When installing a warm floor, it is necessary not only to correctly perform the installation in compliance with the technology and all standards, you must also familiarize yourself with the gradation of the temperature regime. What is the temperature of the warm floor is considered borderline high, low or optimal? First of all, this knowledge is required to protect the flooring from damage (meaning ceramic tiles, parquet or linoleum). Often, users set their own parameters for the heating system, which negatively affects its operation.
Underfloor heating temperature
How does a warm floor work?
It is important to have an idea of the device and the features of the underfloor heating in order to understand how the temperature indicators can be adjusted and to what mark, in principle, heating is possible. Regardless of the manufacturer or the type of system, the floor consists of several layers. There are only three of them. Only this design allows you to ensure the optimal floor temperature in the room. Now we will consider the features of each of these layers separately.
Electric floor heating connection diagram
Warm floor - system advantages
First layer
It is a cement screed, on top of which a special substrate is laid, which has waterproof and heat-insulating properties. The main task of the underlay is to retain heat in the house and protect the lower floors from possible leaks. The screed also protects the pipeline from mechanical stress, which is very important during the installation phase.
What does a warm floor device look like under a tile?
Second layer
The next layer of the underfloor heating system is a pipeline through which hot water or heat carrier circulates. For the manufacture of the pipeline, metal and expanded clay are most often used. When installing other heating systems, special heating elements are installed instead of the pipeline, although the water heating system is considered the most common (it is economical and safe).
Water heat-insulated floor on logs
Third layer
The final layer of the system is a solid concrete screed that covers the pipeline. On top of the screed is a floor covering such as parquet or linoleum. There are several main requirements for a topcoat. First of all, it should not only be moisture resistant, it should also shouldn't be afraid of high temperatures.
Concrete layer - directly the floor screed
Prices for warm floors DEVI
Warm floors DEVI
Temperature mode of heating the coolant in the system
Table of temperature regimes of the coolant in the underfloor heating system
The supply flow of water should have readings of + 40-50 C. The maximum temperature at the inlet to the water-heated floor system cannot be higher than +60 C. The permissible temperature difference between the supply flow and the return is permissible within 5-15 degrees. Below +5 is impossible due to an increase in the flow rate of the water flow along the circuit, which will lead to a loss of pressure. But it is also not worth raising more than +15, since in this case the mode drops on the floor surface in different zones are possible. For example, next to the entrance doors, the indicator will be +27, and at the end point of the contour, it will be only +22. Such a drop is not comfortable for the system. It is believed that if the differences vary within + 10-12 degrees, this is the best option.
When a rare pumping heating unit is used for a heat source, the optimal temperature will be that supplied from the coolant to the circuit, that is, +40 C.Well, in other cases, the specified range mode is used.
Thermostats and thermostats for underfloor heating
And a little about the lengths of the pipes. It is believed that the conditionally maximum length of the pipe laid for heating depends on the diameter. The length parameters are as follows:
- Diameter 16 mm - length 70-90 m;
- Diameter 17 mm - length 90-100 m;
- Diameters 20 mm or more - length 120 m.
These different readings are due to the difference in hydraulic flow with the pipe load: the thicker the pipe, the lower the resistance.
Advice! If two or more circuits are installed in the room, it is advisable to select the most identical pipe lengths as possible.
Optimum temperature readings
There is no definite answer to the question of what temperature of the warm floor is considered normal. After all, if we consider the situation from the side of building rules and regulations, then the temperature indicators will be the same, and if from the side of a person who lives in an apartment with a warm floor, then the comfortable temperature for him may be completely different. Therefore, first you need to understand the building codes and regulations (SNiP) - what are they talking about?
Comfortable temperature of warm floors for different coatings
Note! For premises where people are constantly staying, the optimum temperature is 26 ° C. These are areas such as the kitchen, living room and bedroom. The temperature of the underfloor heating for rooms in which people stay for a short time is 31 ° C. These are corridors, toilets and bathrooms.
Heat distribution of the warm floor
Comfort temperature
In each case, the comfortable temperature is selected individually, so the indicators may differ from those established by building codes. Some people like a cool environment in the house, while others, on the contrary, prefer a warmer climate. Many people suffer from poor blood circulation in the lower extremities, which is why their feet often get cold. In this regard, the comfortable temperature for each individual person may be different..
Optimum floor temperature
Prices for underfloor heating REHAU
Warm floors REHAU
Maximum temperature
Despite the individual preferences of each person, there are maximum values for the temperature of the warm floor, which are strictly not recommended to be exceeded. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, doctors do not recommend exceeding the temperature, since prolonged contact of the legs with the hot surface of the floor can provoke venous expansion of the veins. With constant exposure to heat, the veins will also continually expand.
Limit (maximum) temperature of the heated floor surface
Secondly, if the floor overheats, the floor covering can suffer, especially if it is made of wood. Such coatings include parquet and laminate. These materials, under the influence of high temperatures, gradually dry out, due to which gaps are formed, and the material itself is quickly subject to wear.
What is the optimal temperature for underfloor heating
Expert opinion
Afanasyev E.V.
Chief editor of the pol-exp.com project Engineer.
With prolonged overheating, linoleum can emit formaldehydes - harmful substances that negatively affect the human body. Therefore, overheating of the floor must not be allowed when using linoleum as a floor covering.
The most harmful linoleums
Recommended heating temperature
In living quarters, heating at 26 ° C is usually sufficient. In kindergartens, a lower temperature is recommended - no more than 24˚С. But these are approximate figures. They may differ depending on the flooring. For example, a tile or laminate with a high-quality backing can easily withstand heating up to 30˚C.And linoleum or carpet should not be heated above 26 ° C, even if they are specially designed for use with a warm floor. The wooden covering can withstand up to 24˚С.
At first glance, the temperature of 24-26 degrees seems very low. Especially when compared with the hot water temperature in classic batteries. But do not forget that a warm floor warms up evenly the entire surface of the floor and gives off heat upward. That is, a very comfortable temperature of about 23-24 degrees is maintained at the level of the feet of the residents. Above it is 20-22 degrees, which is more pleasant and beneficial for the body. A higher temperature is tiring and causes headaches.
According to SNiP (building codes and regulations), the following heating temperature is recommended:
• In residential premises from 21 to 27˚С.
• In the office up to 29˚С.
• In corridors up to 30˚С.
• In the pool and bathroom up to 33˚С.
• In gyms up to 17˚С.
At lower temperatures, the risk of hypothermia and colds increases. And a higher one is tiresome for the body, reduces physical activity.
Underfloor heating temperature of different types
A water-heated floor can be heated to higher temperatures, since the heating pipes are located inside the concrete screed. But in any case, the water temperature at the outlet of the heating boiler should not be higher than 60˚С, optimally 40-50˚С. Otherwise, plastic pipes may deform or the concrete screed may crack. And the flooring can deteriorate.
The heating rate is also different for different types of systems. It will take about a day for a 5-centimeter concrete screed placed on top of a water floor to warm up. But then such a system retains heat for a long time and even after turning off the heating.
A cable floor with a concrete screed also takes a long time to warm up, from 12 to 20 hours, depending on the floor area. After turning off, the floor remains warm for up to a day.
Heating mats and infrared systems are placed directly under the floor covering, under the thin underlay. Therefore, they heat up the floor in a matter of minutes. But they also cool down quickly after turning off. To maintain the optimal temperature in your home, it is important to install a good programmable thermostat with a sensor system. Then you can enjoy a comfortable microclimate regardless of the type of floor and its coverage.
Why does the temperature rise
When using a water-heated floor, the temperature often rises to 60-65 ° C, and the floor surface itself is only slightly warm. First of all, this is due to improper installation of the underfloor heating system. There are many probable reasons why the system is not working properly. Below are the most common ones.
Features of heat transfer in the room
- For thermal insulation when laying a warm floor, a very thin material was used or it is completely absent... Due to the lack of thermal insulation to warm up the room, it is necessary to overheat the system, since most of the generated heat evaporates.
- During installation, a large laying step was used, as a result of which the apartment cannot warm up to the optimum temperature.
- The heat loss of the house is too large and the system cannot compensate for them... Therefore, the warm floor does not cope with its main task.
Room temperature distribution
When performing a thin screed, the floor surface gets very hot, and after the temperature drops, it becomes cool in the house. Such cases are quite rare, but in order to avoid problems with a warm floor, repair work should be entrusted only to experienced specialists. Of course, this can hit the pocket at the stage of repair, but it will save on electricity in the future.
Prices for warm floors "Teplolux"
Warm floors Teplolux
Why is your temperature much higher?
Quite often, it happens when the temperature of the heated water floor in the boiler reaches 60-70 degrees. At the same time, the floors can be barely warm. This is due primarily to an incorrectly mounted system.
In this situation, there may be three reasons:
- The most common. They did not put in the proper thermal insulation or used an option that was too thin. From this, part of your heat goes down and you are forced to "fire" to high temperatures in order to somehow feel the warmth.
- Less common. Underfloor heating was installed with a large installation step and from this the house cannot warm up.
- The heat loss of your home is higher than that for the use of water-heated floors. Therefore, you cannot warm up the house.
There are also cases when the temperature of the underfloor heating water on the surface, on the contrary, is too high .. And if the temperature is lowered, it becomes cold. Here, as an option, you can sin on the fact that a sufficiently thin screed has been poured in and it simply does not accumulate enough heat.
Features of regulation
If we talk about the classification of automatic control systems for the operation of a warm floor according to the characteristics of work and the place of installation, then the following varieties are distinguished:
- zonal;
- general;
- complex.
Underfloor heating temperature control
Under zonal systems for regulating the temperature of the warm floor it is assumed that there is a separate control element for each room. Shared systems provide for the use of group control of the system in one apartment. The temperature is regulated as follows: the required temperature is set on a special device (thermostat), after which the signal is sent to the system control panel. Upon receipt of the corresponding signal, the coolant moves from the system using valves with servo drives.
Image of water underfloor heating control
To increase the temperature, the coolant is started, and to decrease, on the contrary, it is removed from the floor heating system. Thanks to these actions, temperature regulation takes place. Depending on the type of thermostat and the characteristics of the system itself, the adjustment process may differ slightly.
Underfloor heating scheme with injection
Set of water heated floor up to 60 m - 2. (automatic temperature control)
A set of underfloor heating for heating rooms with an area of 60-80 m2 with a mixing unit with manual adjustment of the temperature of the heating medium based on the mixing and separating valve MIX 03. The operating temperature of the heating medium is automatically adjusted by the valve servo depending on the temperature of the heating medium set on the scale of the applied thermostat.
To facilitate the release of air, the system is supplemented with automatic air vents and drain valves. To ensure an equal flow rate of the heating agent in the underfloor heating loops (hydraulic balancing of the loops), collectors with integrated shut-off and control valves are used.
Reinforced thermal insulation allows you to arrange a system of underfloor heating over unheated rooms.
With spiral laying of the underfloor heating loop (screed thickness 3 cm with ceramic tile flooring) with a pitch of 15-20 cm and a calculated coolant temperature of 30 ° C - the floor surface temperature is 24-26 ° C, the coolant consumption is about 0.2 m3 / h , the flow velocity is 0.2-0.5 m / s, the pressure loss in the loop is approximately 5 kPa (0.5 m).
An accurate calculation of thermal and hydraulic parameters can be carried out using the free underfloor heating calculation program Valtec Prog.
Temperature control
How to set the desired floor temperature and what methods of adjusting it exist? The following are the main temperature correction methods used in modern systems.
Manual adjustment of TP collectors
Table.Methods for adjusting the temperature of the warm floor.
| Method name, photo | Description |
| Group | A general method of temperature control, assuming the presence of a warm floor throughout the house or apartment. |
| Individual | Correction of the temperature mode of the underfloor heating in individual rooms, for example, in the bathroom or corridor. |
| Complex | Another way to adjust the temperature of the warm floor, combining all the above methods. |
Floor heating pipe contour length calculator
Go to calculations
Using thermostats
To avoid overheating of the system, when installing a warm floor, install thermostat - a small device that regulates the temperature. There are three main types of thermostats: electronic, mechanical and programmable. All of them differ among themselves not only in name and price, but also in technical characteristics. Therefore, when choosing a product, it is imperative to consult with a specialist.
Types of thermostats for underfloor heating
After purchasing a thermostat, you need to install it correctly. Below is a step-by-step instruction for the installation of a regulator and a special temperature sensor, subject to which even a beginner can cope with this task. First, you need to make a small groove in the wall to lay the wire on the temperature sensor. Next, you need to follow the instructions.
Connecting the underfloor heating controller
Step 1. Pass the wire with the temperature sensor through the corrugated tube (the diameter of the corrugation is selected in accordance with the dimensions of the wire).
Thread the wire into the corrugated tube
Step 2. Carefully lead the sensor wire out from the other side of the corrugation.
Lead the wire out of the other end
Step 3. Close the end of the tube from the side of the sensor using a special plastic plug. This is required to protect the tube from dust and mortar.
Install the plastic plug
Step 4. Fix the end of the corrugated pipe with the sensor between the heating circuits. For this purpose, it is advisable to use a special tape or strong clamps made of plastic.
Secure the end of the tube
On a note! Do not install the temperature sensor very close to a stove, fireplace or electric heater. Due to the proximity, the readings of the temperature sensor may be unreliable.
Step 5. Lead the tube from the regulator to the floor, or rather, into the groove prepared in advance. Make sure that there are no strong bends in the tube.
Bring the tubes to the floor
Step 6... After installing the wiring and the special corrugated tube, seal the groove in the wall with cement mortar. The surface should then remain smooth and level.
Mask the groove with mortar
Step 7. Clean and tin the wires well. The functioning of the thermostat will depend on the quality of the work done.
Run the wires
Step 8. Connect the thermostat to the wires, and then install the device in its place. To do this, a hole must be made in the wall for the dimensions of the regulator.
Connect wires to thermostat
Step 9... Test all electrical connections for proper operation. After checking, turn on the underfloor heating system for a short time. This is necessary to check the health of the system.
This is what the installed thermostat looks like
Step 10. If all is well and the floor heating system works, then a light on the thermostat, or rather, on its panel, will light up. The operability of the entire system will also be evidenced by the heating of the floor surface. The diagram shows the installation location of the temperature sensor.
An example of a warm floor scheme
Underfloor heating kit
In addition to the cable itself with a cold, connecting wire, the installation kit includes a temperature sensor with a thermostat. A piece of electrical corrugation is required for the temperature sensor.A special mounting tape for the heating cable is also required, if the installation will be carried out in the grooves, it is not needed. A socket box is needed under the thermostat.
It is worth paying attention: the use of a special mounting tape is optional. It is quite possible to dispense with the usual or other method of fastening. The main thing is that the fastening does not damage the cable during thermal expansion.
Additional recommendations
In order not to continue to face problems during the operation of a warm floor caused by an incorrect temperature regime, you need to follow a few simple rules:
Correct installation of the temperature sensor
- thermal insulation during the installation of a warm floor must be of high quality. The best option is polystyrene foam. The thickness of the insulating layer is from 5 cm;
- the thickness of the screed must be sufficient, otherwise the floor will become very hot. Experts recommend pouring the screed about 3-5 cm above the pipe;
- there should be a step of 15 cm between the pipes, and if this is the edge zone of the room, then 10 cm;
- the system must be installed according to a previously prepared floor heating project in the house. This is the only way to avoid common mistakes during work.
Calculator for calculating the proportions of the manufacture of cement-sand mortar for floor screed
Go to calculations
Sequence of work when connecting underfloor heating
The demand for underfloor heating is undeniable, since it is able to provide a given temperature in the room. Modern floor heating systems are a worthy addition to heating systems in the house.
