Electric water floor cons. Heating with water heated floors: pros and cons. Advantages of underfloor heating systems

Today we would like to touch upon one of the most controversial issues in the field of space heating - is it possible to use heated floors as the main heating of a private house or apartment? Below we will look at the pros and cons of such an idea, which will actually allow you to answer this question!

Apartment

It is reasonable to use electric heated floors as the main type of heating only in private homes. It is extremely illogical to use such a heating system in an apartment for several reasons:

You will still have to pay for heating, because... risers will pass through your apartment.
Shutting off the central system is quite problematic and expensive (removing batteries, changing the pipe system, welding work etc.).

As you can see, in apartments the ability to use an electric heated floor as the main heating is not practical due to several significant disadvantages. If you are not satisfied with city services, you can simply do it without turning off the central system. This solution to the problem is recommended if the housing and communal services starts late heating season and you just need to somehow get out of the situation for a while.

By the way, a water floor heating system also cannot be used in apartment buildings, because... this is prohibited by law. The reason is obvious - hot water will pass under your floor covering, cool down and only then flow further to your neighbors.

Private houses

As for the use of electric heated floors as the main heating of the house, here you can already think about whether to do it or not. The only thing that can stop you is the monthly cost of paying the electricity bill. If you do economical system, install electricity and you will wisely turn on the heating, while for the main type of heating this option will be quite reasonable.

The advantages in this case are the following:

Ease of installation. Even a person without special skills can do it.
The heating cable, thermomat or film will not take up free space rooms, as opposed to radiators or convectors.
Good heating of the rooms. Heat will be radiated evenly throughout the entire area of the private house.
Long service life with proper installation and use.
There is no need to spend money to buy a boiler and other types of equipment.
The cost of creating electric floor heating (as the main one) is at least 2 times cheaper than water heating.

The disadvantages of underfloor heating as the main heating system for a private home include:

There should be no problems with power supply on the site, otherwise in winter there is every chance of freezing if the lights are turned off for a long time.
Not all regions have an acceptable cost per kilowatt of electricity. The first step is to take into account the costs so as not to run into financial problems later. We provided detailed cost calculations in the article -.
The heating cable or infrared film covering must not be laid under the installation sites household appliances and furniture. If a warm floor is used as the main heating, so-called cold bridges can form in unheated areas. As a result, as reviews on thematic forums, there may be significant heat loss and the formation of dampness on the walls.

As you can see, the possibility of using this heating option as the main one has its advantages and disadvantages. To begin with, weigh the pros and cons in relation to your conditions, and then draw a conclusion. We also recommend watching the video below, which provides more modern version main heating in the cottage.

Comfort in a living space is created not only with the help of well-chosen furniture, but also by creating a comfortable temperature. It is unpleasant to be in an unheated room, and it is also fraught with colds.

Floor heating systems are used not only as an additional, but also as the main source of heat - they evenly heat the area and do not take up space, unlike radiators central heating. But heated floors have pros and cons just like all technical devices.

Water heating in the floor: pros and cons

The water circuit as heating has a lot of positive qualities:

Does not require a constant supply of expensive electricity, because it can work from gas boiler or a regular wood stove.
Uniform heating creates optimal temperature conditions (+22°C at the feet and +18°C at the top). In summer, water in the pipes helps to cool.
Disguised heating elements reduce to zero the possibility of children getting injured or burned.
Using a thermostat, you can independently set the temperature for each room separately.
Reduced heat losses through enclosing structures due to the absence of overheating zones.

The advantage of underfloor heating with a water circuit is also the cost savings. The owner only pays for installation; the system does not require further maintenance.

Despite the advantages, heated water floors from a gas boiler in the house also have disadvantages:

Complexity of installation and impossibility of installation on second floors wooden houses. In city apartments, permission from the BTI is required for work.
Possibility of pipeline leakage. To eliminate the problem, you will have to completely dismantle the filling.
The need for reinforcement of pipes or screeds.
In rooms where year-round living is not planned, pipes may freeze in cold weather.
Purchasing a bulky pump that forces the coolant to circulate.

Among the disadvantages heated floors with water as heating, it is noted that they are prohibited from being installed from central heating batteries in apartment buildings. In addition, it can act as the main source of heating only in well-insulated rooms with double-glazed windows without cracks and tight doors.

Warm electric floors: pros and cons

Electric heated floors also have pros and cons. The advantages include:

Among the disadvantages it should be noted:

High power consumption. In old buildings, wiring may be damaged;
Not suitable for installation under parquet or solid wood - the wood will dry out over time due to temperature;
Expensive consumables.

IN Lately You can increasingly hear the phrase “liquid” heating system. It is a two-centimeter pipe made of structured polyethylene with antifreeze inside. Inside the pipe along the entire length runs electrical cable. The system is mounted under the screed. The X-L Pipe and UNIMAT AQUA models are popular.

This type of heating incorporates everything positive characteristics electric and water, however, the electric-water floor also has disadvantages - the water coming from the block is hotter and therefore the floor warms up unevenly. Additionally, this option is only suitable for small rooms.

There is an opinion that the disadvantages of heated floors for human health are electromagnetic radiation that provokes blood diseases. But this is all speculation, since the heating elements are reliably insulated finishing coat. The only danger to health can only come from unscrupulous installation of heating systems and ignorance of technology. In this case, the air in the room dries out, which leads to the formation of dust that is harmful to allergy sufferers and asthmatics.

Heating warm floors the pros and cons are of equal importance, regardless of their type. Therefore, before installing them, you need to carefully study all the characteristics. The right decision will be an appeal to professional craftsmen who, from the height of their experience, will select suitable option for a specific room, starting from its technical indicators, and will install it in a short time without losing the declared quality.

To choose optimal solution and take into account all the nuances, it is better to contact our specialist for advice.

Warm electric floor - unique engineering design, which allows you to heat the entire room, perfectly complementing other heating systems. In some cases, the heated floor even becomes the only one heating element. This design can be used not only in houses, but also in other premises being renovated.

Most often, heated floors are used in rooms where the floor is paved with porcelain stoneware or tiles. In addition, it is extremely rare that an electric floor is used without central system heating. As a rule, these designs complement each other. The electrical system helps warm up cold flooring. Most often, tiles or porcelain stoneware are laid in the bathroom, kitchen or hallway, which is why heated floors are often used in these areas.

It is worth noting the absolute advantage of a heated floor - heating the air to a height of up to 2.5 meters from the floor. Warm air indoors makes living conditions even more favorable and comfortable.

Particular attention should be paid to the installation process of the electric floor. It is highly not recommended to save on materials, even if it seems that the difference will be insignificant. It is best to entrust installation to professionals.

Advantages of installing heated floors

Electric heated floors are very popular today for a number of reasons:

The electric floor design can eliminate the lack of central heating in apartments. As a rule, the main heating in modern home heats the floor the least, leaving it quite cold. This is due to the fact that the batteries are located at some distance from the floor, as a result of which cold air. Warm floors help solve this problem. As a result of installing an additional structure, the heating of the room becomes uniform.
Installation of heated floors does not require the use of additional equipment, what is he doing possible installation such a design in any room.
The degree of floor heating can be easily controlled by choosing the most optimal option for yourself.
The warm electric floor is complemented by a special thermostat, which allows you to set the required temperature in each room. In some zones you can also easily turn off the heating altogether.
Warm air from the floor rises, thereby eliminating the formation of drafts in the apartment or house.
An electric floor allows you to rid any room of excess moisture, which, in turn, eliminates the possibility of mold formation.
A warm floor covering can easily be made the main source of heating in the house, thus getting rid of radiators, which take up additional space and collect a lot of dust.
Electric floor is pretty reliable design, which extremely rarely fails. If the installation process went correctly - in accordance with the instructions, then breakdowns are unlikely to occur. Most often, problems with heated floors appear only in cases where breakdown or damage occurs due to the fault of the owner. For example, if a nail was driven into one of the elements of the system. If some kind of malfunction does occur, do not worry or panic, since any electric floor can be easily repaired. If you can’t do this yourself, you can contact a service center.
The heated floor system is absolutely safe and resistant to moisture. Thanks to this design, you can create warmth and comfort in your home.
The design of a warm electric floor is compact and convenient, so it does not reduce the height of the ceiling in the room.
All elements of the heated floor design are well hidden from view, which makes the system invisible and neat.
Installation of the structure is quite simple; even a person without much experience can install all the equipment and the system as a whole.
With the help of a warm floor, the surface in the house warms up evenly and equally everywhere.

Disadvantages of an electric floor

Despite a large number of advantages of heated floor design, this system still has some disadvantages:

The first and most obvious disadvantage of an electric floor is the increase in energy costs in the house. In this case, in order to reduce costs as much as possible, it is best to use a thermostat that will lower the temperature or turn off the heating in some areas.
The second disadvantage is also associated with significant costs. The fact is that heated floors are an expensive structure, which also requires certain costs for its installation.
Before installing an electric floor structure, it is necessary to change the wiring in the house. Such a system significantly increases the load on the electrical system, so old wiring I just might not be able to stand it.
The design of a heated floor is very demanding on the floor covering. It must, first of all, have good thermal conductivity in order for the efficiency of the system to be felt. If there is a carpet or carpet on the floor, which transmit heat rather poorly, the efficiency of the heated floor will not be great.
Some types flooring may suffer from the use of heated electric floors. The greatest impact is on a wooden floor, since the wood shrinks when heated and then begins to change shape.
If the floor covering is also varnished on top, the heating temperature cannot exceed more than 21 degrees.
In order to save energy and energy costs as much as possible, heated floors, as a rule, are not installed in places where furniture is located. In this regard, rearranging the furniture in the house will also entail reinstalling the heated floor structure.
The use of heated floors in the house provokes the appearance of electromagnetic radiation. Of course, today everyone uses electrical devices, despite the spread electromagnetic waves However, with the installation of an additional electrical system, the radiation increases, so this factor must be taken into account.
The use of any electric heater, including an electric floor, entails an increased risk of electric shock. This factor should be taken into account, especially in rooms with high humidity.

It is worth noting that, despite all these disadvantages, most people still use heated floors in the house, since for them such systems are a necessary condition comfortable stay. Moreover, most of these shortcomings are completely insignificant and can be easily eliminated. As for additional expenses, as a rule, everyone understands perfectly well that comfort costs extra money.

Electric heated floors are used much more often than water ones. This is easily explained, since such a design has a number of advantages:

An electric heated floor is much simpler and more convenient to regulate in terms of temperature supply than a water one. It is enough to simply use a thermostat with which you can set desired temperature and do this much more accurately than in a water system.
Installing cables in electrical design warm floor is much easier and faster than water pipes in a water heating system.
Using a water-based underfloor heating system entails installing a gas boiler to heat the water. This measure requires additional space, as well as increased installation costs.

Thus, we can determine that electric heated floors are very convenient to use. It is especially suitable for heating small spaces, such as an apartment or small country house. Also, the design of a warm electric floor is excellent for an office, since in such a room it is not always possible to install a gas boiler.

Disadvantages of electric heated floors compared to water ones

Unfortunately, electrical system heated floors also have some disadvantages compared to water-based construction:

Often a water heated floor becomes more economical option than electric. Such savings are especially noticeable in large areas.
Using hot water for floor heating and space heating is a safer option than using electricity. Hot water can harm a person to a lesser extent than electric current.
A water heating design can last much longer than an electrical system. According to the most popular manufacturers of such systems, a water floor can last in a house for up to 50 years.

Using a water floor the best way Suitable for heating large rooms. For example, it is better to use it in large country houses or in work areas.

Electric floor - unique modern design allowing you to create maximum comfort in your home. With such a system, your floor will always be warm, which will allow you not only to walk barefoot, but also to allow children to play on the floor without fear of being exposed to a draft. At the same time, the design is absolutely safe; the system perfectly protects all elements from the ingress of water and other objects.

Video: which electric heated floor is better?

The use of smooth and cool materials in flooring looks aesthetically very attractive. However, in the cold season it is impossible to walk on such a floor without slippers. A water heated floor will help eliminate discomfort while simultaneously solving the problem of heating the room. The versatility of the design allows it to be used in any single room, be it a bedroom, bathroom, living room or kitchen.

Technologically, such a heating system is laid inside the genital building structures a piping system through which coolant water passes. In this case, an existing centralized heating system or an individual heating source can be used to heat the floor.

Advantages of water-heated floors

Using a water heating system through flooring based on the principle of conversion. In this regard, its main advantages include:

A high level of efficiency of the heating system, which ensures uniform heating of the room without incurring unproductive costs for heating the ceiling and walls.
The possibility of damage from hot surfaces of radiators is excluded;
Lack of dust and pollution, which are inevitable during convective air movement.
Protection from harmful organisms.
Designed adjustment capability temperature regime in a separate room.
Using a heated water floor under different types coverings (laminate, parquet, tiles)
Due to the absence of radiators on the walls, interesting solutions in interior design.
Creating a comfortable environment not only in winter, but also in summer, cooling the room with cold water.
A guarantee of health for the whole family, when you can walk barefoot in winter, and the air is clean and healthy.

The undoubted advantage of a warm water floor is its long term services. In this case, the service life depends only on the quality of the pipes used in this system. The low temperature of the coolant, which does not exceed 50°C, and in some cases 40°C is sufficient, reduces costs by an average of a third compared to using traditional system heating.

Disadvantages of floor heating with water coolant

If we talk about the disadvantages of such a heating system, then first of all, it is installation difficulties. The system itself consists of several layers, including waterproofing, cement-concrete screed, and floor covering made of decorative material.

Before laying pipelines, the subfloor surface must be thoroughly prepared and leveled. High initial costs, which compared to installing radiators or electric heating, approximately five times higher.

Effectively use underfloor heating technology water coolant it is impossible in a room where there are many stairs, because landing it cannot be applied. In an apartment building, it is prohibited to install a water-based floor heating system on high floors due to the fact that this significantly increases the hydraulic resistance.

Another disadvantage of using a water floor is significant impact on air humidity levels, requiring the installation of a humidifier. Installation work It is recommended to carry out during the construction of a house or during major renovations. A water heated floor leads to a significant increase in the floor level, which also needs to be taken into account with such a heating system.

Features of choosing flooring and installation

When choosing the type of flooring under which you are going to install a heating pipeline system, you need to decide what goal you are pursuing. In rooms with high level loads, it is preferable to cover from parquet ceramic tiles. Practical coverage tiles last a long time, but require large initial costs when heating due to the low thermal conductivity of the tiles.

Laminate and parquet do not have the high wear resistance characteristic of tiles. However, the simple installation process and excellent thermal conductivity speak in favor of choosing a wooden floor. Linoleum is also often used for covering different rooms, but it should be taken into account that the thickness of the heated floor is not more than 10 cm.

Depending on the choice of execution form, the technology for laying water mains may differ radically. The most important condition efficient work underfloor heating systems are correct installation, correct engineering work on power and heat loss. In addition, it is necessary to take into account local climatic conditions, features of housing that may be in apartment building or a private house with cold walls.

Previously, the main procedure for installing a heated floor was laying a pipe system with concrete screed. Such installation requires a long time, since it will not go away until complete drying(28 days), the system cannot be used. Currently, instead of screeds, wooden or polystyrene linings are used, with niches for pipes. Lightweight systems make it possible to reduce the thickness by four times (from 80 to 20 mm), providing quick regulation of room temperature. In addition, they are ideal in conditions where, due to heavy weight concrete screed You cannot make a standard heated floor. Doesn't fit water design, if the floor is covered with a rug or carpet.

Modern technologies for warm water floor systems completely eliminate the possibility of damage to pipes, leaks and water hammer. Warm water floors offered by well-known brands are distinguished by quick installation, efficiency, and the ability to be used in different schemes heating systems, no matter how complex they may be. The manufacturer provides a guarantee for the underfloor heating collector.

A worthy alternative radiator heating, water heated floors are not a bad option for owners of private households and those living on the first floors of high-rise buildings.

The climate of our latitudes does not allow us to provide coziness and comfort in our homes. cold period years without a heat source.

Unfortunately, the heating system used does not always sufficiently warm the room over the entire area.

Because of this, with the onset of cold weather, discomfort begins due to the cold penetrating into the house.

One of the promising options for heating systems in houses and apartments is water heated floors.

Peculiarities

Water heated floor systems are a fairly new solution in the field of built-in heating systems. The peculiarity is that the coolant in this case is heated water circulating through pipes laid in the floor, which transfers heat radiated through the decorative flooring into the room.

At the same time, the efficiency of water heated floors is high; this type of heating seems to be extremely economical, allowing one to reduce the cost of heating a home to a comfortable temperature by 20-30, or even 50%. It's all about the temperature of the circulating fluid, which, as a rule, does not exceed 50⁰C, and often 40⁰C is enough.

Why? It's simple. The floor in a room, in the case of a heated floor, is a continuous convective surface that radiates heat. At the same time, the floor covering remains pleasant and comfortable, without posing a risk of burns, and the air in the room is heated evenly over the entire area.

Unlike traditional heating radiators, a heated floor immediately warms up the air to comfortable temperatures below (22-24⁰С), while at head level the temperature is already somewhat lower (18-20⁰С), and an overheating zone does not form under the ceiling, and no empty heat loss occurs. This property is one of the advantages of water heated floors, as it provides optimal “healthy” heating that promotes comfort and health.

Pros and cons of water heated floors

Like any type of heating, water heated floors, of course, have their own advantages and disadvantages. And this must be taken into account when deciding whether to install this type of heating system.

The undoubted advantages of water heated floors include the following:

Economical– compared to radiator heating from 20-30% to 60%. When heating water to low (30-50⁰C) temperatures using gas in autonomous systems, especially with large heated areas, a water floor is even superior to an electric floor in terms of operating costs (up to 5-7 times more economical).
Safety, because the pipes with the coolant, firstly, have a low temperature, and secondly, they are completely hidden. This eliminates the risk of injury and burns.
Comfort, ensured by uniform heating of the air and pleasant tactile sensations when walking on the floor barefoot.
Aesthetics, because the built-in system solves the problem of hiding or camouflaging unaesthetic radiators and opens up wide horizons for implementation design ideas for remodeling and interior design.
Smooth and soft heating, safety for capricious floor coverings due to gradual heating and low temperatures, absence of thermal shock (in the case of installing a thermostat and the ability to control the temperature of the coolant).
No generation of harmful electromagnetic field and oversaturation of air with positive ions.
Water heated floor does not dry out the air in the room.

Before designing and installing a water heated floor, taking into account its low-temperature regime, it is necessary to ensure that heat loss in the room does not exceed 100 W/m2. To do this, you may have to insulate the walls or provide additional radiators. This will allow you to achieve comfortable conditions and will increase heating efficiency.

While listing the advantages of water heated floors, it is worth analyzing its disadvantages:

Labor intensity of installation– to lay a water floor you will have to start major renovation with alignment and careful preparation subfloor surfaces. The system consists of several layers various materials, including waterproofing, cement-concrete screed and decorative flooring.
Significant initial costs for installing a hydronic floor option- approximately 5 times higher than electric or traditional radiator. However, with active use, water heated floors demonstrate high efficiency and pay for themselves.
It is impossible to install heated floors, for example, on stairs and in small corridors. In such areas it is required additional installation radiators.
The likelihood of a leak and the difficulty of eliminating it– to find damage and repair the pipeline, you will need to completely dismantle the floor covering and remove the screed.

Due to the risk of leakage and, accordingly, flooding of neighbors below, water-heated floors are not recommended for installation in multi-storey buildings. Also, when connecting water-heated floor circuits to the central heating system, there is a high risk of pressure drop in the system throughout the house and a sharp decrease in heating efficiency.

Health effects

Is it enough to analyze the information on the query “water heated floor advantages and disadvantages” to make a final decision, especially if people with poor health live in the home? On the one hand, if the difficulties do not frighten you, but the advantages captivate you, it is worthwhile to critically evaluate them again.

The point is that she main feature and the advantage of this type of heating, namely, constant elevated temperature flooring, which allows you to “keep your feet warm” all the time, may also have a downside.

Namely, to provide negative impact on the vascular system of the legs, because blood constantly flows to the “warm” legs, putting a constant load on the veins and expanding them.

Therefore, it is recommended to install a water or electric floor in rooms with periodic and short-term presence of people there, or to limit the time they walk on the floor or stay on it.

To the question of whether heated water floors are harmful to the general physical condition and well-being, it is also impossible to answer unambiguously. The air in the room is not overdried, there is no improper mixing of layers, but in the case of heated floors it is difficult natural ventilation. In order to avoid air staleness, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often and take care of forced ventilation.

Conclusion

Water heated floor is an effective alternative to radiator heating and a good option for first floors, private houses. However, making a decision about installation requires a scrupulous analysis of the pros and cons.