What is the optimal distance between the pipes of the warm floor? Laying a pipe of a warm floor: practical advice and recommendations

The prototypes of "warm floors" have been used in the practice of heating residential buildings for a long time. Thus, archaeologists and experts in the field of the history of architecture find confirmation in the excavations of the ancient settlements of Scandinavian tribes, in the remnants of houses of Roman patricians, in medieval feudal castles in Europe, in traditional residential buildings of the Far Eastern peoples. The system of channels laid under the floor ensured the passage of hot air from the furnaces, which contributed to a uniform warm-up of the room. A new birth received "warm floors" with the appearance of pumps and simplification of the production of pipes - instead of air, water was used as the coolant. But the widespread popularity and general availability of such heating systems were only at the end of the last century, which was due to the emergence and introduction of technologies for the production of inexpensive high-quality polymer pipes.

At present, the number of supporters of this type of heating of premises is constantly increasing. More and more owners of private houses and apartments are determined to create in their possessions a system of water "warm floors", assessing its economy, convenience in operation and the created comfortable temperature distribution in the premises. Naturally, for "our person" there is always a desire to do all or many things with our own hands. However, do not rely on the assurances of some online publications that this is a very simple matter. In order to get the system workable, reliable, trouble-free, efficient and economical, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances in its calculation, including parameters and quality of components. And in the succession of all necessary materials, parts and assemblies, one of the key positions is occupied by the heat-exchange contours of pipes, without guaranteed quality of which the water "warm floor" is simply impossible. What requirements must the pipe for the warm floor meet? How to choose the right one from the modern range - all these issues will find coverage in this publication.

Key requirements to the pipes of the "warm floor" contours

It is necessary in advance to "cool the ardor" of those domestic enthusiasts who, after lighting up the idea of ​​creating a "warm floor" in their home, expect to make do with some leftovers in the household or any inexpensive pipes, proceeding from the reasons for maximizing the price of the whole project. Nothing, most likely, they will not work - such a system of space heating involves the use of exceptionally high-quality material that meets a number of requirements. No "analogues" in this situation will come to the rescue - it is either simply prohibited, or their use will be akin to a "mortgaged bomb" that is unknown when it explodes.

Before making a decision and planning a trip to the store for the material, you must certainly carefully study all the basic requirements for pipes that are acceptable for use in the "warm floor". Nothing can be done about it - the operating conditions are very specific.

• Even if the owner has a stock of metal tubes of VGP, or there is an opportunity to get them at a low cost - still this idea should be swept away immediately. And, it does not matter - whether it will be ordinary steel pipes, galvanized or even made of stainless steel. This categorical prohibition is predetermined by several factors.

First of all, according to the current building codes and rules, in closed circuits of the warm floor it is not allowed to use pipes made by welded technology (regardless of whether it is a straight line or a spiral). Well and the second - in itself such pipes possess rather impressive weight. In combination with the fact that the whole "cake" of the warm floor, taking into account the poured screed, weighs a lot, the use of steel contours will create increased and absolutely unjustified loads on the floors.

The only option for their application is the lines from the boiler room to the distribution manifolds. But even in this case, we can consider such a solution "yesterday's day" - there are simpler and more convenient options for execution.

• Although there are options for creating water "warm floors" for "dry" technology, yet the overwhelming number of schemes involves pouring concrete screed. In this case, the system becomes more efficient, since a monolithic layer of concrete creates an even distribution of heat over the surface and, in addition, becomes a powerful storage of thermal energy, ensuring the economy and smooth operation of heating.

All this suggests that it is completely impossible to audit the stacked contours or carry out minor repairs. Any emergency will lead to extremely large-scale and costly dismantling of the concrete fill and replacement of the entire circuit as a whole. Therefore, the quality of the pipes should be such that the terms of their operation were comparable to the durability of the building structures themselves. The system of the "warm floor" should be carried out with the expectation of decades ahead.

Pipes for the "warm floor" should have full protection from the development of corrosion, from the processes of ingrown walls with scum and salt deposits, narrowing the lumen. The material of manufacture should be chemically inert irrespective of the type of coolant used, not subject to aging, resistant to temperature changes. Ideally, it is recommended to use products equipped with a special "barrier" from oxygen diffusion - such pipes are characterized by the highest performance.

• When installing the "warm floor" contour, any splices of the pipes covered by the screed (with some exceptions, which will be mentioned below) should be excluded. Any place of connection - whether it is a fitting or a weld, has always been and remains a vulnerable place, in which most often accidents occur in the event of any contingencies.

Any leakage is unpleasant, but in an open area, as a rule, to eliminate the consequences is not difficult. Otherwise, if this happens under a layer of concrete pouring - "consequences" in the literal sense of the word consequences can become catastrophic. Even to detect the damaged area can not be at once - it can make itself felt by leakage to neighbors or even a malfunction of the electric network, which is an extremely high hazard.

And the second argument against the connections in the circuits. Such nodes are always more vulnerable in terms of formation of overgrowths or blockages. It is incomparably more difficult to wash the outline of a "warm floor" than an open radiator.

Hence the conclusion - the contour must be executed from a single piece of pipe of the required length. In addition, the pipe itself must be sufficiently plastic to allow curvilinear sections with smooth curves to be laid out, while maintaining the shape given to it without undue internal stresses in the walls.

It may be objected that, on the Internet, there are demonstrations of created contours of "warm floors" made, for example, from polypropylene pipes, naturally, using welded seams on bends, tees, etc. But, you see, not all that is published in the network should become a model for repetition. Pay attention: on the general background - this, literally, isolated cases, the history of exploitation of which, by the way, is not covered in any way. There are still arguments against this decision - they will be discussed when considering the characteristics of pipes.

• From the previous point it follows logically that the pipes must have a sufficient length for laying the contour with a single segment. This requirement is met by the majority of products manufactured for this application - they are sold in coils in bays.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account the limitations on the total length of the contour. Excessive pipe din can lead to the fact that its hydraulic resistance exceeds the capacity of the circulation pump, and the effect of the "locked loop" will appear - the coolant will not move along the contour. There are certain limits that should not be exceeded.

If the area of ​​the room in which the water "warm floor" is created is such that longer pipes are required, then it is necessary to split it into two or more sections with separate contours of approximately the same extent, connecting them to the common collector.

• Since the diameter of the pipes was mentioned, one can immediately stop at this characteristic.

Usually for the contours of the warm floor used pipes of three sizes - 16.20 and, much less often - 25 mm.

For warm floors, pipes with a diameter of 16, 20, and more rarely 25 mm

In this matter, it is important to choose the "golden mean" that best suits the specific conditions. It is clear that the narrower the tube opening, the greater the importance of hydraulic resistance, and the less heat-exchange potential will be possessed by the circuit. However, as the diameter grows, the thickness of the screed is surely increased, which leads to a raising of the floor surface, which is not always possible, and to an increase in loads on the floors.

• One of the most important requirements for pipes is high mechanical strength. The walls of the pipe have to carry considerable loads, both external, from the side of the concrete screed, and internal, caused by the pressure of the coolant in the circuit. It is clear that critical pressures should not be present here by definition, but in order to avoid accidents caused by extreme jumps, the pipe must be able to withstand up to 10 bar.
• The pipe material must not be subjected to thermal deformation at high temperatures. In the "warm floor" contours heating of the coolant usually rarely exceeds 40 ÷ 45 ° C, but for a complete guarantee of the safety of the pipe, a material is chosen that does not change its characteristics and at 90 ÷ 95 ° C in case of unforeseen abnormal situations on the collector equipment.
• The ideal smoothness of the inner walls of the pipe is a condition for effective work of the "warm floor". This is necessary, firstly, so that the value of the hydraulic resistance lies within acceptable limits. Secondly, the probability of plaque formation and solid deposits is much less on a smooth surface. And thirdly - with poor-quality, uneven wall surfaces, the transfer of coolant through the pipes can be accompanied by noise, which is far from all people like.

So, the basic requirements to the pipes of the "warm floor" contours were laid down. Now you can go on to consider the types of material in order to assess to what extent they correspond to the above parameters, how easy it is to work, are economical in terms of material cost and installation work.

Which pipes are optimal for underfloor heating?

Pipes from metal

One type of metal pipe has already been briefly considered above - it is about steel VGP. With them everything is unambiguous - they are in the contours of the "warm floor" categorically unacceptable. But there are other varieties - and here they are suitable for these purposes as well as possible.

Copper pipes

If we consider copper pipes in the light of the above requirements, then they are probably close to the ideal.

• Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, that is, a contour of such pipes will ensure maximum heat transfer.
• This metal has the highest resistance to corrosion, that is, the pipes in their durability no doubt should not cause. At the first stage of exploitation, copper will be covered with a thin layer of patina - and after that the process of its "aging" practically stops.
• Copper pipes are very ductile, and, subject to certain technological methods, they can be bent over a very small radius.
• The walls of copper pipes are distinguished by their high mechanical strength, they are not afraid of sudden pressure surges and temperature changes.
• Many modern manufacturers of copper pipes also practice external polymer film coating - this is another plus to the durability of such circuits, which receive additional protection from the aggressive environment of cement.

Disadvantages of copper pipes are, but they can be attributed to "indirect" - they do not affect the performance and safety of the heating system:

• Installation of copper pipes is quite a complicated task, requiring special skills and special equipment. This, of course, significantly reduces the possibility of creating a "warm floor" system on its own.
• And secondly - the cost of copper pipes is incomparably higher than that of polymer or composite pipes. They are not available to everyone, therefore, therefore, their popularity is very high.

Corrugated stainless steel pipes

• Such a variety of pipes appeared relatively recently, but immediately proved its advantages over many others.
• Pipes are made of stainless steel, that is, their corrosion is completely excluded. In addition, they can have an additional polymer coating.

Corrugated stainless steel pipes - an excellent solution for the "warm floor"

• Such pipes have good flexibility, which is extremely important for laying out contours of complex configuration, and at the same time they keep the given bend stably. Even a random fracture of the pipe is completely excluded when forming a bend.
• The mechanical strength of the pipes is beyond praise.
• Stability of the material to a variety of effects - temperature, pressure, aggressive pumped media, allows the use of such pipes, even in technological industrial plants - and this speaks for itself.

Corrugated stainless steel pipes are realized in bays up to 30 or 50 meters in length. It would seem - obviously not enough for the circuits of the warm floor. But here everything is all right.

Such pipes are so perfect in the system of connecting fittings that the docking assemblies can be placed in the screed without any risk of leakage. This is probably the only exception to the rule mentioned above - such pipes can be joined during the laying of a long contour.

What limits the wide use of such pipes? First of all, this is certainly a high level of prices for them. However, another reason is not excluded - many potential buyers simply do not have information about the existence of such a reliable option.

Polymer pipes

In this category, it is possible to make a division into polypropylene pipes and products, the main material in which is polyethylene of one degree or another of processing.

Polypropylene pipes

They already talked about higher, but still it's worth a little bit of attention.

Polypropylene pipes are an excellent material for use in water supply systems or when installing heating circuits of the "classical" type - with radiators or convectors of heating. They are also suitable for ensuring the transportation of the coolant from the boiler to the installation site of the distribution manifold, both for supply and for return. Installation of them is not complicated, and in the presence of a special welding machine, the necessary skills are acquired literally on the move. The cost of both the pipes themselves, and all the necessary elements for installation - is very low.

Polypropylene pipes have a lot of advantages, but for the "warm floor" contour they do not fit

But here for a circuit already it is necessary to search for other decision.

• The form of production of such pipes is short (in terms of the lengths of the contours of the warm floor).
• The pipe has a very scarlet plasticity, that is, it bends it even under a relatively large radius - it is impossible, let alone laying the loops of the contour. That is, in any case, it is impossible to avoid weld joints, the inadmissibility of which has already been mentioned.
• The thermal conductivity of the material is low, that is, adequate heat transfer between the coolant and the lean floor will not be ensured, and the overall efficiency of the system will be low.
• Pipes made of polypropylene are distinguished against the general background by the highest rates of thermal linear expansion. Even reinforced, designed for hot water, on long sections will require the installation of compensatory loops. In a warm floor, filled with a screed, this can not be done, and the walls of the pipes will be subject to considerable internal stresses, which, of course, will affect their durability.

In a word, no matter what one may say, to use such pipes for the circuits of the warm floor is a completely unjustified decision from any point of view.

Pipes based on polyethylene

It seems appropriate that a very important reservation will be made immediately. The point is that if you analyze most of the publications devoted to this problem, you can come to an incorrect conclusion. Very often graduation of all flexible pipes suitable for the system of "warm floors", made of cross-linked polyethylene and metal-plastic ones is done. Involuntarily there is a persistent association that polyethylene - it is on its own, and for a metal plastic is used some other polymer.

In reality, everything is somewhat simpler. All modern flexible pipes of similar purpose are made on the basis of the so-called cross-linked polyethylene, which, however, can differ in the technology of processing the raw material. But already in the structure of the tube itself can be included a metal reinforcement layer and some other technological layers that increase the operational characteristics of the finished product.

Therefore, in this article, let's try to follow the same classification - based, first of all, on the raw material of pipe manufacturing.

For starters, it is probably worthwhile to get a certain concept, what is hidden under the mysterious name "cross-linked polyethylene"

Pipes based on cross-linked polyethylene

The development of cheap and affordable technology for the production of polyethylene in the full sense of the word revolutionized the life of mankind - this material occurs literally at every step, and without it it is difficult even to imagine our life. But with all the advantages of this material - inertia, harmlessness for water and products, plasticity, a sufficiently high overall strength, there are a number of shortcomings in it, which are due to the molecular features of the polymer.

Polyethylene molecules are pronounced long chains that are not connected or very loosely connected. At high loads, the material begins to stretch strongly, and with thermal exposure, even less significant - to swim, lose the desired shape. Naturally, this seriously limited the scope of such a polymer in products that are operated under similar conditions.

But if we create cross-links between chains of molecules, the picture changes immediately. The structure is obtained not linear, but already three-dimensional, and polyethylene, without losing any of its merits, gets additional qualities - increased strength and stability of the form given to it.

The more such connecting "jumper", that is, the higher the degree of cross-linking of polyethylene, measured in percent, the more stable and high-quality the material is.

There is another remarkable property of cross-linked polyethylene - this is a kind of "memory effect". If the product under the influence of any external loads changes its shape or configuration, then, under normal conditions, it will tend to its initial position. For the manufacture of pipes, this is generally an invaluable advantage.

There is a generally accepted letter designation, according to which it can immediately be determined that the product is made of cross-linked polyethylene - PEX. But usually after these letters goes one more - it is a symbol that indicates the technology of creating cross-links in the molecular structure of the material. From the method used, the performance of the polymer depends quite strongly, so it is worthwhile to dwell on this nuance.

• RE-Xa - the intermolecular cross-linking of polyethylene passes under the influence of a chemical reagent - peroxide. Of all the technologies adopted to date, this one gives the maximum degree of cross-linking - it reaches 85%. The initial polymer does not lose its qualities in any way, but its strength and stability increase dramatically, a particularly pronounced "memory effect" is noted.

The technology is quite complicated and expensive, but it gives the best results at the output. It is also important that the crosslinking process can be fully controlled, that is, a polymer with strictly specified parameters is obtained at the output.

• PE-Xb - the cross-linking takes place according to the silanol technology, due to the so-called "grafting" of the active silane molecule and water vapor treatment. I must say that this technology was originally conceived as a cheaper replacement for RE-Kh. However, it can not be said that the declared goal was fully achieved.

The cross-linked PE-Xb-polyethylene is inferior to plasticity, that is, it will be much more difficult to bend the pipes along a small radius. The overall degree of cross-linking rarely exceeds 65%. The drawback is also that the technological process is difficult to verify, and at the output of the products of different parties may differ in their parameters. Moreover, the process of cross-linking, in fact, does not stop in finished products - it simply goes into a sluggish phase. It turns out. With time, the same pipes can become stiffer, sit down. In some countries, this type of polyethylene is banned for use in heating networks for this reason - the connections at the fittings are not the most reliable, and therefore require regular braces. Well, in the metal-plastic pipes on the basis of PE-Xb, the bundle of the general wall structure was repeatedly noted.

• PE-Xs is crosslinked polyethylene, the transverse bonds in which arise due to directional emission of electrons. Production of this polymer is quite simple in terms of technology and inexpensive, but the material itself is significantly inferior to PE-Xa PE.

It, of course, finds its application, for example, goes to the manufacture of low-price metal-plastic pipes. They are quite applicable for water supply networks, but they can be used in the contour of the warm floor with a very great conventionality.

• RE-Xd - according to this technology, cross-links were formed due to processing of raw materials with special nitrogenous substances. At present, this method has completely lost the competition to others, and is not actually used, and pipes with such an index are not found.

Quality pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene are widely used in systems of warm floors. Moreover, some of their types are designed exclusively for such functions.

• Great demand for craftsmen use metal-plastic pipes that combine the inner and outer layers of their cross-linked polyethylene and the internal solid aluminum layer. The accepted designation for such pipes is PEH-AL-PEH.

1 - inner layer of PEX

2 - outer layer of PEH.

3 - a continuous layer of aluminum foil, butt welded.

4 - adhesive layers (adhesive), ensuring the integrity of the wall structure.

Such pipes have quite decent performance characteristics, since they combine the advantages of polymer and metal. They are easy to bend (with observance of special technological rules), stably maintain the given configuration of the circuit, have a sufficiently high heat transfer.

But if we are talking about the contours of the warm floor, then the parameters of the polymer used to make the pipe come to the fore - this should be paid special attention. The fact is that the outwardly metal-plastic pipes are very similar, and sometimes unscrupulous sellers tend not to dedicate the buyer to the finer points, issuing their goods as universal, suitable for any operating conditions.

As already mentioned, preference should be given to pipes in which the inner layer (or better - both polymer layers) are made of cross-linked PE-Xa. They, of course, will not be cheap, but it's worth it.

The market of building materials literally teems with fakes for branded products, and the risk of acquiring a low-quality pipe is quite large. Therefore, all your indecision should be "left at home" - be sure to ask the sellers for documents confirming the originality of the product and its compliance with standards.

It is possible to meet metal-plastic pipes, in which the outer layer is made of PE-Xs or even generally from ordinary high pressure polyethylene - PE-HD. They externally practically do not differ, but to apply them in systems of a warm floor - it is not necessary. Any plumber with experience can tell how much he in his practice met the breakthroughs of the metal-plastic. The non-stiff outer layer begins to "tan" with time, crack, especially in the places of turning or bending of loops, and can easily crack. A thin inner layer and aluminum layer will not be able to withstand the pressure from the inside under such circumstances.

In addition, the gradual delamination of the pipe body is not excluded, since the materials still have a different coefficient of linear stretching with increasing temperature. Therefore, despite the mass of actual and apparent advantages, it is still worth noting to use this type of pipe in the contour under the screed. For these purposes, one-ply, made of cross-linked polyethylene PE-Xa or PE-Xb, is more suitable.

Such pipes are realized by bays, with a large footprint. They are very convenient for laying out even the most complex contours, and with the fastening technology perfectly hold the shape. The plasticity of the material allows you to stack the contours with the smallest step between turns - about 100 mm.

Even better, if it is possible to purchase such pipes, supplemented by a special barrier against oxygen diffusion. The penetration of active oxygen into the coolant from outside causes and activates corrosive processes in the metal parts and components of the heating system, and especially the heat exchangers of boilers are particularly prone to such aging. To prevent such a process, special barriers to oxygen diffusion were developed.

1 - inner layer PE-Xa or PE-Xb

2 - the oxygen barrier EVON.

3 - connecting layers.

4 - the outer layer, respectively, in the same way - PE-Xa or PE-Xb

By itself, this barrier is usually an interlayer of a special organic compound, polyethylvinyl alcohol. It is characteristic that all components of such a structure have equal characteristics of thermal expansion, therefore, even with significant thermal drops, no delamination of the walls is threatened.

To all of this, we should add that manufacturers of such pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene necessarily complete their products with convenient connecting elements that will simplify the connection of the contours of the warm floor to the collectors.

In order to make the pipe easier, and dishonest seller - it is more difficult to mislead the buyer, you can try to understand the marking system. You can consider by example - although different manufacturers may have features in this matter, but the general principle is still preserved.

1 - usually in the first position a trade mark and a specific assortment type of pipe are indicated.

2 - data on the outer diameter of the pipe and the total thickness of its wall.

3 - ciphers indicating compliance with accepted international standards for acceptable pipe applications. The indicator in this example indicates that the pipe is suitable for pumping drinking water.

4 - control technology applied for the evaluation of product quality.

5 - the technology of cross-linking polyethylene considered in the article above.

6 - confirmation of compliance of the pipe with the established standards DIN 16892/16893. These standards determine the maximum values ​​of temperature and pressure of the pumped liquid. On some models of pipes, the application of these indicators to marking is practiced. For example, it might look like this:

« DIN 16892PB 14/60 °CPB 11/70 °CPB 8/90 °C,

which will mean a maximum of 14 bar at t = 60 ° C, 11 bar at t = 70 ° C and 8 bar at t = 60 ° C.

These indicators can be indicated in the table form, in the technical documentation attached to the batch of pipes. In addition, the deadlines for operation under different regimes can be given. For example:

7 - material lot parameters - information about the release date and time, production line number, etc.

In addition to this information, the pipes have also been marked with their lengths - this makes it much easier to control the purchase of the required quantity, and the installation of contours themselves.

Pipes based on polyethylene increased heat resistance (PE-RT)

Attempts to maximize the modification of polyethylene led to the creation of a principled new material, denoted by the abbreviation PE-RT, from the English name, literally denoting polyethylene with increased heat resistance. Now the second generation of this polymer is being used in production.

The main difference is that the material does not require additional technological stages of crosslinking - its molecular structure with numerous and branched bonds is generally far from linear. And this quality is laid down in the initial material - the conglomerate arriving on the extrusion line is already fully a polymer with a stable molecular lattice. It is interesting that the loss of properties is not observed even during the secondary processing.

This polyethylene shows much greater results in terms of resistance to high temperatures and pressure. The term of his service can be estimated in tens of years. A unique molecular structure preserves the thermoplasticity of the material, that is, it can be welded or soldered. This allows in some cases to carry out repair and restoration work without dismantling the fragment that has become unusable and without the use of fittings, which is absolutely impossible, for example, with REX - there the damaged area will have to be removed.

Pipes from PE-RT are not afraid of negative temperatures - they have the potential to withstand several cycles of complete freezing and thawing without breaking through the walls and without any loss of their performance.

Pipes perfectly "behave" in the contours of the warm floor, are distinguished by noiselessness even with a strong head of pumped coolant.

By analogy with cross-linked polyethylene, PE-RT is also used in the production of both pure polymer pipes (with or without antidiffusion layer) and metal-plastic ones, in a different combination. Since the main load falls on the base inner layer, it is made of heat-resistant polyethylene PE-RT, and the outer protective layer can be made of cross-linked PEH or even PE-HD. But in the best pipes, both the outer and inner layers are made of PE-RT. So when choosing it is worth paying special attention to the formula indicated in the marking.

Probably, it is possible to state with the full justification that it is the PE-RT pipes that will be the choice that fully meets all previously listed requirements for the "warm floor" contours and does not fall outside the scope of reasonable expenses for the acquisition of material and components.

How much pipe will be required for the "warm floor"?

It is very difficult to answer this question unequivocally. It all depends on the step of laying out the contours, and it, in turn, is directly related to the tasks that are placed on the floor heating system and on the characteristics of a particular room.

To determine this issue, it will be necessary to conduct heat engineering calculations for each of the rooms where the installation of a "warm floor" is planned. In fact, it is necessary to calculate the heat loss of the room, which must be compensated by such a heating system. In any case, the "warm floor" will only make sense if measures are taken to maximize the thermal insulation of the room. Practice proves that if heat loss is more than 80 ÷ 100 W / m², then the arrangement of such heating systems of housing will turn into absolutely unjustified losses of forces, means and time.

It is also important whether the "warm floor" is the main source of thermal energy, or it is planned only as a means of increasing comfort in individual rooms or even in some limited areas, that is, it will work in a "tandem" with radiators.

Typically, the laying step is in the range from 100 to 300 mm. To reduce it is inexpedient, and often - and simply impossible, since this will not allow the allowable bending radius of the pipe. If the stacking step is too great, the heat will be distributed unevenly, and a "zebra effect" will appear-clearly tangible bands with different floor heating levels.

In areas requiring increased heating, the contour laying can be locally compacted, and in stages the step rarefaction is permissible, but all the same within the specified limits.

Thermotechnical calculations, taking into account all the features of the premises, are rather complicated procedure, requiring certain knowledge. It deserves a separate detailed publication, and will not be considered under this article. The best way out is to entrust this business to specialists who will help you decide on the outline of the contours and the step of laying it out, and draw up a diagram. And only then it will be possible to calculate the required amount of pipe for the "warm floor"

You can use the following calculation formula:

l = k × Syh /hyh

l  - length of the contour in a certain area.

Sych  - land area.

hych  - step of laying pipes on the site.

k  - coefficient that takes into account the bends of the pipeline.

Coefficient k  depends also on the pacing step and is in the range of 1.1 ÷ 1.3.

To facilitate the reader's task, the following is a handy calculator in which all the relationships are already laid. You can calculate pipe lengths for each section with a certain pacing step, then sum them, and do not forget to add the distance to the tie-in point (collector, plus leave approximately 500 mm at each end for connection.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Heating with a system of water-heated floor is one of the options for heat supply to private households. In apartments located in multi-storey buildings, the laying of heating pipes in the floor is associated with numerous problems, so this kind of heating of premises in them is used extremely rarely.

Advantages of using floor heating

   Providing the necessary temperature in residential and utility rooms with the help of the construction of a warm floor has a number of advantages in comparison with traditional radiators. The heat carrier, which is water, heated to about 30-40 degrees, moving along a pipe located on the floor, evenly supplies the room with heat, and if necessary, auxiliary rooms. When radiators are used for heat supply, hot air flows from them rise up to the ceiling along the walls and cool down there, resulting in inefficient use of energy resources.

   Most often laying the pipes of the warm floor is done under a floor covering made of ceramic tiles with excellent thermal conductivity. Especially it concerns such premises as a bathroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room, an entrance hall, a corridor and a covered loggia.

As for laminate and carpet, these materials have insignificant thermal conductivity. Their use reduces the efficiency of heating by means of water heating of the heat-transfer fluid. Experts recommend to apply for laminate and carpet film infrared warm floors. Harmless to human radiation does not heat these floor coverings, and penetrating through them, heats the walls, ceiling and objects in the room.

How to choose pipes for the water floor

To choose which pipe to make a warm floor is not difficult, since you can use:

• copper tubes;
• metal plastic products;
• polypropylene pipes;
• products from cross-linked polyethylene.

   Optimum is considered the choice of a pipe for a warm floor made of copper, since this metal has the highest degree of conductivity of heat. Products from it are distinguished by their durability, but they have a high cost, which is inaccessible to many consumers.

In addition, the installation of the pipeline requires the use of professional equipment, which leads to significant financial costs.

Laying pipes of a warm floor made of metal-plastic will be much cheaper than from copper. Their first inner layer is a polyethylene tube, followed by an adhesive compound, through which an aluminum pipe is secured, which is necessary to ensure the rigidity and thermal conductivity of the system. The last of the layers is a tube made of polyethylene, protecting the pipeline from possible mechanical damage.

When laying the pipes of the warm floor made of polypropylene, then the installation of the structure will cost even less. But since these products have poor elasticity, they are rarely used.

A good choice are the pipes for the warm floor, made of cross-linked polyethylene, because they have strength, durability, they conduct a good heat and are affordable for many property owners.

   The diameter of the pipe for the warm floor is between 16 and 20 millimeters.

Calculating the number of pipes

   After making a choice, you need to calculate the pipe consumption on the warm floor. This requires millimeter paper. On the sheet using a ruler and a pencil, you should draw a plan of the room, keeping to the scale.

As you can see in the photo, there are two ways of laying pipes of heating circuits:

• spiral;
• snake.

The installation scheme, called a spiral, ensures a uniform heating of the floor covering, since the connection of the pipes of the warm floor is carried out in such a way that the hot tubes and the already cooling tubes alternate.

The second method is used much less often, since it has a significant drawback - the floor heats up unevenly. The heat carrier loses temperature gradually in the direction from the far point to the point of insertion. A similar scheme for installing a heating system is used when, for example, near the bathroom, it is required to make the floor warmer than at the entrance door.

Underfloor heating, detailed video:

The order of installation of heat-conducting circuits

1. Laying the pipeline for floor heating begins with the removal of the old floor covering. If there are cracks on the screed, they are removed using a cement-sand mortar. Next, using a self-tapping screw, a damping tape is made of expanded polyethylene of 8 mm thickness to compensate for the temperature expansion of the screed during the heating of the system (more in detail: "").
2. Then, a polypropylene substrate is placed on the old surface, having a foil layer on one side, which should be placed on top. To bond the cloths, scotch is used. A special reinforcement net is placed on the substrate in the form of cells with a side of 10 centimeters, it is fastened with a binding wire.
3. Pipeline is placed on a grid. To ensure the fastening for the pipes of the warm floor to it, use plastic clips. They are used with an interval of 30-50 centimeters. At the same time the laying of pipes should be 15-30 centimeters. Instead of the reinforcing mesh, you can use mats made of expanded polystyrene with bosses to fix the pipeline.
4. In the place where the tubes come out of the screed, they put on metal casing designed to protect them from abrasion.
5. After connecting the stacked pipes to the collector and the source of the coolant, the heating system is checked. When the crimping is completed, the beacons are mounted and over the pipes a sand-cement screed is made with a thickness of at least 30 and not more than 70 millimeters.

Floor heating is a worthy alternative to standard radiator heating, as it allows not only to save on utility bills, but also to get an even distribution of heat in the room. Laying the pipe for a warm floor is the most important process when installing a heating system, but all work can be done without involving professionals.

After the installation of the floor is carried out in several stages:

1. preparation of the surface for the installation of the heating system;
2. layout of pipes and connection to the collector;
3. system check;
4. floor pouring.

Preparatory stage

How to make a warm floor of the pipes yourself? At the initial stage, you will need:

1. remove the existing concrete screed and in the presence of level differences of more than 7 mm - 10 mm to level the surface;

1. lay on the prepared floor waterproofing. Isolation of the floor is required to prevent moisture from entering the system, which can lead to corrosion or bacterial contamination of the pipes. As a waterproofing agent you can use:
   • polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride film, supplemented with a thermo-reflective layer. Joints are made by soldering or special adhesive tape to achieve uniform coating;

• cement-polymer screed;
• cast screed.

Waterproofing is more suitable for laying in the form of a screed. This coating is the most durable, in comparison with the film.

1. lay on the perimeter of the room damper tape, which is the expansion compensator for heating. If several pipe loops are laid in the room, the strip layout is also made between all the contours;

1. to make the insulation of the floor. The choice of insulation depends on the surrounding conditions:
   • if the floor is an additional source of heating, then strong insulation is not required, therefore, it is possible to use, for example, foamed polyethylene foam;

• if the floor is the only source in the apartment, then more reliable insulation is required, for example, in the form of sheets of expanded polystyrene, the thickness of which is 20 mm - 50 mm;

• if the heated floor of the pipes with their own hands is mounted on the first floor of a residential house with an unheated basement or in a country house, it is more expedient to use foamed polystyrene sheets 50 mm to 100 mm thick or a layer of expanded clay as a heat insulation material;

1. the reinforced mesh is placed on the prepared surface, which serves simultaneously for screeding concrete and fixing pipes.

In shops it is possible to purchase special mats for pipes, which possess both thermal insulation properties and reinforcing mesh properties, but the cost of such products is quite high.

The proposed scheme for floor preparation is the most budgetary option.

System production and connection

Installation of pipes of a warm floor is made under the following scheme:

• laying and fixing pipes;
• connection of pipes to heating equipment.

Process of laying pipes

Laying of pipes for a warm water floor can be made according to one of the following schemes:

• simple or double snake. Laying of pipes in the form of "snake" is made if necessary to further insulate the coldest areas of the room. When using a simple snake, warming up the floor is uneven. When laying pipes with a double snake, it is almost completely possible to avoid this drawback;

• special fittings (copper, corrugated and);

• method of welding (polyethylene and).

When connecting pipes, it must be taken into account that the maximum length of one circuit must not be more than 80 - 100 m.

Fixation of pipes can be made:

• anchoring brackets. The dowel bracket is used to fix the pipes on mats. For installation, a special stapler is used;

• special tires. The fixing bar is pre-installed on the floor surface by dowel-bolts, which takes quite a long time. However, after this procedure, pipes are laid faster than any other way;

• to the reinforcing mesh you can attach the pipes with wire or clamps. This method is the cheapest and does not cause difficulties for an inexperienced master.

The process of laying the pipes is detailed in the video.

Connecting pipes

Connection of the pipeline to the collector is performed through a specialized distribution unit that performs the following functions:

To connect the pipes to the collector, a special fitting, called Eurocone, is used. The fitting consists of several elements:

• the union nut securing the pipe;
• crimping ring, which serves for more reliable sealing of the joint;
• cone, which is a kind of adapter for the pipe.

Testing and crimping of floor

Before pouring the floor with a concrete screed, it is necessary to test and pressurize the water circuit.

The finished heating system is tested as follows:

1. the pipeline is filled with hot water;
2. for approximately 30 minutes the temperature in the system rises to a critical temperature (80 ° C - 85 ° C).

Testing is considered successful, if in the allotted time there is no deformation or rupture of pipes.

The final stage of the system check is the crimping (checking with high pressure). For this:

1. the pipeline system is filled with cold water;
2. disconnect all air exhausters located in the collector;
3. the pressure is set at 6 bar for 24 hours.

If, at the end of the crimping operation, there is no excessive expansion or deformation of the pipes, and the set pressure is not decreased, the resulting water circuit is completely sealed and suitable for use.

Finishing

Filling of pipes of a warm floor can be made:

In any mixture for pouring it is desirable to add a plasticizer, which will help smooth the expansion of the floor when heated.

• before filling, the pipeline must be filled with water. This will avoid deformation of the pipes and destruction of the screed during heating;
• if the area of ​​the room is large, then the floor is recommended to be divided into separate sections. In this way, you can achieve maximum convenience in carrying out work and a smoother surface;

• the recommended thickness of the screed is 4 cm;
• for complete drying, you need 28 to 30 days. With an increase in the thickness of the screed this index also increases.

Laying of finishing materials on the floor is necessary after the screed is completely dry.

As can be seen from the above instructions, it is possible to lay pipes for the warm floor even on their own.

When property owners decide to build a floor heating, the first thing they have to choose are the pipes for the contour. Their consumption largely depends on the distance that will be between turns. How to choose the diameter of the pipes, and which ones are better? Mount the warm floor - it's quite doable with your own hands.

For the sake of objectivity, it should be noted that electric warm floor is much more convenient to mount and operate. The fact is that the cable is easy to bend into a contour with small radii. To connect the electrical heating of the floor surface, it is not necessary to inset the collector or pipeline.

Such a warm floor will never leak, as a result of which the coating will not be destroyed, and the neighbors' apartment will not suffer from below. But, despite the above advantages, water heating continues to be more in demand.

  Pipes for floor heating

For the installation of the "warm floor" design, polyethylene or metal-plastic products are used. Each type of product has both advantages and disadvantages, which should be taken into account before commencing the work.

In modern construction, both industrial and civil, pipes with an external diameter of 16 or 20 millimeters are used for such systems.

Polyethylene products have the following advantages:

• the material of manufacture is so soft that it allows to lay pipes freely on a spiral or snake, choosing any angle of rotation for the contour elements;
• resistance to corrosive processes;
• simple styling;
• durability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• ecological compatibility;
• low cost;
• the pipeline, along which the coolant moves, is able to withstand the operating temperature in the range of 40-50⁰C, and the critical one - 90⁰-95⁰C.

The softness of polyethylene is not only the dignity of this material, but also its drawback, since when the upper concrete screed is laid, the system must be filled with water to prevent deformation.

Of the advantages of metal-plastic pipes, it should be noted their reinforcement, due to which when filling the top of the screed is not necessary to fill the circuit with water. Such an indicator as the heat transfer at a metal and polyethylene under identical installation conditions is identical.

Of other advantages of metal-plastic products (see photo), it can be noted:

• good thermal conductivity due to the presence of an aluminum layer;
• corrosion and chemical resistance;
• lack of propensity to form deposits on internal walls.

Experts advise you to give preference to seamless products when buying plastic pipes. To independently verify the quality of this product, you should cut off about 5-millimeter piece. From it, you need to remove the protection from polyethylene with the glue and check if the aluminum bearing layer has a seam. In the case where insulation can not be removed, this moment indicates a high quality of the goods, and there are no solder marks in it.

  Features of fixing pipes in the circuit

Laying of pipes of a warm floor can be carried out by one of the ways:

• with the help of plastic bars, having the form of a cantilever band;
• with the use of special mats with laying grooves;
• with the help of metal mounting tape;
• using separate brackets - they are fixed to the base at a distance from each other.

As an example, you can consider the use of a plastic bracket for fasteners, on which there are grooves for 16 and 20-millimeter pipes. At the same time, opposite terminals on the fastening element are located at an interval of 50 millimeters, and the locks for the pipes are at a distance of 20 centimeters from each other.

Convenient way of installation is the fixing of the contour with the help of planar (or tape) locks - they are provided with a 200-mm pitch of the pipe when laying the warm floor and therefore no marking is required.

A similar distance of 20-25 centimeters should be adhered to in the case of installing a heating structure using point brackets. They are designed to make the screed warm evenly, regardless of the way it is laid-with a spiral or snake.

It is also possible to provide a fixed gap between the pipes by using heat distribution plates made of aluminum. They are placed on extruded polystyrene plates having special grooves on their surfaces. As a result, there is a kind of assembly system, which has much in common with children's designers, since they already have all the necessary dimensions in advance.

To avoid deformation of the metal plate with a sharp turn of the heating circuit, a steel spring having a length of 20-25 centimeters and a width of 18-20 millimeters is put on the pipe before mounting. It should be pulled to the intended bend point, as a result of which it will compress the walls and the plastic will begin to stretch evenly, so that the hall will not occur. During laying, the spring is pushed further to the end of the contour and then cleaned.

You need to know how to properly lay the pipe for the warm floor on the screed, so that the coating warms evenly. The fact is that the warm air through the concrete rises not strictly vertically to the top, but at an angle of 45 degrees, resembling a cone in shape. In the case where the edges of the streams intersect at the surface of the concrete layer, then the floor covering will become warm evenly and when the surface is moved across its surface, the temperature drop is not felt.

Thus, it turns out: if the distance between the pipes of the warm floor is 20 centimeters, the thickness of the concrete should also be equal to 20 centimeters. Theoretically, the heat fluxes will cross exactly at this altitude.

In fact, it is enough that the thickness of the screed is less, namely about 10-12 centimeters and there are several explanations for this:

1. On top of the concrete layer, the final floor covering will also be laid, which will increase the height of the floor.
2. In practice, the pipes located in the screed do not create clear limits for heating, and the concrete warms up side by side, resulting in the same temperature at the surface.

Installation and selection of pipes for the warm floor - the problem is completely solvable. But it must be remembered that the heating system is equipped once for a long time and repair as a result of the breakdown will cost a considerable amount.

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