 20 cm, the height of the ceilings in such a room should make it possible to mount this heating system and not make the room too low.
• It is important to take into account the size of the door openings, which cannot be less than 210 cm in height.
• The solid base under the floor must be very strong, otherwise it will not be able to withstand the cement-sand screed.
• The base must also be smooth, clean and even, and if there are irregularities, then they cannot exceed 5 mm;
• In the room in which you plan to start arranging the warm floor, finishing and plastering work must be completed, the windows must be in place.

Heat loss in the premises should be at the level of 100 W / m 2. In the event that their indicator is greater, then measures for insulation must be taken.

The floor is warm from hot water in the apartment: elements of the heating system

The principle of operation of such a device as a water heat-insulated floor is quite simple. Under the flooring there are pipes through which the heating medium (water) flows from the general heating system. It gives off heat to the floor, and thus heats the floor covering, then the law of physics contributes to the fact that warm air quickly rises up and heats the room.

The "Warm water floor" system consists of the following elements:

• Hot water boiler;
• Pump to increase the circulation of water in the system;
• Ball valves;
• Pipes for distribution, through which water flows;
• Collector;
• Regulation system;
• Fittings for connecting the pipeline to the manifold.

The boiler you choose must be powerful enough to handle the amount of water you will have in your system. In addition, the unit must have a 15-20% power reserve.

Water heat-insulated floor in the apartment (video)

Traditional radiators and radiators, which for many years were considered the only acceptable source of heat, are now giving way to new systems such as underfloor heating or heating skirting boards. Many people are eager to innovate and immediately feel the advantage. However, underfloor heating was previously used in some institutions, such as kindergartens and schools, but these were exceptional cases and in private houses they were practically not used. Today, the arrangement of underfloor heating has been practically put on a conveyor belt, and everyone can equip with their own hands a warm water floor in their apartment or house.

If during the autumn-winter cold it still remains cool in the room, you should think about how to keep warm using radical methods. Today, such an opportunity as the installation of a warm floor with a liquid heat carrier has proven itself well. The underfloor heating system in the apartment is gradually replacing classic heaters and fans.

Installation of a warm water floor in the apartment

An underfloor heating water in an apartment is a self-sufficient structure and effectively heats a room of any volume, even in severe frosts. A warm liquid from a gas boiler or central heating system circulates through polymer pipes. The air in the room heats up, and rising upward, evenly distributes heat over the entire area of ​​the room.

This allows you to create the most optimal and comfortable conditions, thanks to which you can not be afraid of hypothermia of the legs, at the same time, the temperature near the ceiling decreases slightly. Doctors say that this thermal regime is most suitable for well-being.

This type of construction is:

• flooring (laminate, tiles, etc.);
• laying layer;
• a pump that circulates water;
• heater;
• polymer pipes;
• fasteners and manifolds.

This heating option increases the service life of the finished floor covering, and makes it possible to apply original design solutions in the interior.

Is it possible to make a water heat-insulated floor

The question often arises whether it is possible to make a water heat-insulated floor in multi-storey buildings? Today, legislative acts prohibit changes that relate to various improvements to pipeline schemes in the housing stock, where there is central heating. It can give an increased load, which was not taken into account at the time of designing the house. Forced circulation and a rather complicated installation of a special pump will be required.

But, theoretically, such systems can be installed in any room, the main thing is not to disturb the balance of the water flow and observe the conditions for dosing the heat consumption. In addition, in new buildings, the layout provides for the presence of risers for connecting the TVP.

To make the installation of a structure in an apartment legal - special permits from a representative of ZhKO and heating networks will help. The necessary documents will be issued only after checking the premises and agreeing on the equipment necessary for further use. Unauthorized connection of a warm floor threatens to receive fines, litigation and other troubles:

• if necessary, it will not work to sell the apartment legally;
• if there is a breakthrough in the circuit and the apartment of the neighbors below suffers, all repair costs will have to be paid in full.

Before you make a water-heated floor in an apartment, you should calculate the possible consequences and negative risks, take into account the positive and negative qualities of this modernization.

Advantages and disadvantages of a water-heated floor

Compared to alternative heating systems, a warm water floor stands out for a number of undeniable advantages.

• Profitability. Low temperature water reduces heat consumption in residential buildings by 20-30%. In spacious rooms with a ceiling height above the average, the savings reach about 60%.
• Security. The heating elements hide the screed and the floor covering. The risk of burns and injuries is completely eliminated. This also applies to facts involving long-term contact with a warm surface. The likelihood of the appearance of a fungus is reduced to zero, since there are no zones of increased dampness.
• Convenience. It is very pleasant to walk on such a floor without slippers, and you also do not have to worry about the health of children who want to play on the floor.
  The humidity level practically does not change, the air does not dry out. The room heats up evenly, which makes it possible to obtain temperature conditions that are optimal for a person.
• Visually aesthetic interior. The system does not affect the overall design of the room, which cannot be said about traditional radiators and pipes. All parts and devices of the heating structure are hidden from prying eyes, you can easily make redevelopment. Radiators do not have to be hidden behind plasterboard panels or replaced with new ones.

In the process of use, a water underfloor heating from central heating requires less costs than an electric one. The system practically does not require maintenance, and during installation all the necessary standards of sanitary, hygienic and environmental safety rules are observed.

Among the disadvantages are:

• high cost and laboriousness of installation - the basis of a multilayer structure includes several types of materials;
• the likelihood of a possible pipe leakage - the malfunction can only be found and eliminated by fully lifting the floor covering;
• slow heating of the screed - this method is only suitable for premises in which they live permanently.

Installation of a water-heated floor in an apartment is not always possible. Some rooms will require the installation of additional heating sources (convectors or radiators).

Preparation for work on installing a water heated floor in an apartment

Before starting work on installing a water underfloor heating in an apartment from heating, you should calculate the amount of materials that will be needed to organize the system. To do this, you will need to evaluate the characteristics of the topcoat, the area and features of the room (maintained temperature, features of windows, wall material, etc.). If there is a strong draft in the room, it is advisable to first do its insulation.

It is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the pipes used for the circulation of the liquid acting as the heat carrier. Today the following types are most popular:

• polypropylene;
• metal-plastic;
• copper;
• stainless steel corrugation.

The length of the harvested pipes is influenced by the method of laying - a snail or a snake. The first option, despite the complexity of design and installation, is more efficient. In such a system, pipes with relatively hot and cool water alternate sequentially, evenly distributing warm air throughout the room.

Underfloor heating system installation

The device of a warm water floor in an apartment must begin with a thorough surface preparation. Remove debris and level the base. The horizontal plane should not have differences exceeding 5 mm. Otherwise, zones of stagnation of the coolant are formed, as a result of which the structure may fail. There are three options for installing this heating system.

Concrete water floor heating system

The most popular installation method, in which a cement-sand screed is the main material in the base and distribution layer. A film is laid on the concrete layer, which provides heat and waterproofing. Then a special tape is glued around the perimeter of the room, which will prevent the appearance of cracks and absorb the expansion of the screed when the circuit is heated.

On top of the thermal insulation, special grids with cells are mounted, and pipes to them. It is important to correctly calculate the distance between them, it depends on how evenly the incoming heat will be distributed. Recommended laying step:

• in cold areas (near windows, doors) - 10 cm;
• in rooms with normal heat loss - 20-30 cm;
• in cold rooms - 15 cm.

For spacious rooms, a reinforcing mesh is used during installation. It is not recommended to lay pipes where furniture can be installed.

The structural elements are fixed, powered and kept for several days. If there is no damage, the carrier layer is poured with a mixture with the addition of cement, sand and plasticizers.

Then the finishing flooring is laid. If the installation of the hot water system in the apartment must be done under ceramic tiles, then the screed should not be wider than five centimeters.

Wooden underfloor heating system

Polystyrene underfloor heating system

A water-heated floor in an apartment with your own hands can be made using special heat-insulating plates. Products are distinguished by a special form of pressing and have the form of convex circles. They are perfect for quick and easy pipe installation. The slabs are securely locked with locks at the edges, thanks to which it is possible to create a monolith around the entire perimeter of the floor.

Is it possible to make water heated floors on your own without resorting to the help of specialists? This is possible, but there are a few guidelines to consider.

• When arranging the heating structure, you must completely dismantle the old finish up to the concrete screed.
• Replace metal pipes (if any) with a plastic analogue, this will avoid the appearance of rust at the joints.
• Reliable waterproofing from a trusted manufacturer will save the floor from possible leaks.
• When installing insulation, be sure to glue the seams between the sheets with metallized tape. An additional layer of waterproofing will minimize all possible risks of leakage.
• If laminate or natural wood was used as a finishing coating, the temperature of the heating medium should be raised gradually. A sudden jump can damage the material, which will significantly shorten its service life.
• The water-heated floor in the apartment from heating must be installed so that when the circuit is turned off, the coolant circulates in the central system. It is only necessary to fill the screed or install the thermal distribution plates on the filled system.

Features of operation and probable errors

When connecting a warm floor, the temperature in the apartment rises for a long time. It takes time for the floor, walls and air in the room to warm up, so installation should begin before the onset of the first cold weather.

During installation, certain errors are often made:

• independent connection to the riser - the pipe is constantly filled with a coolant, in order to start work, you need to obtain a special permit and completely drain the water;
• the inability to adjust the temperature - you need to install a water manifold and a mixing unit;
• lack of a project - you should not start work without defining a pipe layout scheme and dividing an apartment or house into heating zones;
• materials and components from different manufacturers - this common mistake can cause rapid depressurization of the structure.

Installation of such a system as a warm water floor is a rather complicated and time-consuming process. But, if you wish, you can cope with the installation yourself, without involving specialists. The main thing is to obtain the necessary permission and strictly follow the recommendations for working with the materials used. However, so that the question of how to make a water-heated floor in apartments does not cause unnecessary financial costs, it is still better to seek qualified help.

The advantages of underfloor heating (abbreviated as TP) over conventional batteries are well known. Therefore, many owners of apartments and private houses want to make underfloor heating circuits, and supply the coolant from the existing radiator system.

A number of difficulties arise here - it is necessary to mount and correctly connect a water heat-insulated floor from the heating so that the water temperature in the loops remains within 55-60 ° C. But the first task is to make sure that it is technically possible to lay the TP “pie” and connect to existing highways at the lowest cost.

How to fit a "pie" into a room with low thresholds

This problem is faced by almost all homeowners who decide to arrange underfloor heating in an inhabited house or city apartment. The essence of the question: the height of the thresholds of the entrance or interior doors is not enough for the installation of a full-fledged "pie" of warm water floors with a screed (see the drawing below).

Let's analyze the composition of a monolithic heating circuit located on the interfloor or basement ceiling:

1. Waterproofing - bituminous coating, more often - polyethylene film.
2. Insulation - extruded polystyrene foam with a minimum thickness of 30 mm or foam 5 cm.
3. Damper tape around the perimeter of the room.
4. Heating pipe (usually metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene with a diameter of 16 x 2 mm), laid with a snail or snake.
5. Cement-sand screed 8.5 cm thick.
6. Floor covering (sometimes a vapor barrier is made under it). The thickness depends on the material, laminate and linoleum will take up to 1 cm, ceramic tiles with an adhesive mixture - about 20 mm.

Traditional surface heating scheme is done without reinforcement

An important nuance. If a monolithic underfloor heating is arranged above the ground, the thickness of the insulation increases to at least 100 mm of foam or 60 mm of extruded foam. The density of both materials is 35 kg / m³.

The total height of the laminate-coated "pie" is 85 + 30 + 10 = 125 mm. Such high thresholds are not provided for by any normal owner. How to solve the problem and implement floor heating in a similar situation:

Reference. The only room in the apartment where the thresholds remain high is the balcony and loggia. There you will not need to reinvent the wheel, usually the monolith fits freely together with the thermal insulation.

Dry laid floor heating system

Some home-grown craftsmen do not put insulation at all or reduce the power of the screed to 4 cm.In the first case, half of the heat released will go to the basement, the ground or to the neighbors below, in the second, the monolith expanding from heating will soon crack.

An expert will tell you in more detail how to make a warm floor in the premises of an apartment building in more detail and in an accessible way in the video:

Central heating connection

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, Ukraine and other countries of the former USSR, unauthorized interference in the district heating system is prohibited. Simply put, for connecting additional heating devices and underfloor heating, a large fine and an order to dismantle unnecessary heaters are threatened.

Note. Similar measures and responsibility are envisaged for connecting the TP to the centralized hot water supply (DHW) network.

How unauthorized connection from district heating is detected:

Some "tricksters" advise to connect the TP loops through a plate heat exchanger in order to isolate the circuits from the central heating. The catch: the hydraulic resistance of the network will not increase and a pipe break will not cause serious flooding, but the amount of heat taken will still increase.

How to use underfloor heating legally:

1. Apply to the heat supply organization with an application and obtain permission.
2. Obtain technical specifications for the installation and connection of floor circuits together with the permitting document.
3. Develop and agree on a project.
4. Install the system yourself and put it into operation.

It must be admitted that the overwhelming majority of applicants are refused at the stage of application. An exception is made for residents of new buildings with individual connection of apartment heating to distribution pipes. But if you decide at your own peril and risk to embed the heating circuits into the heating network, proceed to the study of the next section.

Connection options

To ensure the normal operation of the TP circuits and get the long-awaited feeling of comfort, it is necessary to solve 2 questions:

1. Supply a heating agent with a temperature not exceeding 50 ° С (maximum - 55 ° С) into the pipes of the heating circuits. Overheated floors cause discomfort for most people, the optimal indicator for the topcoat is 26 ° C.
2. Provide the required flow rate of the coolant in the radiators and floor heating loops. If the diameter of the supply line is too small or the circulation pump does not develop the required performance, batteries and underfloor heating will heat equally poorly.

Consider several schemes that allow you to connect a water-heated floor to an existing heating system. Let's see how well the issues of temperature and flow rate of the coolant are solved in each option:

• direct connection to a two-pipe radiator network;
• the same, with the use of regulating thermostatic heads;
• tie-in into the main line of a one-pipe system with an additional pump;
• full connection with a separate pipe from the boiler.

Direct connection to the radiator network

Insertion of the TP circuit into the supply and return of a two-pipe wiring will function tolerably well under the following conditions:

• the total heated area is relatively small - up to 100 squares;
• heat source - a gas boiler capable of maintaining the coolant temperature within 40-50 ° С;
• the circulation pump installed in the boiler room has sufficient capacity;
• underfloor heating is intended for heating small rooms - bathroom, kitchen, nursery.

Direct connection scheme is suitable only for small heating areas

The direct connection scheme has the right to life, but on the whole it is very imperfect. Judge for yourself: it is much easier for water to move along the path of low resistance further along the line, rather than flow into a long pipe of the heating circuit.

The second moment: with the onset of severe cold weather, you yourself will raise the temperature in the boiler, the surface of the floor will heat up, the room will become stuffy. The tiled bathroom will turn into a sauna. Note: intensive heating of the bathroom is absolutely useless, people are not there all the time.

Option of direct connection of the contour instead of a dead-end radiator of two-pipe wiring

For reference. As some do-it-yourselfers do: they include the TP circuit in the break in the return line from the batteries to the heat source. And then they wonder why the warm floor does not work together with the radiators. The reason is an increase in the hydraulic resistance of the entire branch and a decrease in the flow rate of the coolant.

Using RTL valves

To correctly solve the issue of regulating the water temperature when connecting a warm floor, special thermal heads of the RTL type will directly help. An automatic valve is placed on the return line and is easily adjusted to a specific temperature. The work algorithm is as follows:

1. Until the heating of the coolant reaches the value set on the thermal head, it quietly circulates through the pipe of the floor circuit.
2. When the water temperature rises to the set point, the head actuator closes the thermostatic valve. The circulation stops, the coolant cools down.
3. After the temperature drops as a result of cooling, the thermostat opens the passage and the water movement resumes.

Heating is controlled according to the return flow temperature limited by the thermal head

Reference Information. The European company Oventrop has long been offering solutions for such cases - UniBox units built into the wall. Inside there is an RTL type thermal head, the adjusting handle is brought out. There are versions with two valves - one controls the flow rate of the heating medium according to the return flow temperature, the second - according to the heating of the ambient air.

The disadvantage of this solution is the limitation of the length of the pipeline. If the length of the loop exceeds 50 m, the TP will start to work unevenly due to increased resistance. To heat rooms of medium and large areas, you will have to break underfloor heating into 2-3 circuits and the same number of monoliths, separated by expansion joints, as shown in the drawing.

Now about the pros:

• heating with warm floors can be organized in any room without being tied to the boiler and furnace;
• the price of the product is incomparable with the cost of mixing units and additional pumps;
• if the batteries are equipped with air thermal heads, the TP system will be able to work in the summer - the radiators will turn off themselves.

The described scheme is also suitable for connecting underfloor heating to a two-pipe district heating network. But keep in mind one caveat: a dirty coolant can quickly clog the thermostatic valve or disable it. The wizard will tell you about the intricacies of the RTL heads in the next video:

Is it possible to connect to a single-pipe wiring

To power the warm floors from heating - the one-pipe "Leningrad" favorite by many craftsmen, you will have to assemble a mixing unit with your own hands and put a second pump, as shown in the diagram. For the normal functioning of the system, the following conditions must be met:

• the inner diameter of the distributing line is not less than DN25, the maximum number of radiators on the ring is 5 pieces;
• the connection of the TP loop is done in the return pipeline after all the batteries;
• the minimum distance between the underfloor heating supply and return connections is 30 cm;
• to maintain the temperature in the circuit, a three-way mixing valve is installed.

Note. A similar scheme is used by apartment owners for unauthorized connection of TP to central heating of the old type - single-pipe vertical risers.

In this and other diagrams, cut-off valves and are conventionally not shown, but it is imperative to install this reinforcement

The three-way valve is of a simplified design, capable of preparing water at a fixed temperature of 45-50 ° C. The pump "drives" the coolant along the loop, and the valve mixes portions of hot water from the main line.

In practice, the scheme is rarely used. The reason is the instability of operation and imbalance of the radiators connected to a single pipe of the "Leningrad". When the three-way valve opens slightly and feeds the heating circuit, the pump pressure is transferred to the main line, the water flow rate in the batteries changes.

Advice. If you want to assemble a reliable scheme of warm floors with your own hands, it is better to run separate supply and return pipelines from the boiler. The consequences of perversions with a one-pipe radiator network are unpredictable.

Traditional scheme with a mixing unit

When it is necessary to arrange underfloor heating in each room of a two-story house, it is impossible to connect to the existing radiator heating. It is necessary to lay separate pipelines and install a manifold. What connection options are practiced:

• if the length of the circuits does not exceed 50 m (including connections to the collector), thermal heads are placed on the comb, reacting to the return flow temperature;
• mixing unit with manifold and two-way valve;
• the same with a three-way thermostatic valve.

In the first case, the principle of operation is similar to inserting one loop through the RTL head, only the regulators are on the comb and control each circuit separately, as shown in the photo. The circulation is provided by the main pump located in the furnace or inside the wall-mounted gas boiler.

In the second version, hot water is mixed with a two-way valve installed on the supply and controlled by a thermal head with a remote temperature sensor. The latter is hidden in the collector pipe or screwed to it from the outside.

When the temperature of the supplied heat carrier increases, the liquid from the sensor bulb presses on the valve stem and it closes. The scheme provides for the installation of an additional pump that pumps water through all loops of the TP.

The scheme with a three-way valve, whose principle of operation is described above, is more perfect and is designed for a solid flow rate of the coolant in warm floors. The disadvantage of both options is the decent price of the equipment and the complexity of installation. All details about heating circuits are given in the corresponding manual.

Installation instructions for underfloor heating

If you have settled all the questions regarding the laying of the "pie" and the choice of the wiring diagram, you can proceed to pouring the heating plates. First, find out the required thermal power of the circuits, the diameter and distance between the pipes using.

Level the surface and carefully remove debris before installation. When installing a screed on the ground, prepare a tamped sand cushion or footing 4 cm thick.The technology of pouring a monolithic warm floor looks like this:

1. Perform waterproofing from sheets of film, laid out over the entire area of ​​the room with an overlap of 100-150 mm. Glue the joints with good quality tape, along the edges, make gaps on the walls up to the level of the future clean floor.
2. Cover the lower part of the walls in contact with the screed with damper tape around the entire perimeter, as shown in the photo. The overlap of the waterproofing film must remain on top of the strip.

   A damper strip is glued to the walls, and an expansion joint is arranged between the monoliths

3. Lay the insulation boards tightly against each other. Unrolling the coil and straightening the pipe, unfold the loops of the heating circuits with the required pitch. Fixation of the pipeline to the insulation is done with plastic brackets with an interval of 35-40 cm.
4. Bring the ends of the loops to the connection point - the collector or radiator heating lines. Before the final assembly of the circuit, fill the circuit with water and check the tightness with a pressure of 3-4 bar.
   

Note. If you intend to pour a thin screed (6 cm), lay a reinforcing mesh on top of the polystyrene plates. Do not connect pipes inside the future monolith, put only solid ones, without joints.

Leaving the hinges filled with water (so that they do not float and crumple under the weight of concrete), make a cement-sand mortar from the ready-made dry mix for floors and fill the screed. Continue working after about 4 weeks - that much is required for complete hardening. The technology without cement screed is described in detail in our other publication.

Conclusion

Listening to the opinion of plumbers and experts, we will give a final recommendation: avoid connecting a water-heated floor to working heating branches. It is better to tie the heating circuits of the TP directly to the boiler, then the floor heating will be able to function independently of the batteries, including in the summer. See the last video for the process of laying pipes and pouring a concrete screed.

A bathroom is a room in which a high level of humidity is almost constantly observed. That is why it uses such a cladding material as ceramic tiles. However, its disadvantage is that it is cold. That is, it is very unpleasant to become barefoot on her. That is why underfloor heating in the bathroom is a must.

Before insulating the floor using floor heating systems with your own hands, you need to understand their varieties.

Water

The heating system of a water underfloor heating is pipes laid in the contours, which are filled with a screed

This warm floor is heated by hot water (from central or autonomous heating), which passes through the pipes of the system. quite difficult to produce. Most often, pipes made of metal-plastic are used for its arrangement. After laying the structure, it is poured. After the solution has completely solidified, you can. In this case, a thermostat is used to control the temperature. Underfloor heating in the bathroom, which works on the basis of hot water, is safe for human health, cheap in terms of operation. But if it depends on the general heating system, then heating will be carried out only during the cold season. In addition, this option is almost impossible to do in an apartment (with some exceptions).

Electric

Such a warm floor can be quickly assembled with your own hands, without involving other masters. To equip an electrical structure, you will need:

• Special cable,
• Reflective insulation material,
• Thermostat.

Heating cable, foam foil heat-reflecting underlay and thermostat

Please note that this structure will have to be filled with a screed. The warm floor on the basis has some disadvantages: there is a risk of electric shock if the installation technology is violated. The system also produces electromagnetic radiation. However, you can mount it yourself, and it fits perfectly under the tiles.

Infrared

This electric underfloor heating differs from the previous one in that the heating elements are surrounded by carbon fiber. They are located in parallel. This underfloor heating in the bathroom can be installed quickly with your own hands. It is enough just to spread the film on the base, no screed is required, installation takes place in a layer of tile adhesive. has a small thickness, so it does not take up useful space. In addition, the radiation emitted from the film does not harm living organisms.

Infrared floor heating cake in the bathroom

Preparation of the base

Before making any warm floor, it is necessary to prepare the base in advance. To do this, you need to dismantle the old tile. Try to remove all glue residues, seal any cracks and crevices. Make a rough screed if necessary. Further, it is necessary to equip a layer of protection against moisture penetration: roofing material, plastic wrap or apply a coating.

Lubricating waterproofing, like roll waterproofing, is made with launching on the walls

After that, the base is insulated. This can be done with expanded polystyrene. If there is a layer of foil on it, then it should be at the top. If not, then the reflector is laid separately.

Next, you need to mount the reinforcing mesh. It will not only help to strengthen the cement screed, but will also become the basis for fixing the pipes (cable). The thickness of this material is 3-4 mm, and the cell size is 10x10 cm.

Features of laying the water system

If you nevertheless decide to install a warm floor powered by hot water, then this process has the following sequence of actions:

As you can see, you can make a water floor with your own hands, but this work is troublesome and requires accurate calculations.

Features of the arrangement of electric and infrared floors

Electric underfloor heating is also often used in the bathroom if there is a need to lay tiles. So, in this case, the process provides for the following sequence of work:

• Pouring a rough screed, with which the base is leveled.
• Laying thermal insulation material with a reflective layer.
• Reinforcing mesh installation. It is to it that the cable will be attached.
• Heating cable installation. Please note that no metal clamps should be used to secure it. It is necessary to lay out the cable exactly according to the diagram drawn earlier.

• Installation of the thermostat. Please note that it should be located at a height of about 0.8-1 m from the floor.
• System test run. At this stage, the resistance of the structure is checked. If possible, it is necessary to find the foci in which the short circuit occurs. If they are not there, you can continue to work.
• Filling the screed. In this case, its thickness is at least 5 cm.
• Additional health check. That is, you again need to measure the resistance in the system.

Should not have voids. In addition, it should be reinforced with fiberglass. Only in this case can you avoid its subsequent destruction under the influence of temperature differences.

Fastest mounted. Its distinctive feature is the absence of the need for arranging the screed. That is, the tiles can be laid directly on the foil. Such a warm floor just needs to be spread according to the scheme. It should be borne in mind that heating elements should not end up under heavy pieces of furniture. Otherwise, local overheating will occur, and the warm floor will fail.

It is important to connect and insulate the infrared system correctly. You should also take care of the correct installation of the sensor and thermostat. After checking the functionality of the structure, tiles can be laid.

That's all the features of arranging underfloor heating in the bathroom. Be careful during installation. Leave your comments on the article and, finally, a video about the technology of laying heating mats:

In recent years, underfloor heating technology has become popular in ordinary city apartments as well. Underfloor heating from a heated towel rail is a budget option for a heating device, which is used in cases where the installation of a boiler is impossible for some reason.

The scheme for connecting a heated towel rail to a central heating system has a number of varieties, it is from the existing scheme that you need to build on during installation. In some apartment buildings, heated towel rails are powered from the "return" of the heating system. This option implies a fairly low temperature in the riser and heated towel rail, and in the summer, during periods of heating shutdown, the pipe cools down completely. It is better to refuse the idea of ​​installation in such houses, the system will not function correctly.

Another option is to power the heated towel rail from hot water in the bathroom. In this case, the heating circuit will work much more efficiently, but at the same time it is necessary to correctly calculate the cross-section of the pipe, measure the area and correctly connect the water floor itself. The reinforced-plastic pipe should be of a smaller diameter than the riser, most often D16 is the best option. The water floor requires special attention during installation, especially if the installation is done by hand.

Ways to connect a warm floor with your own hands are quite simple, through the main riser of hot water, an additional tie-in is made to the contour of the warm floor. The pipe goes into the floor and returns to the heated towel rail. A control valve is cut into the riser, with which you can meter the supply of hot water through the riser directly. The main flow is assumed to be through the floor contour in the room.

The floor pipe is mounted on a substrate, bending radii should be minimal so that the flow resistance is not critical. Such a bathroom floor will only work with good pressure in the pipes.

To connect several underfloor heating circuits to the hot water supply system, a collector is used, through which it is possible to regulate the supply of hot water to each circuit separately, sometimes the system is supplemented with a pump for circulation, but such options can be profitable only in large apartments and use in more than one room.

The main advantages of the system:

• economy in use;
• durability with proper installation.

Possible problems

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Conducting a water-heated floor in a similar way is rather an exception than a rule. The functionality of the heating system largely depends on the readings in the general network, if the pressure drops, then the operation of the circuit will be disrupted, because the circulation of the coolant will slow down and the heating temperature will drop. If there are frequent heating cuts in the house, then the flooring in the bathroom will be cold. Another problem is the possibility of an emergency. If the pipe breaks as a result of a water hammer or other impact, then it will be possible to eliminate the leak by completely disassembling the entire pie, it will be necessary to remove the tile and dismantle the screed.

Preparing for installation

When installing the structure with your own hands, you need to pay special attention to the materials; laying metal-plastic in an apartment implies the use of only high-quality pipes that will not break under high pressure in the bathroom. Threading should be done with reinforced fittings. The shut-off valves must be of high quality, and each unit must be able to independently shutdown and circulate water using a bypass. You can do work with your own hands, having the skills and experience of such work, otherwise it is better to seek qualified help.

Important! At the highest point of the heated towel rail coil, an air relief valve (Mayevsky valve) should be provided. Its absence will air the system and the pipes in the bathroom will remain cold.

Installation instructions

Do-it-yourself installation of a water-heated floor in a bathroom in an apartment of a multi-storey building can solve many problems. According to the standard design, the bathroom is heated exclusively by a heated towel rail, which is clearly not enough for comfortable water procedures.

Cold floors, insufficient heating of the room - all this is a consequence of an insufficient and ill-conceived heating system. Not surprisingly, many owners are seriously thinking about improving the bathroom heating system.

Is it possible to make water floors in the bathroom

Installing a water floor in a bathroom is a personal matter only in the case of a private house. According to the housing code, any independent change in the design of the heating system is illegal.

Complaints from neighbors about a decrease in the intensity of heating are grounds for initiating a lawsuit, the result of which will be an administrative penalty and an order to eliminate the changes in a short time.

On this basis, the legality of installing water-heated floors in an apartment building is questionable at best. The Housing Code allows you to change the design and layout of the heating system, but after obtaining the necessary permits and coordination with the relevant authorities. In any case, registration should begin with a visit to the housing and communal services.

Connecting a heated heated floor in a bathroom from a heated towel rail is one of the most commonly used solutions when heating a bathroom in a high-rise building. At the same time, it is extremely important to take care that the heating temperature of the neighbors does not drop. A two-way valve can be used for this.

How to install heated bathroom floors

It is not so difficult to independently make a water-heated floor in a bathroom, especially after obtaining all the necessary permits to change the heating system. It is enough to follow the basic installation steps.

In the shower and bathroom in an apartment building, in most cases, a water circuit is installed without a collector. The short distance of the heated area allows the circuit to be powered from the heated towel rail and to obtain a sufficient amount of thermal energy.

How to fill a bathroom floor

Self-assembly of warm floors is much easier to carry out when using special leveling, leveling mixtures. At the same time, in order to make water heating of the floor in the bathroom and shower, you need to take care of the quality of the screed, which must meet the requirements:

1. Withstanding temperature changes - making a cement composition yourself that can not crack after several years of operation is almost impossible, therefore it is best to opt for ready-made mixtures.
2. Maintain strength - heated floors are exposed to constant stress from temperature and humidity changes. To reduce the negative impact, you will need to lay a layer of reinforcing mesh. Especially fittings are needed if you plan to install a drain in the shower.

The composition of the "pie" of the floor consists of: waterproofing, reinforcing mesh, foil insulation and thermal insulation. A high-quality screed allows you to connect all four types of layer and make it almost a monolith.

How to connect a water floor in a bathroom

There are several solutions for how to make and power a water floor in a shower or bath. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• From a heated towel rail - the temperature of the coolant will remain unchanged. Since in most multi-storey buildings, heated towel rails are connected from the return of hot water, the intensity of heating largely depends on how much the coolant has time to cool.
• From the boiler - the solution has certain advantages, consisting in the possibility of adjusting the water heating of the bathroom floor. You will need to install a thermostat.
• From the central heating system - a bath with a warm water floor can be connected to the heating system of the apartment. Before carrying out work, you will need to obtain permits and make a technical design.

Common mistakes during installation and connection

To install underfloor heating in the bathroom, you need to do everything in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Judging by consumer reviews and reports from teams that have to remodel and repair heating systems, the main violations during installation are:

1. Lack of waterproofing of the bathroom with water heated floors. Leakage prevention is neglected during installation work. Waterproofing is a layer that prevents moisture from getting to neighbors in the event of a breakthrough in the water circuit. It is also necessary to waterproof the floor before laying the floor water heating system of the bathroom in a warm floor in polypropylene.
2. Lack of a work plan and installation scheme. Preliminary calculations help to complete the installation quickly and efficiently, to avoid waste of material.
3. Installation work without permission. After installation, getting approval is much more problematic.
4. Filling the screed with ordinary cement mortar. The technology for installing water heated floors in the bathroom of a private house or apartment requires the use of adhesives with the addition of plasticizers and additives. Without additives, cement over time begins to crumble, crack and become unusable.

Warm floors in the bathroom - electric or water

Only one question remains unresolved, which floor heating is better for the bath, electric or water. Each option has its own advantages.

So, an electric floor is best laid in an apartment building. The solution does not require obtaining permits for installation. Installation is less costly and faster.

Water floors are completely safe. Fire and short circuit is excluded. In an apartment building, their use does not carry additional material burden.

Heating private houses and apartments with water-heated floors is a fairly popular option, since the system is efficient and economical. Warm air rises evenly from bottom to top, creating optimal comfort in the room. Warm floors can be implemented in different ways, it can be a warm floor from central heating in an apartment or an electric one that requires laying a heating cable. Considering the cost of electricity, many residents find the idea of ​​installing a floor heating from a battery in an apartment more attractive. The costs will mainly be for equipment, while heating costs will not be so high.

It is widely believed that connecting a warm floor from hot water in an apartment or is strictly prohibited. This is not entirely true. A permit from the management company can be obtained if the apartment is located at the end of the heating circuit - on the first or last floor, depending on the heat supply scheme. Thus, the heat energy received in the apartment will not infringe on other residents in the apartment building. As a rule, you need to install a heat energy meter, and you can safely connect the warm floor from the battery.

The supply of heat energy is carried out through a heat exchanger for the warm floor in the apartment, which allows you to make the underfloor heating circuit "autonomous", not affecting other heat consumers.

How will the height of the room change from the installation of a warm floor?

When planning to install a warm floor from heating in an apartment, you need to think about not only the cost of materials, obtaining a permit. An important nuance is to take into account how the floor height rises. It is necessary to install good thermal insulation on the subfloor so that the heat does not go into the floor slabs. For apartments on the second and higher floors, it is enough to install 3 cm of insulation (polystyrene, etc.).

If in the bathroom it is connected from a heated towel rail on the first floor, below which there is a basement or ground, the insulation layer should be within 5-10cm. Next, the size of the pipes, the layer of the topcoat, are taken into account. The result is the final figure by which the height of the room will be reduced. If the living space allows, you can buy equipment.

Underfloor heating pipes

Considering that water floor heating is filled with a screed, it is clear that you need to choose durable pipes. The choice of a specific material will directly affect the price of 1 sq. M of warm water floors.

But the price is not the main thing, it is important to comply with the conditions:

What is needed to connect a warm floor?

You can't just take and cut the contours of the underfloor heating into the heating risers. The water will not circulate on its own, so a pump will be needed. A system is also required to remove accumulated air in the system. The coolant in centralized heating is not clean, therefore, to protect your own underfloor heating system, you need to install filters that trap dirt particles.

It is important to take into account that the coolant in centralized heating can be heated up to 80 degrees, and you cannot put such water into your system - this will ruin both the screed and the topcoat, and it will be excessively hot in the room.

The optimum temperature of the coolant in the underfloor heating system is up to 45 degrees.

Therefore, it is necessary to install a unit that mixes water from the supply and return, as well as devices that control the parameters. Therefore, the cost of a warm floor will include the price, and the thermal head, and the servo drive, etc.

Floor heating connection diagram

To correctly connect the selected system, you need to prepare the equipment: a circulation pump, a servo drive for a warm water floor collector, a temperature control sensor, a distribution unit, a collector. The connection and test run of the system is carried out before the screed is poured.

The main thing in the system is the distribution unit, it regulates the temperature of the coolant.

Thanks to a three-way valve and a sensor (thermal head for underfloor heating), the owner of the apartment regulates the temperature, achieving optimal comfort and saving on bills. The essence of the valve with a sensor is the timely shutdown of the hot flow when the set temperature is exceeded.

needed for uniform distribution of the coolant in the system. The pump is installed after the distribution unit, but after the manifold group. From the three-way valve, the cooled water enters the pump, then into the collector and along the contours of the warm floor. An air outlet and a drain valve are installed in the upper and lower parts of the manifold, respectively.

The diagram shows how to connect - underfloor heating to heating in apartments that close the heating circuit. If the tie-in is carried out in the apartments in the middle, then the three-way valve is replaced with a two-way valve.

Alternative underfloor heating Xl Pipe

Those who do not have the opportunity to legally connect floor heating from a battery should familiarize themselves with the modern Xl Pipe system. Reading reviews on xl Pipe underfloor heating, they note that this is a kind of hybrid of electric and water heating that does not have their drawbacks. The heating element here is a 2 cm diameter polyethylene tube filled with antifreeze. Inside the tube there is a chromium-nickel heating cable in a Teflon sheath.

The design is sealed and safe. The system does not use the pump, manifold, boiler. The coolant does not move here. Installation of liquid electric floor heating Xl Pipe is carried out in a screed. Furniture and appliances can be moved without restrictions, the system will not be damaged. As the reviews on the warm floor as the main heating say, this option copes with the task, the temperature can be adjusted at your discretion.

The essence of Xl Pipe is simple and straightforward. When turned on, the cable begins to heat the coolant, quickly reaching the set temperature. The fluid pressure in the system ensures an even heat distribution. According to the manufacturer, such a warm floor consumes one third less electricity compared to other electrical heating systems. When compared with water heated floors, the cost of purchasing a boiler, collector and other equipment is excluded.

Floor heating with Heat Life infrared film

Those who have no idea how to properly make a warm floor from heating, or are unable to carry out major repairs in the room for this, should take a closer look at the Heat Life IR heating film. It is used as a main or additional heating system in offices, residential buildings, industrial and other facilities. Those who choose Hit Life underfloor heating note the minimum installation and maintenance costs, low heating bills.

As a rule, the installation of the film does not require screed filling. It can be used to heat tiles, linoleum, laminate, porcelain stoneware, and other flooring options. Energy is used to heat the floor, not the air. In addition, infrared film can heat any surface - vertical, inclined, embossed. Even with mechanical damage to the film section, the overall system will continue to work. Corrosion to the Heat Life film is not terrible.

Advantages and disadvantages of warm floors

Among the advantages of using water, electric systems, underfloor heating, they note savings on heating costs. If the feet are warm, even the lowest temperature can be perceived as comfortable. Installation is not complicated, the appearance does not attract attention like standard ones. There will be no drafts in a house with a warm floor. Children will not catch colds while playing on the floor.

As for the shortcomings, they also exist. Firstly, it is the cost of equipment, installation. Secondly, water-heated floors require a loss of several centimeters from the height of the room. Thirdly, the floors should be free of carpets - otherwise, why heat them. When a breakdown occurs, it is difficult to determine which area is damaged. Furniture should not cover the floor so as not to interfere with heat circulation.

Having familiarized yourself with all the above nuances, you can make a conscious conclusion about warm floors, the advisability of using them in an apartment as a main or additional source of heat. In general, electric floor heating systems are installed in small rooms - in the bathroom, kitchen, bathroom. If you plan to heat a spacious room, it is better to give preference to a water-based system. In any case, it is important to consult with professionals, and later entrust them with the installation of the system, start-up and maintenance. In this way, you can get guarantees of the safety and durability of the system.