Installing an IR underfloor heating allows you to create a comfortable environment in the room. Infrared radiation is well perceived by the body, since part of the body's heat is received precisely in this wavelength range. This type of underfloor heating appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already become popular among consumers. With its help, you can not only insulate a room, but also minimize energy consumption.
Content
- Main types
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Advantages and disadvantages
- Design advantages
- Cons of the system
- Features of choice
Main types
There are two types of infrared floors on the market today - film and core. The heating element of the first is a fiber placed between two layers of a film made of a polymeric material. In this case, the electric film warm floor can also be divided into two types. This classification is based on the material of the heating element:
- Carbon - carbon-graphite mixture is used as a material.
- Bimetallic - infrared film for underfloor heating of this type is made of copper and aluminum.
The first type is the most popular among consumers. In a rod heating system, the heating elements are carbon rods connected by conductors.
Its main disadvantage is its rather high cost. However, the IR rod floor is highly efficient and saves on electricity well.
Advantages and disadvantages
Previously, floor heating in a room could be achieved through the use of special heating mats or cables. This system was quite effective., but it required a large amount of electricity to operate. IR floors have become the solution to this issue.
Design advantages
One of the important advantages of the system is the principle of heat transfer. From the point of view of physiology, infrared radiation for the human body is optimal, as it resembles solar heat. Thermal energy from the heating elements is transferred practically without loss. An equally important advantage of the system is that it does not dry out the air, but ionizes it. As a result, a large number of microorganisms die, which negatively affect human health.
The infrared film warm floor is characterized by a small thickness - less than 0.5 mm. However, despite the external fragility, it is a fairly strong and flexible material. As a result, the foil can be installed directly under the floor without using a concrete screed. This allows you to install a warm infrared floor at any time., and not only in the process of overhaul.
It is also worth noting a number of other advantages of this room heating technology:
- High efficiency.
- Fast warming up of the room.
- The system is reliable and secure.
- Ease of operation.
- Durability.
Cons of the system
It has an IR warm floor and some disadvantages. One of the most significant among them is the rather high energy consumption when heating large rooms. However, this figure should not be confused with the overall power consumption of the system. Since the IR floor heats up quickly, savings can be up to 80%.
The ability of an infrared system to heat surrounding objects is considered an advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage. For normal operation of the system, it is necessary to provide a gap between the floor and furniture of at least 5 cm. Otherwise, there will be partial overheating of the floor, objects and the film itself. This, as a result, negatively affects their condition.
After installing an infrared underfloor heating system, it will be quite difficult to change the location of the heating zones. This drawback cannot be called significant, but owners of living quarters often encounter it when they decide to rearrange the furniture. It should be noted that a similar problem is typical for other types of warm floors.
Features of choice
There are quite a few infrared systems on the market today. To appreciate all the advantages of IR floors, you need to know how to choose them. You should pay attention to the following points:
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The thickness of the heating film depends on the size of the carbon layer, and the higher it is, the more reliable the system will be. - Web width - if the roll is of sufficient size, then the room will heat up quickly, and the system is easier to install.
- Heating speed - in quality systems, this figure is from 5 to 10 seconds.
- Material of conductive strips - the higher the silver content in these structural elements, the higher the quality of the system.
- The base color - a milky shade indicates that the IR floor was made of high-quality fireproof polymer material.
It is also worth remembering about the features of the material of the heating elements. Carbon is distinguished by its ability to withstand significant loads and has a longer service life. Graphite is not such a durable material, and infrared heating systems made from it should be laid under the tiles.
