Heating plinth: advantages and disadvantages

Heating in Russia today is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. The central system is able to provide a temperature that varies within 20 ° C, but not always the distribution of heat throughout the room occurs evenly. Heated air rises, while the cold air remains below. However, today there is an option that provides heating of rooms without additional costs for the installation of warm floors. And this plinth heating.

Features of plinth heating

Heating skirting can not be called an innovative development, it was invented back in 1907, then it was patented by a heating engineer. The essence of the system was that the steel pipes were installed at the floor along the perimeter of the walls. Communications were covered with concrete, wood or plaster. This method was distributed in Western Europe, where it was called panel heating or radiant heating. The advantages were obvious, among them:

• Safety of operation;
• Uniformity of space heating;
• Cheapness in comparison with electric and water heating.

However, there are also shortcomings, which are expressed in the impossibility of repair without the destruction of partitions, as well as the complexity of the installation. Heating skirting today is a modified version of concrete. It is installed in the thickness of the wall instead of skirting boards.

What else do I need to know?

The principle of operation is similar to the system of the warm floor. Under the decorative shell are copper tubes with fins. Heater - electric heater or heat carrier. The device looks attractive, has compact dimensions and fits into any interior. The systems are used in public and commercial buildings. It can be offices, train stations, airports, medical facilities and warehouses. These systems are not so common in residential buildings.

Disadvantages of liquid skirting

Heating skirting board can be liquid, while the system includes:

• Radiator block;
• Distribution manifold;
• Pipes made of polyethylene.

The first component is a heat exchanger made of copper pipes, on top of which aluminum slats are fixed, providing convection. The distribution manifold consists of two tubes through which the coolant is introduced and discharged. In addition, the manifold is equipped with air outlets, drain valves and fairings. Pipes of polyethylene are dressed in corrugated, through which fluid is removed.

Installation of these pipes is carried out along the floor or wall. The maximum operating pressure in this case is 3 atmospheres. Heating skirting liquid has some drawbacks. The system is sensitive to increased pressure and water hammers, therefore, to connect to the central system instead of polyethylene hoses, copper communications or products made of metal-plastic are used. Mountings are made by soldering technology.

Experts recommend using an intermediate heat exchanger, which will take over all the surplus. The heater of this type is protected from loads, and its service life is 10 years.

Plinth heating of water is accompanied by expenses. To install the system in a private house you will need to buy a warm plinth, the price of which is 4000 rubles per running meter. Manufacturers recommend to install a circuit, the length of which does not exceed 15 m. Otherwise, you may encounter low efficiency of the system. The standard surface temperature should be about +50 ° C, with each additional place this figure will decrease by an average of 3 ° C.

Advantages of liquid skirting

Despite the fact that liquid heating installed in the form of pipes along walls or floors is expensive, its consumers consider it effective. Some of them, who have already installed the system, note that in 20 minutes the room becomes warm and cozy. And in the future to save, you can use only half of the performance, in order to only maintain the achieved results. But if your house is on the shore of the reservoir, then on the site and inside the building you will always feel damp. It is important to take seriously the choice of heating system. The advantages are immediately noticeable: in the room throughout the volume of the room there is an even temperature, there is no effect of overheated air, as in the case of radiator heating.

Advantages of electric skirting

Plinth heating electrical is also used today by some consumers. It refers to air systems, and the device assembly is similar to liquid devices. At the top there is a power cable. The maximum power level is quite large and is 280 watts per meter. The price of such heating can start from 2000 rubles. For running meter. The height of the installation, as well as the width are 16 and 4 cm respectively. As for the length, it can vary from 1 to 2 m.

Another advantage is the choice of plinth heating, which is adapted to any kind of thermal generators. For example, the heating system THERMODUL functions in conjunction with oil and gas boilers, as well as solar panels. The design provides for the possibility of adjusting the temperature by means of thermostats. On sale you can find options with an infrared system, here you can include Russian heaters, whose power reaches 200 W. As for the heating area, one running meter will be sufficient for 8 m ² .

The scope of use is not limited, it can be apartments, country houses, production and office premises, as well as greenhouses and garages. The warranty period of operation reaches 10 years, and the cost will depend on the model, manufacturer and additional functions.

Electric skirting heating, reviews of which are often only positive, is excellent for areas where there is no gas supply and there is no possibility to equip an efficient heating system. In just 15 minutes a room of 18 m2 can be heated with the help of such systems, and the person will not feel the stuffiness and heavy air.

The disadvantages of electric skirting boards

Electric skirting radiator has many advantages, but before acquiring such a device you need to familiarize yourself with the shortcomings. According to buyers, this type of heating is not as economical as the manufacturers say, and the simplicity of installation does not always imply efficient operation.

If you decide to do the work yourself, you should try to rule out a violation of the uniformity of heat transfer. If the devices are installed close to vertical surfaces, this can lead to defects in the finish. Some electric skirting boards can be operated under conditions that do not differ in voltage drop and periodic power outage. Sometimes this causes the failure of the units.

The electric skirting system of heating may not always look aesthetically pleasing. Manufacturers offer decorative lining, but they reduce the efficiency of the devices.

Skirting boards

Plinth heating wiring is considered to be the simplest installation technology, which can be used in rooms where finishing work has already been completed. To implement the connection between the floor and the wall, the rear of the baseboard heating element should be mounted. In the same place is located fasteners, which will be fixed radiators. Such devices may have a different design, mostly hooks. On the fasteners are installed heating devices, which are pre-connected to the return and supply pipeline, when it comes to liquid devices.

It is important to check the tightness of joints. If leaks were found, they should be eliminated. At the final stage, skirting radiators of water heating should be covered with decorative panels, but before that it is necessary to carry out system tests.

Cost of liquid and electric plinth heating systems by manufacturers

If you also decided to use the option that provides the installation of skirting system of heating, you should familiarize yourself with the prices. Austrian company Best Board offers liquid electrical devices at a price of 4800 and 7700 rubles, respectively. If you prefer Italian products, then you should pay attention to the goods THERMODUL. The liquid and electrical devices of this company will cost 5800 and 7200 rubles. respectively.

Conclusion

Domestic plinth systems of liquid and electric type from Mr.Tektum cost 5000 and 7000 rubles, respectively. The cheapest in the Russian market are electric plinth systems "Megador". For them, the consumer will have to pay 3000 rubles.