Installation Of An Electric Underfloor Heating: Do-it-yourself Installation, Electricity Connection Diagram, How To Properly Install A Warm Floor

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Installation Of An Electric Underfloor Heating: Do-it-yourself Installation, Electricity Connection Diagram, How To Properly Install A Warm Floor
Installation Of An Electric Underfloor Heating: Do-it-yourself Installation, Electricity Connection Diagram, How To Properly Install A Warm Floor

Video: Installation Of An Electric Underfloor Heating: Do-it-yourself Installation, Electricity Connection Diagram, How To Properly Install A Warm Floor

Video: Installation Of An Electric Underfloor Heating: Do-it-yourself Installation, Electricity Connection Diagram, How To Properly Install A Warm Floor
Video: How to wire a thermostat of underfloor heating mat diagram UK 2024, March
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In the last decade, the underfloor heating system has become very popular. After all, it is possible to install it with your own hands without the help of specialists. It is also an effective way to create comfort in a country house or apartment.

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The choice of the type of electric underfloor heating system depends on the type of heating (main or additional). Also consider the size of the room and the flooring.

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Cable

This option of a warm floor was invented much earlier than other types. It is a wire (cable) through which heating occurs. There are two types of such a warm floor - directly cable and heating mats.

Cable heating system, as the name implies, is based on heating the cable. The system consists of a thermostat, temperature sensor and double insulated wire. This is the most time consuming heating option, because it must be installed in a cement screed.

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Heating mats are fiberglass mesh on which the electric heating elements (cables) are already fixed. The advantage of mats is that they can be installed without much effort. It is enough just to lay the heating mats on the base and connect to the mains.

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Infrared film coating

The film coating is a carbon-based thermal film. An alloy of copper and aluminum acts as a heating element. All elements are connected in parallel and sealed in a film. Such heating does not require the use of cement screed, and the topcoat is applied directly to the film.

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Advantages and disadvantages

Electric underfloor heating has a number of significant advantages:

  1. It can be used as a main or auxiliary heating source;
  2. The surface is heated evenly;
  3. Possibility of installation with various floor coverings (linoleum, laminate, ceramic tiles);
  4. You can independently regulate the temperature both in the entire apartment and in individual parts;
  5. These are environmentally friendly products that are not harmful to health;
  6. Long service life;
  7. Does not take up useful space in the living space, thus the appearance of the interior does not change.
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Minuses:

  1. High cost of production;
  2. You cannot use such heating under parquet or floorboard, as the wood is deformed under the influence of high temperatures;
  3. Cables create an electromagnetic field;
  4. If installed incorrectly, there is a risk of electric shock.
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Installation features

There are three ways to install an electric floor:

  • Installation in a screed layer with subsequent coating with floor material;
  • Laying on top of the screed itself under the tiles;
  • Installation of the system under the floor (film heating).
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The first installation method is used for residential premises. In this case, the installation of cable underfloor heating is recommended. Layers of waterproofing and thermal insulation are installed under the heating system.

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Installation consists of several stages:

  • Laying waterproofing material;
  • Installation of thermal insulation;
  • Fastening heating cables;
  • Screed creation.
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When installing an electric underfloor heating (ETP) under a laminate, wood flooring and linoleum, film heating (infrared film) is used. Infrared rays efficiently pass through materials and heat the floor surface.

Installation technology:

  • The required surface is covered with foil material;
  • If necessary, waterproofing is additionally created;
  • Installation of heating elements (infrared film);
  • Checking the electrical system of the heating element;
  • Topcoat application.
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Electric cables and heating mats are installed under the tiles. The advantage of heating cables is that it is possible to independently determine the laying step (spacing between cable cords). Electric heating elements are fixed with mounting tape.

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Preparation of the base

A properly prepared base for laying an electric floor is an indicator of the quality of the future flooring.

Algorithm of work:

  1. The base must be clean and level. The foundation is cleaned of dirt and, if necessary, leveled with a cement mixture. Cracks and gaps are carefully repaired. Concrete and porcelain stoneware are leveled with a grinder.
  2. Measurement of the room. Correct measurements can help speed up the installation process.
  3. Priming the sub floor surface. Priming allows better bonding of the base to the cement screed.
  4. Next, a waterproofing layer is laid using polyethylene, which should go 10 cm onto the wall.
  5. Placement around the perimeter of the base of the damper tape. It is designed to distribute heat evenly over the surface.
  6. Installation of thermal insulation. Insulation is selected depending on the type of flooring.
  7. Covering with reinforcing mesh. If you add microfiber or a plasticizer to the screed solution, you can do without additional reinforcement.
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How to calculate material and power?

Knowledge of the power factor is necessary in order to know if the heating of the room will be sufficient. It also allows you to correctly determine the size and amount of material.

To calculate the power, you must use the formula P1 = P2 * S * 1.3 (… 1.6), where:

  • Р1 - power of the electric cable;
  • P2 - heating power per square meter;
  • 1.3-1.6 is a margin indicator, which is needed so that the heating system relies not only on its own resources, but has spare power reserves.
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The required power for heating a dwelling is 120-180 watts, and in cases with a balcony and loggias, the indicators increase to 180-250 watts per square meter. Also, the capacity can vary depending on whether the system was installed as an additional heat source or as a main heating.

The length of the cable is calculated according to the formula h = S x100 / L, where h is the cable length, S is the surface area, L is the total cable length.

When laying film heating, the power is much easier to determine: the total number of heating elements must completely cover the required surface.

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How to install thermal insulation?

Thermal insulation is used to distribute heat flows evenly. A material with a reflective silver coating (foam or expanded polystyrene) is suitable for this.

For apartments in multi-storey buildings, a thermal insulation layer with a thickness of 3-4 mm is suitable, and in private houses the layer should be thicker. The thermal insulation material is fixed with an adhesive.

If it is necessary to heat a room with a high level of humidity (bath), then the thermal insulation is also processed with a waterproofing material.

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How to do it yourself?

The step-by-step instructions for different ETP models are slightly different. Let's take a closer look at how to mount different types of underfloor heating with your own hands.

Installation of cable underfloor heating:

  1. Preparation of the foundation to the required state (even, clean);
  2. Waterproofing is installed in bathrooms and toilets;
  3. The mounting tape is installed and the cable is laid with the required pitch. The end of the cable wire is led out into the junction box, where the thermostat will be located.
  4. A temperature sensor is installed in a corrugated pipe, one end of which is plugged, and is placed between the cables at a distance of 70-100 cm from the wall. The second end of the pipe with the sensor is inserted into a box for connection to a thermostat.
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Connecting the system to the network is possible only after the screed has dried.

Installation of heating mats:

  1. The mats are laid on the prepared base in such a way that they do not overlap each other, but touch tightly. If you need to cut the fiberglass, be very careful not to deform the heating cable. When installing a thermostat with a single-core cable, both ends of the cable wires must go to the box with the thermostat. In the case of a two-core cable, only one wire is enough to lead to the thermostat.
  2. The mat is laid on a special glue (glue layer - 2-3 mm), slightly pressing it into the floor.
  3. The temperature sensor is installed in the corrugated pipe between the turns of the heating elements. The second cable conduit is connected to the temperature controller.
  4. After that, it is mandatory to check the functioning of the system using a tester.
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If the underfloor heating is intended to be installed under the tiles, then after a functional check it is possible to proceed to the installation of the floor covering. In the case of laminate and parquet boards, after testing, it is necessary to make a screed of 1.5-2.5 cm. The floor covering is laid only after the screed is completely dry.

Installation of an infrared film floor:

  • First you need to install a junction box with a thermostat. A strobe is cut in the wall to connect the film and the sensor to the thermostat. We route the power cable to the junction box.
  • The base of the floor is covered with a heat-insulating layer (no more than 5 mm thick). The joints of the material are fixed with tape.
  • It is necessary to lay the infrared film with the heating elements downwards. The edges are also fixed with tape so that there are no shifts. The arrangement of the strips should be made in such a way that the contacts are closer to the thermostat.
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  • Connecting electrical contacts and an installation wire to the wall, further insulating them with bitumen insulation. The installation wires are led out to the junction box.
  • The temperature sensor is installed in the second section of the infrared floor in order to better receive information about the heating of the surface.
  • Connection testing. If everything is in order, you need to turn off the system.
  • Cover with plastic wrap.
  • Laying the topcoat.
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Electricity connection diagram

This part of the installation is the most critical. Electrical connection requires sequential actions:

  1. Testing of cables and wires for system resistance (using a multimeter) and insulation of mats (using a megohmmeter).
  2. Connecting the temperature sensor, thermostat and power cable. This must be done according to the instructions included in the ETP system.
  3. Additional grounding of the cable and power cord, which is performed by fixing these elements with a protective terminal.
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The temperature sensor is connected to the thermostat according to the instructions, after which the heating system is connected to the circuit breaker. The first start-up of the system is carried out only after the screed has completely dried.

Depending on the model of the electric floor used as heating, the connection diagrams differ. Connecting an ETP is much easier than connecting a water floor. No extra connections are required (for example, to an electric boiler), but only to the mains.

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Connecting the cable system:

  1. The temperature sensor is installed in a corrugated pipe and fits into a prepared groove in the wall.
  2. The electrode wire is connected to the thermostat. The cord itself is fixed between the turns of the heating elements.
  3. At the final stage, the heating system is checked using a tester. Only if, after testing and verifying the readings with the instructional readings, they coincide, you can put the screed.
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Heating mats:

  1. To begin with, the area where the thermostat is located is determined.
  2. The mats are laid according to the installation instructions.
  3. The temperature sensor, laid in a corrugated pipe, is fixed between the turns of the system.
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Film floor connection:

  1. First of all, it is necessary to connect all the rows of the film. You can use only those terminals that came with the underfloor heating. Film strips are connected in parallel. All contacts must be insulated with pads.
  2. A pocket is made in the center of the heat-insulating substrate for mounting a thermal sensor.
  3. Connecting the temperature sensor and thermal film to the thermostat and the entire system to the mains through a circuit breaker.
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To make sure that the system is functioning, you need to turn on the heating at full capacity and wait a few minutes. There should be no sparks or unpleasant odors. After testing the functionality of the system, you can proceed to the installation of the floor covering.

Control block

The underfloor heating system is regulated by an electric unit. You can turn the heating on and off, control the room temperature, and also regulate for periods of automatic on and off the system.

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There are several types of electric floor control panels:

  • Electromechanical the regulator is the easiest way to control. Its task is to control the heating and shutdown of the system. The regulator is controlled manually. There is a wheel connected to a regulator that maintains the temperature of the floor covering. Due to its simple design, the electric regulator has the lowest cost price and is less prone to breakdowns.
  • Digital panel control functions in the same way as the previous regulator. The only difference is that the regulation is carried out not with a wheel, but with a button or touch panel. The control unit is equipped with electric sensors that measure the air temperature in the room. Temperature sensors transmit data to the thermostat.
  • Programmable thermostat produced according to the most modern technologies. Several temperature sensors are available, transmitting all indicators to the controller, which maintains different temperatures in different rooms. Such a thermostat can be controlled via a Wi-Fi network using a smartphone or laptop. When you leave the house, you can turn it off completely or turn it on at the required temperature before your arrival.
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It is recommended to give preference to modern control panels that can be manually configured. Convenience and practicality in use and different design colors will help to fit them into any interior style.

Common mistakes

The very first mistake can be considered the installation of an electric floor under a heavy massive headset. Under the weight of the materials, insufficient cooling of the flooring occurs, which leads to overheating and breakdown of the heating elements.

Bending and bending the cable leads to breakdown of the entire heating system. If the film heating method is used, failure of the system may occur due to damage to the heating film.

Improper monitoring of insulation resistance during installation is also a common mistake for beginners. The value should not deviate from the declared manufacturer by more than 10 percent. Otherwise, ETP malfunctions await you.

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The temperature sensor must not be poured into the screed. It is installed in a corrugated pipe, which is placed in a screed. It will take a lot of effort to fix a breakdown in a screed-filled sensor.

Installation of infrared film requires insulating the live parts of the film. Failure to do so will continually leak current and power off the system. Do not cut the cable installed in the heating mat. It is necessary to correctly measure the area for heating and it is better to leave part of the room not covered by the heater.

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Recommendations

Installing an electric underfloor heating with your own hands is not so easy. In doing so, you must take into account some useful recommendations:

  • Be sure to follow the instructions from the manufacturer during installation;
  • The two-core cable must not be cut;
  • When installing, do not step on the cable, this can lead to its breakage;
  • It is recommended to install underfloor heating in the warm season;
  • The size of the film of the electric floor should be no more than 15 m;
  • Grounding when connecting the ETP is a prerequisite;
  • It is prohibited to fasten film materials with metal products;
  • Film heating is not recommended to be installed near heaters, fireplaces.
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If you follow the instructions and take a responsible attitude to the technology of installing electric floors, this type of heating will meet your expectations.

For information on how to install a warm electric floor, see the next video.

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