Warm floors immediately come to mind assomething comfortable and useful. With a variety of heating options, the electric system is usually singled out as the most common. Is it worth installing and what are the possible consequences? Is such a design really so necessary? Electric underfloor heating is a heating system in which a heating cable or a special mat is laid under the covering at the construction stage. Electrical energy is converted into heat. As a result, the entire floor becomes an element that radiates heat, unlike a conventional radiator battery, which is usually installed strictly in certain places. The adjustable temperature will distribute heat evenly, reaching the most comfortable values for a person - 20-22 degrees. According to SanPiN, the temperature of the floor itself should not exceed 31 degrees.
Installing such a floor is a labor-intensive process,therefore, it is better to entrust the work to specialists. In addition to the correct placement of all system elements, such as thermostats and heating cables, they must then be covered with the material that will subsequently become your floor. All this should be thought out at the design or renovation stage.
Pros:
- heating occurs much faster than other systems;
- Suitable for any room;
- compatible with any floor covering, such as laminate, linoleum, tiles. Indispensable for tiles, but not suitable for expensive types of parquet and cork;
- there is a possibility of temperature regulation, and if desired, you can also program the start of heating with a timer;
- Uniform heating of the room due to the location, there is no air convection, as in the case with the conventional radiator system;
- Dampness and fungus are not formed, the humidity level is always under control;
- There is no circulation of dust, which has a beneficial effect on man;
- No special care required;
- The elements of the system are hidden from the eyes, nothing distracts from the contemplation of the beauty of the interior;
- Long service life;
- The faulty part of the system can be replaced without any hindrance.
Cons:
- Laborious for the initial installation;
- If some part fails, the whole system will not work;
- Additional costs for electricity, especially with a large number of premises;
- Electromagnetic radiation, although the maximum permissible, is present (it comes from a teapot with a TV, by the way);
- It must be taken into account that there is a danger of meeting water and electric current, which usually does not end very well;
- Some types of floor coverings are sensitive to sudden temperature changes that occur when heating is turned on;
- With a large amount of furniture in the installation of a warm floor will not make sense, since the heat flow will be limited;
- the thermostat described in the advantages also has a downside - it controls the temperature of the floor, not the room itself;
- the air in the room becomes dry, which is not very beneficial for the human body (especially if you install such a floor in the bedroom).
So, it is still necessary to install electric heating.floor or not? If the apartment is small and the heating capacity of the radiator is clearly not enough, then it is worth it. Considering that the air is dried out, it is usually recommended to use humidifiers. Thus, if you have laminate, linoleum, tiles and a minimum of furniture - you can safely make such a floor. In all other cases, it is better to carefully consider the need for such a system and weigh all the above pros and cons.
