Tips on choosing the heating system for the floor.

When choosing a radiant heating system must respond to several questions:
# Is this the main heating system or heating comfort
# What is the nature and characteristics of the premises where it is planned to install «warm floor»
# If there is a sufficient number of electrical power
# How "smart" thermostat is needed
# What type of insulation can be put in a room, based on the thickness of the existing floor, it covers and door sills
# What kind of Radiant PEX tubing is available at a price.
warm floor

Consider, first of all, the choice of power system, since other issues are discussed in the relevant sections. Each of the systems in the range of all manufacturers is designed for installation on a particular area, eg, 2-4 meters These facilities are chosen from the condition that the specific capacity of the system should correspond to heat losses in the surroundings of this room, and the length of a section can produce a layout of the area with valid steps (from 8 to 15 cm). The method accurately calculate the heat contained in the SNIP II-3-79, but for simplicity, should be calculated for the conditions of Central America and average construction conditions, based on the values of 120-140 W / sq. It should also be noted that heating section is usually placed on some (10-20 cm) away from walls to furniture-free area. Thus, when using warm floor as the main heating system is necessary to determine space heating is less unheated areas. For example, floor space is 14 m2 free space - 10 m2. Power system when the main heating is 1,8 kW, with a comfortable floor heating - 1.2 kW.

The calculation is very simple, but usually have to take into account the characteristics of the premises, which include:
# First and last floors of buildings
# Rooms with large glazing - conservatories, bay windows, balconies
# Facilities with enough insulating enclosing structures
# Floors with special materials with large thickness or a high heat capacity (thick plates
# Marble or granite, etc.)

In all these cases it is necessary to increase the capacity of the system, as well as conduct Thermal calculation. Special mention should be on the premises with wooden floors or parquet. Due to the low thermal conductivity of wood at a standard power density of «warm floor» temperature on the surface of the floor will be noticeably lower than desired. At the same time, under the wooden surface in the space between the lags due to poor heat transfer surface temperature PEX tubing will increase. Thus, the power of PEX tubing will be primarily spent on heating the wood, which is extremely undesirable from the point of view of maintaining its moisture.

Some companies offer for rooms with wooden floors section Radiant PEX tubing with a specific power of 10 W / m Of course, PEX tubing will not heat too much, but the heating in such systems is practically unnoticeable. On the use of «warm floor» as the main heating system in such premises is out. To avoid misunderstandings, as well as the high fire risk, we do not recommend the use of «warm floors» in their classical performance in rooms with wooden floors.