Heating mats for underfloor heating and their installation. How to choose a heating mat: reviews of professionals

The technology of the device of the warm floor implies the use of special heating elements. There are two main approaches to the organization of such systems: the installation of a coating with the circulation of hot water and the installation of electrical components for heating. To date, more efficient and economical in the installation is recognized electrical system, which will realize the heat mat for the warm floor with accompanying regulators. In essence, this kind of heating is independent, although it is often used as an auxiliary one. Anyway, if you choose the right mats and install them correctly, then the kit will cope with the tasks of heating in any room.

What is a floor mat?

Mats for the warm floor can be considered as a combination of traditional cables and multi-layered shell. The basis of the coating is made of copper or steel electrical wires - they are the source of heat. Much more complex is the device shell. It is an insulation protection, formed by fibers of polymers, fiberglass and rubber. From cables for the warm floor heating mats are distinguished by fixing to a nonmetallic mesh, which is also covered on top with an aluminum sheath and a PVC film. Actually, this layering of insulators helps to ensure high protection of wires from mechanical damage. The operation of the mats is provided by a 220V mains supply, to which the "cold" ends of the cables are connected. Further, the incoming electricity transmits heat to the aluminum protection, which, in turn, spreads it over the entire area of the decorative flooring.

Single-core or double-core?

Traditionally, mats are manufactured with the inclusion of single-core wires with a thickness of not more than 3 mm. However, recently some manufacturers began to introduce in the model lines and two-wire cables. In addition to increasing the thickness, such coatings also have operational differences. The fact is that heating mats with solid wires in the process create unfavorable electromagnetic radiation for a person. Of course, it is within the limits of acceptable values, but it is for this reason that experts recommend the use of elements of this type in the street and in production facilities, rather than in an apartment building. In two-wire cables this disadvantage is eliminated due to the inclusion of a second wire, which "extinguishes" the electromagnetic field radiation. Accordingly, it is more profitable to purchase mats with twin-core cables, but it is important to take into account that they cost more and further reduce the height of the ceilings.

Selecting mats by power

The question is not simple, and for its answer, first of all, it is necessary to decide what place will be occupied by the warm floor in the general heating system. Based on the initial calculations, you can determine in which premises in principle the use of such a system is justified. If the installation of heating mats is planned in the bathroom, the recommended power rating is 150 W / m ² . In the hallway and in the kitchen, the heating requirements are not so high and you can limit the power to 120 W / m ² . The highest figures should be provided if the installation will be carried out in the children's room, bedroom or on the balcony - in this case it is worthwhile to look closely at mats with a power potential of at least 200 W / m ² .

Calculation of area

The advantage of heating mats is the convenience in their application and the calculation of the laying area. They do not need to be painstakingly fixed with a snake or in a spiral - it's enough to cut a piece of certain sizes and lay it on the floor. However, there may also be nuances that should be taken into account. First, heating mats can not be stacked in places where heavy equipment, furniture or electronics will be standing. Secondly, it is necessary to calculate the places of connection of temperature sensors and temperature controllers. In order not to be mistaken in the calculations, it is necessary to draw up a scheme of the installation in advance, in which all the important elements of the system will be indicated. Prepared layout will help not only reduce the cost of installation, but also optimize the system in terms of economical energy consumption.

Compatible with floor coverings

Heating mats, like all electric heat sources for floor coverings, can be combined with different materials. It is best if the laying is done on a concrete screed. In the beginning, it is necessary to arrange a substrate and waterproofing, and then install a heating system. In the case of the top deck, the ideal option is tile, which is a good conductor of heat and does not deform under its influence. But in the case of wood and synthetic coatings, heating mats are suitable with some limitations. For example, laminate and linoleum are suitable for top cover under the warm floor only in special versions, resistant to temperature loads. The use of parquet is not recommended at all, since deforming processes will be detected already during the first time of operation.

Stacking technology

The zone marked for laying is cleaned and ready for installation. It is advisable to prime all defects of the rough coat or to finish the putty so that the heating mats are mounted on a flat surface. The length of the roll is removed from the roll, after which a line is marked in which the mats will be adjacent to the skirting board. Thus, the first strip is laid and the piece taken away for it is cut off. It is important to consider that it is necessary to cut only the grid, so that it remains possible to subsequently transfer the cable to the second and subsequent bands.

As the installation is performed, it is necessary to periodically unwind the roll, trim and rotate the wires to a new direction in accordance with the scheme. In this case, it must be taken into account that the cables should not overlap - any unintended contact will cause a short circuit, spoiling the heating mat. Stacking is completed by testing the system. Check the uniformity of warm-up in all areas of the heating coating.

Temperature regulator and temperature sensor

An obligatory element of modern systems of a warm floor is a special tool for controlling the parameters of their operation. First of all, these are thermostats. They can be electronic with a minimum list of options or programmable - with the option of setting a timer. Also there are models in which the program with the "smart" timer is integrated. In this case, the heating mat for the warm floor is automatically adjusted according to the temperature sensor. For example, if the temperature indicator falls below a certain level, the system operates on "warming", and in a warm time, on the contrary, turns off or changes the operating mode.

Reviews of heating mats

Opinions of consumers on heating mats strongly diverge. Among the advantages of users are the convenience in stacking and the lack of problems in the operation. However, not always such systems justify themselves in terms of heating efficiency. But much depends on the power that a particular heating mat has. Reviews of people who use the warm floor as an "assistant" of central heating, on the contrary, indicate the performance of the system.

Conclusion

The question of the advisability of using a warm floor in rooms where additional heating is required is not even necessary for specialists. They unequivocally recommend such systems instead of radiators, furnaces and other obsolete means of heating. If you look at the statistics of manufacturers, it becomes obvious that the heating mat is not the last place in sales. How to choose the optimal model for such a system is the main question that confronts the consumer. However, only two criteria are essential. This is power and area. The material should cover the entire "working" zone and at the same time ensure sufficient heat generation. Recently, disputes have also been debated as to how justified the use of warm mats in terms of savings. Of course, certain costs in the process of operation will, but they do not go to any comparison with the financial expenses for installation and use of other heating systems.