Water heated floor contour length. How to calculate a water heated floor? Floor covering for underfloor heating
One of the conditions for the implementation of high-quality and proper heating premises with the help of a warm floor is to maintain the temperature of the coolant in accordance with the specified parameters.
These parameters are determined by the project, taking into account the required amount of heat for the heated room and flooring.
Required data for calculation
The efficiency of the heating system depends on a properly laid circuit.
To maintain the set temperature in the room, it is necessary to correctly calculate the length of the loops used to circulate the coolant.
First, you need to collect the initial data, on the basis of which the calculation will be performed and which consist of the following indicators and characteristics:
- the temperature that should be above the floor covering;
- layout diagram of loops with coolant;
- distance between pipes;
- the maximum possible length of the pipe;
- the possibility of using several contours of different lengths;
- connection of several loops to one collector and to one pump and their possible number with such a connection.
Based on the above data, it is possible to correctly calculate the length of the underfloor heating circuit and, due to this, ensure a comfortable temperature regime in the room with minimal costs for paying for energy supply.
Floor temperature
The temperature on the surface of the floor, made with a water heating device underneath, depends on functional purpose premises. Its values should not exceed those specified in the table:
Compliance with the temperature regime in accordance with the above values will create a favorable environment for the work and rest of the people in them.
Pipe laying options used for underfloor heating
Underfloor heating options
The laying scheme can be performed with a regular, double and corner snake or snail. Various combinations of these options are also possible, for example, along the edge of the room you can lay out a pipe with a snake, and then the middle part with a snail.
In large rooms of complex configuration, it is better to lay with a snail. In rooms of small size and with a variety of complex configurations, snake laying is used.
Distance between pipes
The pipe laying step is determined by calculation and usually corresponds to 15, 20 and 25 cm, but no more. When laying out the pipes with a step of more than 25 cm, the human foot will feel the temperature difference between and directly above them.
At the edges of the room, the heating circuit pipe is laid in increments of 10 cm.
Permissible contour length
The length of the circuit must be selected according to the diameter of the pipe
It depends on the pressure in a particular closed loop and hydraulic resistance, the values of which determine the diameter of the pipes and the volume of fluid that is fed into them per unit time.
When installing a warm floor, situations often occur when the circulation of the coolant in a separate loop is disturbed, which cannot be restored by any pump, the water is locked in this circuit, as a result of which it cools down. This results in pressure losses of up to 0.2 bar.
Based on practical experience, you can adhere to the following recommended sizes:
- Less than 100 m can be a loop made of metal-plastic pipe 16 mm in diameter. For reliability, the optimal size is 80 m.
- Not more than 120 m take the maximum length of the circuit of 18 mm pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene. Experts are trying to install a circuit with a length of 80-100 m.
- No more than 120-125 m, the size of the loop for metal-plastic with a diameter of 20 mm is considered acceptable. In practice, they also try to reduce this length to ensure sufficient reliability of the system.
For a more accurate determination of the size of the loop length for the underfloor heating in the room in question, in which there will be no problems with the circulation of the coolant, it is necessary to perform calculations.
Application of several contours of different lengths
The device of the floor heating system provides for the implementation of several circuits. Of course, the ideal option is when all the loops have the same length. In this case, no adjustment and balancing of the system is required, but it is almost impossible to implement such a piping scheme. For a detailed video on calculating the length of the water circuit, see this video:
For example, it is necessary to implement a floor heating system in several rooms, one of which, for example, a bathroom, has an area of 4 m2. This means that 40 m of pipe will be needed to heat it. It is not advisable to arrange contours of 40 m in other rooms, while loops of 80-100 m can be made.
The difference in pipe lengths is determined by calculation. If it is impossible to perform calculations, a requirement can be applied that allows a difference in the length of the contours of the order of 30-40%.
Also, the difference in the lengths of the loops can be compensated by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the pipe and changing the pitch of its laying.
Ability to connect to one node and pump
The number of loops that can be connected to one collector and one pump is determined depending on the power of the equipment used, the number of thermal circuits, the diameter and material of the pipes used, the area of heated premises, the material of the enclosing structures, and many other various indicators.
Such calculations must be entrusted to specialists with knowledge and practical skills in the implementation of such projects.
Loop size determination
The size of the loop depends on the total area of \u200b\u200bthe room
Having collected all the initial data, considering possible options creating a heated floor and having determined the most optimal of them, you can proceed directly to calculating the length of the contour of a water heated floor.
To do this, it is necessary to divide the area of \u200b\u200bthe room in which the loops for water floor heating are laid by the distance between the pipes and multiply by a factor of 1.1, which takes into account 10% for turns and bends.
To the result you need to add the length of the pipeline, which will need to be laid from the collector to the warm floor and back. The answer to the key questions of organizing a warm floor, see this video:
You can determine the length of the loop laid in 20 cm increments in a room of 10 m2, located at a distance of 3 m from the collector, by doing the following:
10/0.2*1.1+(3*2)=61 m.
In this room, 61 m of pipe must be laid, forming a heating circuit, in order to ensure the possibility of high-quality heating of the floor covering.
The presented calculation helps to create conditions for maintaining a comfortable air temperature in small separate rooms.
To correctly determine the pipe length of several thermal circuits for a large number premises powered from one collector, it is necessary to involve the design organization.
She will do this with the help of specialized programs that take into account many various factors, on which the uninterrupted circulation of water depends, and hence the high-quality floor heating.
One of the conditions for the implementation of high-quality and proper heating of a room with a warm floor is to maintain the temperature of the coolant in accordance with the specified parameters.
These parameters are determined by the project, taking into account the required amount of heat for the heated room and flooring.
Required data for calculation
The efficiency of the heating system depends on a properly laid circuit. To maintain the set temperature in the room, it is necessary to correctly calculate the length of the loops used to circulate the coolant.
First, you need to collect the initial data, on the basis of which the calculation will be performed and which consist of the following indicators and characteristics:
- the temperature that should be above the floor covering;
- layout diagram of loops with coolant;
- distance between pipes;
- the maximum possible length of the pipe;
- the possibility of using several contours of different lengths;
- connection of several loops to one collector and to one pump and their possible number with such a connection.
Based on the above data, it is possible to correctly calculate the length of the underfloor heating circuit and, due to this, ensure a comfortable temperature regime in the room with minimal costs for paying for energy supply.
Floor temperature
The temperature on the surface of the floor, made with a water heating device underneath, depends on the functional purpose of the room. Its values should not exceed those specified in the table:
Compliance with the temperature regime in accordance with the above values will create a favorable environment for the work and rest of the people in them.
Pipe laying options used for underfloor heating
Underfloor heating options
The laying scheme can be performed with a regular, double and corner snake or snail. Various combinations of these options are also possible, for example, along the edge of the room you can lay out a pipe with a snake, and then the middle part with a snail.
In large rooms of complex configuration, it is better to lay with a snail. In rooms of small size and with a variety of complex configurations, snake laying is used.
The pipe laying step is determined by calculation and usually corresponds to 15, 20 and 25 cm, but no more. When laying out the pipes with a step of more than 25 cm, the human foot will feel the temperature difference between and directly above them. 
At the edges of the room, the heating circuit pipe is laid in increments of 10 cm.
Permissible contour length
The length of the circuit must be selected according to the diameter of the pipe It depends on the pressure in a particular closed loop and hydraulic resistance, the values of which determine the diameter of the pipes and the volume of fluid that is fed into them per unit time.
When installing a warm floor, situations often occur when the circulation of the coolant in a separate loop is disturbed, which cannot be restored by any pump, the water is locked in this circuit, as a result of which it cools down. This results in pressure losses of up to 0.2 bar.
Based on practical experience, you can adhere to the following recommended sizes:
- Less than 100 m can be a loop made of a metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm. For reliability, the optimal size is 80 m.
- Not more than 120 m take the maximum length of the circuit of 18 mm pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene. Experts are trying to install a circuit with a length of 80-100 m.
- No more than 120-125 m, the size of the loop for metal-plastic with a diameter of 20 mm is considered acceptable. In practice, they also try to reduce this length to ensure sufficient reliability of the system.
For a more accurate determination of the size of the loop length for the underfloor heating in the room in question, in which there will be no problems with the circulation of the coolant, it is necessary to perform calculations.
Application of several contours of different lengths
The device of the floor heating system provides for the implementation of several circuits. Of course, the ideal option is when all the loops have the same length. In this case, no adjustment and balancing of the system is required, but it is almost impossible to implement such a piping scheme. For a detailed video on calculating the length of the water circuit, see this video:
For example, it is necessary to implement a floor heating system in several rooms, one of which, for example, a bathroom, has an area of 4 m2. This means that 40 m of pipe will be needed to heat it. It is not advisable to arrange contours of 40 m in other rooms, while loops of 80-100 m can be made.
The difference in pipe lengths is determined by calculation. If it is impossible to perform calculations, a requirement can be applied that allows a difference in the length of the contours of the order of 30-40%.
Also, the difference in the lengths of the loops can be compensated by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the pipe and changing the pitch of its laying.
Ability to connect to one node and pump
The number of loops that can be connected to one collector and one pump is determined depending on the power of the equipment used, the number of thermal circuits, the diameter and material of the pipes used, the area of heated premises, the material of the enclosing structures, and many other various indicators.
Such calculations must be entrusted to specialists with knowledge and practical skills in the implementation of such projects.
The size of the loop depends on the total area of \u200b\u200bthe room Having collected all the initial data, having considered the possible options for creating a heated floor and determining the most optimal of them, you can proceed directly to calculating the length of the water floor heating circuit.
To do this, it is necessary to divide the area of \u200b\u200bthe room in which the loops for water floor heating are laid by the distance between the pipes and multiply by a factor of 1.1, which takes into account 10% for turns and bends.
To the result you need to add the length of the pipeline, which will need to be laid from the collector to the warm floor and back. The answer to the key questions of organizing a warm floor, see this video:
You can determine the length of the loop laid in 20 cm increments in a room of 10 m2, located at a distance of 3 m from the collector, by doing the following:
10/0.2*1.1+(3*2)=61 m.
In this room, 61 m of pipe must be laid, forming a heating circuit, in order to ensure the possibility of high-quality heating of the floor covering.
The presented calculation helps to create conditions for maintaining a comfortable air temperature in small separate rooms.
In order to correctly determine the length of the pipe of several thermal circuits for a large number of rooms powered by one collector, it is necessary to involve a design organization.
She will do this with the help of specialized programs that take into account many different factors on which the uninterrupted circulation of water depends, and hence the high-quality floor heating.
It is not feasible without preliminary calculations. To get the length of the pipes, the power of the entire heating system and others desired values, you will need to enter only accurate data into the online calculator. You can find out more about the rules and nuances of the calculation below.
General data for calculation
The first parameter that needs to be taken into account before calculations is the choice of the heating system option: whether it will be the main or auxiliary. In the first case, it must have more power in order to independently heat the entire house. The second option is applicable for rooms with low heat output from radiators.The temperature regime of the floor is selected according to building codes:
- The surface of the floor of the dwelling should be heated to 29 degrees.
- At the edges of the room, the floor can be heated up to 35 degrees to compensate for heat loss through cold walls and from drafts coming through opening doors.
- In bathrooms and areas with high humidity optimum temperature- 33 degrees.
If the arrangement of a warm floor is carried out under the bottom of the parquet board, then it must be taken into account that the temperature should not exceed 27 degrees, otherwise the floor covering will quickly deteriorate.
The auxiliary parameters are:
- Total length of pipes and their pitch (installation distance between pipes). It is calculated thanks to the auxiliary parameter in the form of the configuration and area of the room.
- Heat loss. This parameter takes into account the thermal conductivity of the material from which the house is built, as well as its degree of deterioration.
- Flooring. The choice of floor covering affects the thermal conductivity of the floor. The use of tiles and porcelain stoneware is optimal, since they have high thermal conductivity and quickly warm up. When choosing linoleum or laminate, it is worth purchasing a material that does not have a heat-insulating layer. From wood flooring it is worth refusing, since such a floor will practically not heat up.
- The climate of the area, in which there is a building with a floor heating system. It is necessary to take into account the seasonal change of temperatures in this region and the lowest temperature in winter.
Most of the heat of housing escapes through its thin walls and low-quality materials. window construction. Before performing the heating system in question, it makes sense to insulate the house itself, and then calculate its heat loss. This will significantly reduce the energy consumption of its owner.
Calculation of pipes for underfloor heating
Water heated floor - a connection of pipes that are connected to the collector. It can be made of metal-plastic, copper or corrugated pipes. In any case, it is necessary to correctly determine its length. To do this, it is proposed to use a graphical method.On graph paper, on a scale or in full size, the future contour of the “heating element” is drawn, having previously selected the type of pipe laying. As a rule, the choice is made in favor of one of two options:
- snake. Selected for small living spaces with low heat losses. The pipe is located as an elongated sinusoid and is extended along the wall to the collector. The downside of this installation is that the coolant in the pipe gradually cools down, so the temperature at the beginning and end of the room can be very different. For example, if the length of the pipe is 70 m, then the difference can be 10 degrees.
- Snail. Such a scheme assumes that the pipe is initially laid along the walls, and then bent 90 degrees and twisted. Thanks to this laying, it is possible to alternate cold and hot pipes, obtaining a uniformly heated surface.
Having chosen the type of laying, the following indicators are taken into account when implementing the scheme on paper:
- The pitch of the pipes allowed in the spiral varies from 10 to 15 cm.
- The length of the pipes in the circuit does not exceed 120 m. To determine the exact length (L), you can use the formula:
L=S/N*1.1, where
S– area covered by the contour (m?);
N– step (m);
1,1 is the safety factor for bending.It should be understood that the pipe should be located in a single piece from the outlet of the pressure manifold to the "return".
- The diameter of the pipes being laid is 16 mm, and the thickness of the screed does not exceed 6 cm. There are also diameters of 20 and 25. Ideally, the larger this parameter, the higher the heat transfer of the system.
- Water consumption per hour with a pipe diameter of 16 cm can reach from 27 to 30 liters per hour.
- To warm up the room to a temperature of 25 to 37 degrees, you need the system itself to heat up to 40-55 °C.
- To reduce the temperature in the circuit to 15 degrees, a pressure loss in the housing of 13-15 kPa will help.
Calculation of the power of a water heated floor
It begins in the same way as in the previous method - with the preparation of graph paper, only in this case it is necessary to apply not only the contours, but also the location of windows and doors. Draw scaling: 0.5 meters = 1 cm.For this, several conditions must be taken into account:
- Pipes must necessarily be located along the windows to prevent significant heat loss through them.
- The maximum area for arranging a warm floor should not exceed 20 m2. If the room is larger, then it is divided into 2 or more parts, and a separate circuit is calculated for each of them.
- It is necessary to maintain the mandatory value from the walls to the first branch of the contour of 25 cm.
Determining the number of pipes is quite simple: first measure their length, and then multiply it by the scale factor, add 2 m to the resulting length to bring the circuit to the riser. Given that the allowable length of the pipes is in the range from 100 to 120 m, you need to divide the total length by the selected length of one pipe.
The parameter of the substrate for underfloor heating is determined based on the area of the room, which is obtained after multiplying the length and width of the room. If the room has a complex configuration to obtain an accurate result, it must be divided into segments and calculate the area of each of them.
Examples of calculating a water heated floor
Below you can find two examples of calculating a water-heated floor:Example 1
In a room with a wall length of 4 × 6 m, the furniture in which occupies almost a quarter of it, a warm floor should occupy at least 17 m2. For its implementation, pipes with a diameter of 20 mm are used, which are laid like a snake. A step of 30 cm is maintained between them. Laying is carried out along a short wall.Before laying pipes, it is necessary to draw a diagram of their location on the floor in the most appropriate scale. In total, 11 rows of pipes will fit in such a room, each of which will be 5 m long, in total you will get 55 m of the pipeline. Another 2 m is added to the resulting pipe length. It is this distance that must be maintained before connecting to the riser. The total length of the pipes will be 57 m.
If the room is very cold, then it may be necessary to lay a double-circuit heating. Then you should stock up at least 140 m of pipes, such a length of the pipeline will help compensate for the strong pressure drop at the outlet and at the inlet of the system. You can make each contour of different lengths, but the difference between them should not be more than 15 meters. For example, one circuit is performed with a length of 76 m, and the second - 64 m.
Calculation of a warm floor can be carried out in two ways:
- For the first method, the formula is applied:
L=S? 1.1/B, where
L- pipeline length;
B- laying step, measured in meters;
S- heating area, in m2. - In the second option, the tabular data below is used. They are multiplied by the area of the contour.
Example 2
It is required to carry out a warm floor in a room with a wall length of 5x6 m, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 30 m2. For the system to work effectively, it must heat at least 70% of the space, which is 21 m2. We will assume that the average heat loss is about 80 W / m2. So, specific heat losses will be 1680 W / m2 (21x80). The desired temperature in the room is 20 degrees, while pipes with a diameter of 20 mm will be used. 7 cm screed and tiles are laid on them. The relationship between the pitch, the heat of the coolant, the heat flux density and the diameter of the pipes is shown in the diagram:
So, if there is a 20 mm pipe, to compensate for the heat loss of 80 W / m2, 31.5 degrees at a step of 10 cm and 33.5 degrees at a step of 15 cm will be required.
The temperature on the floor surface is 6 degrees lower than the temperature of the water in the pipes, due to the presence of screed and coating.
Video: Calculation of a warm water floor
From the video it will be possible to learn the theory of hydraulics associated with the arrangement of underfloor heating, its application to calculations, an example of calculating a water-heated floor in a special online program. First, simple pipe connection circuits for such a floor will be considered, and then their more complex options, in which all nodes of the underfloor heating system will be calculated:Self-calculation may result in errors. To avoid them and check the correctness of the calculations, you should use computer programs that contain correction factors. To calculate the underfloor heating, you need to select the pipe laying interval, their diameter, as well as the material. The error of calculations by the online program does not exceed 15%.
The device of warm water floors in a private house has many nuances and others. important points that need to be taken into account. In this article I will tell you how to make the right warm water floor. I will describe the main points that installers and customers miss.
Content
1. The thickness of the screed for a warm water floor
Pipe manufacturers are misleading people by offering 25, 30 or 35 mm screed height over the pipe. Installers are confused in the testimony. As a result, the underfloor heating does not work correctly.
Remember: According to SP 29.13330.2011 clause 8.2, the optimal thickness of the cement screed should be at least 45 mm above the pipeline.
Simply put, if we use a RAUTHERM S 17x2.0 pipeline with a height of 17 mm, then 45 mm above the pipe should be a screed. The minimum thickness of the screed for underfloor heating above the insulation is 62 mm.
With a decrease in the thickness of the screed, the risk of cracks and chips increases. Underfloor heating pipes expand and contract under the influence of temperature. With the height of the screed, we compensate for such temperature deformations. In practice, reducing the height of the screed leads to a sensation of temperature differences on the floor surface. One section of the floor is hotter, the other is colder.
Some of my customers want to play it safe and increase the maximum thickness of the screed to 80 mm, thereby greatly increasing the inertia of the system and heat consumption. The warm floor reacts with a great delay to changes in the air temperature in the room and consumes more heat to warm up additional centimeters of the screed. By the way, for the underfloor heating system, I recommend using a concrete grade not lower than M-300 (B-22.5).
2. Insulation for a warm water floor
In a warm water floor system, it uses only 1 of 3 types of insulation: extruded polystyrene foam with a density of more than 35 kg / m 2. When purchasing, be sure to check the type and density of the insulation. It is important!
Regular polystyrene foam is not suitable for underfloor heating. It is very brittle, has a lower density than polystyrene foam. The use of foam in a warm water floor system will cause the screed to sag. The use of foam as a heater is prohibited.
Foamed heaters will not withstand the weight of the screed and will shrink from 10 cm to 1-2 cm. Sometimes installers advise expanded clay backfills instead of insulation for underfloor heating. The option is working, but significantly increases the load on the floors. Expanded clay is 12 times heavier than expanded polystyrene, and retains heat 5 times worse. The mass of 40 mm expanded clay backfill is 3.7 kg / m 2.
The task of the insulation in the underfloor heating system is not so much in thermal insulation as in compensating for thermal expansion of pipes. The pipe is pressed into the insulation under the influence of temperature and does not deform the screed.
The underfloor heating cake is determined by the thickness of the insulation. The height of the insulation must be at least 50 mm in private houses. In the interfloor ceilings of apartments, a warm floor is often mounted on a foil substrate - multifoil without using a full-fledged layer of insulation.
3. Deformation joint in the floor screed
The expansion joint in the floor screed is used in rooms with an area of more than 40 m 2 where one of the sides of the room is more than 8 m.
In such rooms, the distribution of the contours of the warm floor is carried out depending on the placement of expansion joints. The expansion joint must not cross the underfloor heating loops and can only pass through the supply pipes.
At the intersection of expansion joints, the pipes are laid in a corrugated pipe-sleeve 1 meter long. The separation of the room with expansion joints starts from the corners of the room, narrowing places and columns.
4. Floor covering for underfloor heating
The floor covering directly affects the heat transfer and the operation of the system. You can make a mistake with the thickness of the insulation, screed, laying step, but a mistake in choosing a floor covering will be fatal.
In I have already given calculations why a warm floor cannot be used for heating. And the main reason is all kinds of shelters, carpets, sofas, furniture.
For example: Ceramic tiles are 7 times better at dissipating heat than laminate and 20 times better than any textile flooring.
Porcelain stoneware coating in most cases compensates for errors with the choice of thickness of insulation, screeds, incorrect pipe laying steps and much more. Porcelain stoneware gives off heat 2.5 times better than ceramic tile, 15 times better than resin flooring and 17 times better than laminate.
When choosing flooring for underfloor heating, ask for a certificate marked "underfloor heating". This means that the material is certified for use with a warm water floor. Otherwise, if the coverage is chosen incorrectly, The floor dries out, the smell is released.
5. Pipe for a warm water floor
The heat-insulated floor does not allow joints and couplings. Loops of a heat-insulated floor keep within an integral section of a pipe. Therefore, the pipe is sold in coils of 60, 120 and 240 meters. Polypropylene pipes, pipes with threaded, coupling connections in underfloor heating systems for installation in a screed are strictly prohibited!
I am often asked which pipe to choose for a warm water floor. Cross-linked polyethylene is used as a material for underfloor heating pipes. I recommend 3 brands of underfloor heating pipe manufacturers for installation: Uponor - pePEX pipe, Rehau - Rautherm S, STOUT - PE-Xa / EVOH
The PEX pipe for underfloor heating is more plastic than its counterpart for heating.
The calculation of pipes for a warm water floor is reduced to determining the length of the circuit, the diameter and the pipe laying step, depending on the hydraulic balancing of the circuits.
The maximum length of the underfloor heating circuit should not exceed 80 meters. This pipe length corresponds to the maximum area of one underfloor heating circuit - 9 m 2 with a step of 150 mm, 12 m 2 - with a step of 200 mm, or 15 m 2 with a laying step of 250 mm.
At the same time, the minimum length of the underfloor heating circuit must be more than 15 meters, which corresponds to a floor area of 3 m 2. This requirement is very relevant for small bathrooms and bathrooms, where Customers try to make a separate circuit, and then wonder why the warm floor is either hot or completely cold. The underfloor heating thermostat for such circuits works jerkily and quickly fails.
The diameter of the pipe for a warm water floor is determined comprehensively for each collector cabinet, based on the requirements for pressure drop in the circuit - no more than 12-15 kPa and surface temperature - no more than 29 ° C. If one underfloor heating circuit turns out to be significantly longer than the other, then we can balance such circuits by changing the pipe diameter.
For example, our warm floor consists of 5 circuits 80 meters long, and 1 circuit - only 15 meters. Therefore, in a 15-meter circuit, we must significantly narrow the pipe diameter so that the pressure loss in it is comparable to 80-meter circuits. As a result: we mount 5 circuits with a diameter of 20 mm, and a 12-meter circuit with a 14 mm pipe. To calculate the underfloor heating system, they usually contact me.
6.Temperature regulator for water floor heating
The room thermostat in the underfloor heating system can be regulated both “by air” in the room, and “by water” - with a floor sensor. There are combined thermostats on sale that provide increased control accuracy, but also have increased requirements for the installation site.
A room thermostat for underfloor heating can control from 1 to 4 circuits, depending on the characteristics of a particular model. The thermostat is connected to the servomotors of the manifold assembly and regulates the power supply, due to which the servomotor opens and closes, regulating the flow of water in the underfloor heating circuit.
Today it is difficult to imagine Vacation home no floor heating. Before starting the installation of heating, it is necessary to calculate the length of the pipe that is used for underfloor heating. Almost every country house has its own heating system, the owners of such houses independently install a water floor - if this is provided for by the layout of the premises. Of course, it is possible to install such a warm floor in apartments, but such a process can bring a lot of trouble to both apartment owners and employees. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to bring a warm floor to the heating system, and installing an additional boiler is problematic.
The dimensions and shape of the pipe for underfloor heating can be different, therefore, in order to understand how to calculate a warm floor, you need to understand the system and structure of such a system in more detail.
How can you install underfloor heating?
There are several ways to install underfloor heating. As an example, consider 2 ways.
Grazing. This floor has a flooring made of various materials such as polystyrene or wood. It is worth noting that such a floor is faster to install and put into operation, since it does not require additional time to fill the screed and dry it.
Concrete. Such a floor has a screed, which will take more time to apply, so if you want to make a warm floor as quickly as possible, then this option will not work for you.
In any case, installing a warm floor is a difficult task, so it is not recommended to carry out this process on your own. If there are no additional funds for employees, then the installation of the floor can be carried out independently, but strictly following the installation instructions.
Underfloor heating concrete installation
Despite the fact that laying a warm floor in this way takes longer, it is more popular. A pipe for a warm floor is selected depending on the materials. It is worth noting that the price of the pipe will also depend on the material from which it is made. The pipe with this method is laid along the contour. After laying the pipe, it is poured with a concrete screed without additional heat-insulating materials.
Calculation and installation of a warm floor
Before proceeding with the installation of the floor, it is necessary to calculate required amount pipes and other materials. The first step is to divide the room into several identical squares. The number of parts in a room depends on the area of the room and its geometry.
Calculation of the required amount of pipe
The maximum length of the circuit required for a warm water floor should not exceed 120 meters. It is worth noting that such dimensions are indicated for several reasons.
Due to the fact that water in the pipes can affect the integrity of the screed, if it is installed incorrectly, the floor can be damaged. An increase or decrease in temperature negatively affects the quality of a wooden floor or linoleum. By choosing the optimal size of the squares, you distribute energy and water through the pipes more efficiently.
After the room is divided into parts, you can start planning the shape of the pipe laying.
Methods for laying pipes for underfloor heating
There are 4 ways to lay the pipe:
- snake;
- Double snake (fits into 2 pipes);
- Snail. The pipe is laid in 2 times (bend) leaving one source gradually rounding towards the middle;
- Corner snake. Two pipes come out from the same corner: the first pipe starts the snake, the second one ends.
Depending on which pipe laying method you choose, you need to calculate the number of pipes. It is worth noting that pipes can be laid in several ways.
Which styling method should you choose?
In large rooms that have an even square or rectangular shape, it is recommended to use the “snail” laying method, so that a large room will always be warm and cozy.
If the room is long or small, it is recommended to use a "snake".
Laying step
In order for a person’s feet not to feel the difference between the sections of the floor, it is necessary to adhere to a certain length between the pipes, at the edge this length should be about 10 cm, then with a difference of 5 cm, for example, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm .
The distance between the pipes should not exceed 30 cm, otherwise it will be simply unpleasant to walk on such a floor.
Calculation of pipes for underfloor heating
On average, 5 running meters of pipe are needed per 1 m2. This method is easier to determine how many pipes per m2 are needed to equip a warm floor. With this calculation, the step length is 20 cm.
You can determine the required amount of pipe using the formula: L \u003d S / N * 1.1, where:
- S is the area of the room.
- N - Laying step.
- 1.1 - pipe margin for turns.
When calculating, it is also necessary to add the number of meters from the floor to the collector and back.
Example:
- Floor area (useful area): 15 m2;
- Distance from floor to collector: 4 m;
- The step of laying the warm floor: 15 cm (0.15 m.);
- Calculations: 15 / 0.15 * 1.1 + (4 * 2) = 118 m.
What should be the length of the water floor heating circuit?
These parameters must be calculated based on the diameter and material from which the pipes are made. So, for example, for metal-plastic pipes with a diameter of 16 inches, the length of the contour of a water-heated floor should not exceed 100 meters. The optimal length for such a pipe is 75-80 meters.
For pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene with a diameter of 18 mm, the length of the contour on the surface for a warm floor should not exceed 120 meters. In practice, this length is 90-100 meters.
For metal-plastic pipes with a diameter of 20 mm maximum length underfloor heating should be approximately 100-120 meters, depending on the manufacturer.
It is recommended to choose pipes for laying on the floor based on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room. It is worth noting that their durability and quality of work depend on what material the pipes are made of and how they are laid on the surface. The best option would be metal-plastic pipes.
Floor installation steps
After you have chosen high-quality and reliable pipes, it is recommended to proceed with the installation of a warm floor. This must be done in several stages.
Installation of thermal insulation
At this stage, there are preparatory work, the floor is cleared and a layer of thermal insulation is laid. Styrofoam can act as thermal insulation. Styrofoam layers are laid on the subfloor. The thickness of the foam should not exceed 15 cm. It is recommended to calculate the thickness depending on the size of the room, its location in the apartment, as well as the individual preferences of the person.
Installation of waterproofing
After the foam is laid, it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing. Polyethylene film is suitable as a waterproofing. The plastic film is fixed to the walls (near the plinth), and the floor is reinforced with mesh from above.
Laying and fixing pipes
Next, you can lay pipes for underfloor heating. After you have calculated and selected a pipe laying scheme, this process will not take you much time. When laying pipes, they must be fixed on the reinforcing mesh with special stretch marks or clamps.
Crimping
Crimping is almost the last stage in the installation of a warm floor. Pressure testing must be carried out within 24 hours at operating pressure. Thanks to this stage, it is possible to identify and eliminate mechanical damage to pipes.
Pouring with concrete mortar
All flooring work is carried out under pressure. It is worth noting that the thickness of the concrete layer should not exceed 7 cm.
After the concrete has dried, you can lay the floor. As a floor covering, it is recommended to use tiles or linoleum. If you choose parquet or any other natural surface, due to possible temperature changes, such a surface may become unusable.
Collector cabinet and its installation
Before you calculate the pipe flow required for installation on the surface and underfloor heating, you need to prepare a place for the collector.
The collector is a device that maintains pressure in the pipes and heats the used water. Also, this device allows you to maintain the required temperature in the room. It is worth noting that it is necessary to buy a collector depending on the size of the room.
How and where should the manifold cabinet be installed?
There are no restrictions for installing a manifold cabinet, at the same time, there are several recommendations.
It is also not recommended to install the collector cabinet too high, since in the end the circulation of water may occur unevenly. The optimal height for installing the cabinet is 20-30 cm above the bare floor.
Tips for those who decide to install a warm floor on their own
There must be an air outlet in the collector cabinet from above. Laying a warm floor under furniture is strictly prohibited. Firstly, because it will lead to damage to the materials from which the furniture is made. Secondly, it can lead to fire. Materials that are highly flammable can catch fire easily if there is a high temperature in the room. Thirdly, the heat from the floor must constantly rise up, the furniture prevents this, so the pipes heat up faster and can deteriorate.
It is necessary to choose a collector depending on the size of the room. In the store, when buying, you need to pay attention to what dimensions this or that collector is designed for.
Pay attention to the advantages of certain materials from which the pipes are made.
The main qualities of pipes:
- wear resistance;
- Thermal resistance.
Buy pipes with an average diameter. If the pipe diameter is too large, the circulation of water will take a very long time, and reaching the middle or end (depending on the laying method), the water will cool down, the same situation will occur with a pipe with a small diameter. Therefore, pipes with a diameter of 20-40 mm will be the best option.
Before you calculate a warm floor, consult with those who have already done it. Calculation of the area and number of pipes is an important step in preparing for floor installation. In order not to be mistaken, buy + 4 meters of pipe, this will allow you not to save on the pipe if it is not enough.
Before laying pipes, step back from the walls 20 cm in advance, this is the average distance over which the heat from the pipes acts. Calculate your steps wisely. If the distance between the pipes is calculated incorrectly, the room and floor will be heated in strips.
After installing the system, test it, so you can understand in advance whether the collector was installed correctly, as well as notice mechanical damage.
If you install the underfloor heating correctly, it will serve you for many years. If you have any questions, it is better to ask them to an expert of our website or contact specialists who will qualitatively, quickly and reliably improve and prepare your room for installing a warm floor.
