Core heating floor: device, installation, types and reviews

Owners of apartments and private houses in addition to standard radiators are trying to install heated floors. After all, no matter how well the room is heated, in the cold season it is much more pleasant to get on a warm surface, and in homes where there are small children, this question is especially relevant.

Today, for these purposes, several types of systems are used, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. We will consider one of the latest developments for heating housing - core floor, pay attention to its performance characteristics, features and installation method.

What are the core heating systems

The system of the core floor consists of flexible high-tech carbon rods, connected together by a multicore wire. Inside the device and on both sides there are busbars, and the rods themselves are fixed at a distance of 10 cm. Thus, a "carpet" is obtained, which looks very much like a rope ladder.

Inside the current-carrying elements are silver, carbon and copper, thanks to which the heating of the surfaces adjacent to the system takes place.

The width of one such thermometer is 83 cm, and the maximum length is 25 meters (with a sequential arrangement). The rod floor is equipped with a special thermoregulator and a sensor for measuring temperature.

What is the work of the system based on?

The principle of the carbon system is very similar to the process of heating rooms with film floors - it consists in the emission of infrared waves. The length of such a wave varies from 8 to 14 μm.

Manufacturers argue that the savings of owners when using similar devices is about 60%, which is achieved due to rapid and uniform heating of all objects in the room.

Specifications

The main characteristics with which the core floor is endowed may vary depending on the manufacturer, but you can still derive the average figures. They are as follows:

• roll width is standard - 83 cm;

• the thickness of the mat is -3-3.5 mm;

• The power consumption is from 110 to 180 W / pm (depends on the heating temperature);

• energy consumption per 1 running meter - from 20 to 50 W / hour;

• Power supply from 220 V power supply.

Scope of application

Due to their excellent performance, these devices can be used in all rooms of living quarters, on the loggia, in the bathroom, in winter greenhouses, gyms, public places, storage facilities and as anti-icing systems.

A great advantage of the device is its ability to use with any type of coating. It is perfectly combined with the finishing of natural wood, parquet and laminate. Since the heating elements are mounted on a small layer of cement screed, it is optimal to lay the core warm floor under the tile and porcelain stoneware. It is also possible to mount mats on the glue used for laying tiles, which can significantly save on repair work.

The main advantages of carbon warm floors

Economy and high quality of heating are far from all the advantages that the core warm floor possesses. Comments from consumers indicate the following positive qualities:

1. Long service life - up to 50 years.

2. High degree of fire safety.

3. Slight weight.

4. Resistance to moisture.

5. Resistance to mechanical stress.

6. Quick and even heating of the room.

7. Ability to remove stale unpleasant odors.

8. Does not generate electromagnetic radiation.

9. Excellent heating of large rooms.

Unlike analog film systems, heavy electric furniture and household appliances can be installed on the electric warm floor (core). This allows you to quietly do a rearrangement in the room and make cosmetic repairs, not paying attention to the location of mats.

Their installation can be carried out both on the floor, and on walls and ceiling. The presence of a thermostat prevents the overheating of the elements, due to which the system serves for many years.

Disadvantages of core floors

Despite the fact that the core warm floor is recognized as the most optimal method of heating, which has no analogues today, it has some drawbacks.

First of all, they are connected with the technology of mounting such systems. For their arrangement it is necessary to fill the screed, which does not allow you to move the device to other rooms or take it with you when moving to another housing. The same circumstance makes it difficult to repair and replace the rods in case of failure.

The second drawback, which has a core warm floor - the price of the device is quite high. Depending on the region of sale and the manufacturer, the cost of a carbon heating system varies from 1500 to 2500 rubles per square meter.

Preparing to install the system

When starting to install carbon fiber floors, you should check the availability of all accessories. The kit should contain:

• Carbon mats;

• Wires;

• connecting and terminal set;

• instructions for laying the system;

• corrugated tube with a plug;

• heat-insulating material;

• thermostat;

• sensor for temperature control;

• Bituminous insulating material;

• Scotch tape.

If all elements of the system are available, you can proceed to prepare the foundation for laying.

Carbon core warm floor is laid on a flat surface, in which there are no significant differences in height (more than 3 mm). If the floors have cracks, depressions and other defects, they are preliminarily leveled with leveling compounds.

During the preparation phase, it is necessary to patch the walls to install a temperature sensor and lay a corrugated pipe with a sensor. The hole for the thermostat is placed next to the power source, 1 meter above the floor level.

Mounting the carbon core

After the preparatory work is completed, the installation of the system is started. The technology of its installation includes the following stages:

1. Laying of thermal insulation. Heat insulation (can be used foil) is placed at a distance of 5 cm from the walls and fastened together with adhesive tape. Reflective materials are laid in a foil layer outside. To exclude the mobility of the elements, they can be fixed at the base by means of an adhesive composition.

2. Installation of the heating device . The rods are laid on the prepared surface and fixed with an adhesive tape. If necessary, the heating "carpet" is cut, turned over 180 degrees and laid next to the first strip. The distance between neighboring canvases should be at least 5-7 cm, and the length of one strip should not exceed 25 meters.

3. Laying the temperature sensor . A special sensor is placed in a corrugated pipe and laid in a prepared rod. Heat insulation in this place is cut. To prevent the solution from entering the pipe, its open part is covered with a plug.

4. Mounting the temperature regulator . The device is installed in the hole and the wires of the core mat are connected to it (indicated in the instruction manual).

5. System health check . After connecting the device, check its operation. The first power-up should not last more than 15 minutes.

6. Filling the solution . For these purposes, it is better to use dry adhesives. The optimum thickness of the screed for the carbon floor is 2-3 cm. If the tile is laid on top of the system, the screed is not poured into it. After filling the solution, the system should not be switched on for more than 28 days.

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the manufacturers of such systems. Especially popular among domestic consumers is the products of the South Korean manufacturer Excel, HOTmat and EcoOndol.

A system of Russian production is characterized by excellent quality, but more democratic value. A striking example of this is the core warm floor of Unimat, which managed to excellently show itself in operation. Devices of unknown firms that have too low a price tag are not recommended to be purchased, since their service life is much less than usual.