Infrared film under the tile. Infrared warm floor under the tile: do-it-yourself installation

The presence of a warm infrared floor in the room creates a special cozy atmosphere. The advantages of IR coating are that the heat transfer of the floor is noticeably increased, and the cash costs for electricity are reduced. Installing a warm floor under a tile is not an easy task, it has a number of features. In this material, we will consider the technologies that are used in this area.

Peculiarities

The infrared radiation of the warm floor is evenly distributed over the walls, ceiling, objects in the room, heating them. The technology works wirelessly and is suitable for coated floors:

Laminate;
Linoleum;
Carpet.

Infrared underfloor heating under tiles is most often needed in such rooms:

Greenhouses;
Pools;
Kitchens;
Bathrooms;
technical rooms.

There are two types of infrared floors that are used under tiles:

Rod;
Film.

The second is notable for the fact that flat elements are used in its production, in which there is a carbon suspension. On both sides of it, film polymer coatings with a thickness of 0.5 millimeters are mounted, while the strip width can be from 30 to 120 centimeters.

When installing the floor, be sure to follow the safety rules and use grounding. Such a design creates comfort and coziness in the room, which cannot but affect the mental and emotional state of a person.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantage of IR floor heating system:

No electromagnetic radiation;
Simplicity in work;
Profitability;
Does not dry out the air
No risk of fire;
Does not provoke accumulation of dust;
Versatility - IR film can even be mounted on a wall or ceiling.

The height of the IR structure does not exceed three centimeters, and even in rooms where the ceilings are only two and a half meters high, the film is almost invisible.

Another advantage of the IR film is the fact that it does not dry the air in the room. The traditional technology of radiator heating does not have such advantages.

Disadvantages:

For mounting IR equipment high qualification required. It is better for a master without solid practical work experience to take on such projects;
It is forbidden to mount such devices under furniture. Tiles should be carefully checked for defects, as infrared radiation can cause delamination of this material. It is better to buy ceramic flooring from well-known brands, since, for example, Chinese tiles are of poor quality and cannot withstand even small loads.

When installing equipment and tiles, all technological requirements must be observed. This is the main rule of this type of work.

Scheme of work

A floor with an infrared film under the tiles is an option that is quite common. It is quite possible to connect an infrared film floor to electricity, it will work fine if you pour a screed on top and put tiles on it. These works are simple, they can be done, if not independently, then with the involvement of a master.

There are two ways to lay tiles on a film:

A masking grid is mounted on top of the film to increase adhesion. A screed or a special self-leveling mixture is poured onto it. Layer thickness - no more than 10 mm.
GVL sheets are placed on the film, fixed with self-tapping screws that pass between the strips of heating elements; great precision is required from the master, since fragile structures can easily be damaged.
Next, the tiles are mounted according to standard technology using glue for underfloor heating.

At the beginning of work, you should draw a diagram with dimensions, in which all cables and heating elements will be reflected.

The rod floor is specially designed for tile flooring, so in this case, it is not necessary to do a screed. For ceramic tiles, rod infrared heaters have been created that are connected to a thermostat. They have a ceramic coating.

Between the two conductors are rods (they look like steps), which are made of graphite and silver carbon. Canvas sizes:

Width - 82 cm;
The space between the rods is up to 10 cm.
Length - up to 20 meters.

When current passes from the rods, IR radiation is emitted, it has a wavelength of 8 to 14 microns. This technology saves a lot of money. The electrical circuit is designed in such a way that the minimum amount of energy is spent during operation.

How to connect?

Before starting work on the installation of a film infrared floor, you should:

Prepare the base;
Place heat-reflecting material over the entire plane;
Prepare a place for the thermostat.

Installation begins with the fact that the material is distributed throughout the room. It is necessary to fix it with electrical tape or tape, seal the joints.

It is possible to reduce the consumption of wires if the contacts are directed towards the regulator. A clamp is fixed on the copper strip, its side is located inside the coating, the second is on top of the copper strip. The cut lines are insulated with bitumen. The film is fixed using electrical tape. To do this, you need to level the base, put heat-reflecting material on the floor.

Stages of work:

Installation of heat-reflecting material;
Film installation;
Connecting blocks, connecting them with a thermostat;
A temperature sensor is installed between the first and second layers of the screed in the corrugated pipe
Layers are laid, fixed with self-tapping screws
The screed is poured, you can do it yourself
Tiles are laid on the screed.

When working, consider the following:

It is possible to install an IR system under furniture only when it is located on legs at a height of at least three centimeters;
It is necessary to properly lay the thermal insulation, this will protect against excessive consumption of electricity;
Do not use insulation in which foil is present, it is subject to corrosion;
To lay the coating on the desired side, you should carefully study the instructions-memo.

It is allowed to use film-based insulation:

Lavsanova;
Polypropylene.

The thermostat is installed on the wall, electrical wiring is connected to it

Wires cannot be laid on the floor; they should be laid in a plastic box. Wires should not create bumps. You need to do the following:

Cut a notch for the wires in the heat-reflecting insulation;
Clean the wires at the ends before mounting them;
The tip of the wire is inserted into the contact clamp, fixed;
The junction is isolated with bituminous mastic.

Then it is necessary to fix the thermostat, it is recommended to do this inside the corrugation; then the device is connected to the temperature controller. Its upper part is mounted from below to a black silicon strip of blocks that are heated using bituminous mastic. At the point where the installation took place, a cut should be made, this will ensure that deformations do not appear.

The sensor can fail, so you need to put it in such a way that it can be easily removed.

Installation work should be entrusted to an experienced specialist.

Properly selected material is the key to the normal operation of the equipment. It is recommended to know its basic technical characteristics:

The film is able to heat up less and give off more heat;
The standard film can withstand temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius;
It is possible to connect silver and copper tires to each other, due to this it is possible to reduce the thickness of the layer, which means prolonging the life of the device;
Conductive strips are made from alloys containing silver. On the film, they clearly show through, and the more silver, the better the film will be. If the main base is white, then this confirms that a high-quality durable polymer is present in the composition.

There should be no signs of oxidation on the strips;
The film is considered bad if the width of the copper strip is less than 14 mm.
The system consumes power from 125 to 440 W/m2. If the film will lie under the carpet, then power up to 160 W / m2 will be enough. If the film will be located under tiles or porcelain stoneware, then a power of at least 215 W / m2 will be required here. If the heated floor is in the sauna, then more than 220 W / m2 will be required;
The minimum film thickness is 0.3 mm. The thicker the coating, the longer it will last, so when choosing, you need to focus on a film that is thicker than 0.3 mm
The film is installed in such a way that adjacent sheets fit snugly against each other, but do not overlap. If you choose the width of the roll in this way, it will reduce the amount of waste and save money.

High-power models are used in paint shops, saunas, etc. In such devices, graphite rods are soldered into a heavy-duty coating.

You should know that carbon and graphite have a similar molecular structure, but their properties differ markedly. Carbon is more resistant to stress, while graphite is not as strong.

It is recommended to connect the IR device with the help of a person with practical experience. You can lay tiles with your own hands, especially if it is a small area, such as in a bathroom or on a balcony. If you entrust the most complex work to professionals, and do the simpler ones yourself, then you can equip an apartment without spending extra money.

Manufacturers

Heat Life film is popular all over the world. Heat Life is the manufacturer who invented carbon coated film. There are many of its analogues on the market, but they are all inferior in quality to the products of the South Korean company. Heat Life also produces a unique IR film that can be laid directly into the screed. The film withstands temperatures above two hundred degrees Celsius, the technology of its manufacture is the know-how of the company.

heat plus is another South Korean company that has been confidently present on the Russian market for a decade. Heat Plus has opened many service centers throughout the country and makes both striped and solid film, which ranges from 85 to 460 watts.

Firm Caleo (South Korea) has been producing IR film since 2006. Considered one of the best, the company has a lot of developments and innovative know-how. For example, it was Caleo who invented the mesh flooring to prevent sparks.

The company has production facilities on three continents (Europe, America and Asia) and confidently continues to conquer the market. The use of Caleo film allows you to save up to 20% of electricity compared to conventional heating devices.

The range of IR films from the company is very wide: from cheap models to very expensive ones. The warranty is provided by Caleo up to 15 years, which in itself already speaks of the quality of the goods. Also, the South Korean company produces a variety of components and systems that provide heating pipes and roofs.

The average price for the purchase and installation of the film will cost from 5 to 10 US dollars. Infrared film from the USA Carolique is also very popular in Russia and is suitable for almost any coating.

The film is inexpensive and represents an innovative generation of IR heating systems. Infrared energy is evenly and quickly distributed throughout the room. Manufacturers claim that this kind of technology makes it possible to reduce electricity bills by at least fifty percent. Feedback on IR film from Carolique is only positive.

When purchasing an IR film, it is recommended to pay attention to the availability of quality certificates, because very often products of famous brands are faked. It is better to overpay a little by purchasing a branded product than to spend a lot of money on repairs later.

Teplotex- Another South Korean manufacturer that produces quality products with a thickness of 0.36 mm. The width of the rolls is 0.5 and 1 meter. The film can work normally for three decades.

Rexva- This company is better known at home, in South Korea, where it occupies more than 50% of the market. In Russia, little is known about the film from this manufacturer. This company leads the industry in the number of scientific developments. The company uses a special lamination that guarantees 100% moisture isolation.

Eastec is a company that has developed and implemented IR flooring technology. It continues to offer new original models that are in constant demand among consumers. Film power - from 60 W, width - from 30 cm.

Monocrystal (Ukraine)- a company that positions its products as the best in Europe. The company really has unique developments, for example, a film with a reduced content of silver paste, but with a more massive carbon layer. There is an interesting model that is designed specifically for ceramic tiles. Such a film has a high coefficient of adhesion.

The company produces both striped and continuous films. Roll thickness - 30 and 64 cm. Power - from 130 to 620 watts. It is good to use such a film for warming loggias, to mount around the perimeter of windows and doors.

Let's try to answer the actual question asked to us by clients who, before visiting our Center, read a number of articles on sites selling infrared film floor heating.
In light of the South Korean expansion, there has been a significant increase in the number of new dealers offering infrared film (heating material) of various designs. The use of the film is offered anytime, anywhere and anywhere. At the same time, sellers are not embarrassed by building codes, electrical safety standards, or even the laws of physics. Including the use of IR film under ceramic tiles is proposed.

Let's immediately discard all the miraculous properties of the IR film. This is air ionization !!!, anti-allergic effect ???, odor neutralization))), lowering the level of electromagnetic fields, increased efficiency, etc. Well, the main feature is, of course, fantastically low power consumption.
The film laid under the tile is nothing more than a thin heating element that transfers heat to the tile using HEAT TRANSFER. Because infrared (IR) rays do not penetrate the cement-sand screed, tile adhesive and the tile itself. In general, there are very few opaque materials that transmit infrared rays. Like silicon crystals...
So we have a hot film that only heats the materials that are in contact with it, which in turn transfer heat to the tile. At the same time, the efficiency - the percentage of conversion of electrical energy into heat for the film is the same as for any electric heater - close to 100%. And to heat the floor to a comfortable temperature, any kind of electric underfloor heating - thin mats, infrared film and heating cables - will spend about the same amount of watts / hour of electricity.

Now consider the options for laying film under the tile.
1. Option KNAUF "Superpol"
Knauf Superpol is a prefabricated floor element glued together from two small-format moisture-resistant gypsum-fiber sheets measuring 1500x500x10 mm with an offset of 50 mm relative to each other in two perpendicular directions. The total thickness is 20mm. Structures using Knauf Superpol are used for the installation of bases underfinishing coatings on both reinforced concrete and wooden floors. They are suitable for any type of modern flooring (linoleum, parquet, ceramic tiles, etc.). The laying of the coating can be started immediately after the adhesive used to connect the floor elements to each other has dried. For gluing the floor elements during installation, adhesives supplied by the Knauf Group enterprises are used. Before the glue hardens, the screws for GVL are securely fixed.
In our case heat-plus infrared film, and dry backfill - expanded clay, can be replaced with polystyrene foam boards.
There is a danger of damage to the film by excessively twisted self-tapping screws and difficulties in mounting the film over large areas. In addition, inaccessible hand-made connections of pieces of film remain out of reach.

Option 2 when a sheet of LSU, DSP, GVL is laid on top of the film.
Offered by many film flooring vendors.

In this installation option, there are problems of reliable fixation of the protective sheet material. When fixing with self-tapping screws, you can get into the current-carrying paths of the film and also break the waterproofing of the room.

3. Option with film filling directly with a screed or glue, we dismiss it as a verified wrong.

Output

What do we get as a result? Plus, the infrared film under the tile has one -the price of the film itself . This advantage has a classic striped film. Multilayer films with a continuous carbon layer are many times more expensive.

Few cons but...
1. Less reliable compared to classic cable systems assembled in the factory. The weakest point - the connection of current-carrying tires with power wires is done on the spot by hand
2. The complexity of the floor structure due to additional layers and, accordingly, its appreciation.
3. Electrical safety. The film is intended for use in dry rooms. Ground film exists, but is more expensive than the classic thin shielded under-tile heating mat. In addition to all this, the heating films are unshielded, why do you need an extra electromagnetic background under your feet.
4. Non-moisture resistance. The places where the film is connected to the supply wire are not airtight, which means that if the pipe breaks, moisture can simply short-circuit the entire system, or the phase voltage will appear on the surface of the tile.

The use of floor tiles is relevant in any room. Its significant drawback is that the floor is very cold. Infrared floor heating laid under the tiles will help to fix this problem. Such a warm floor is installed in the bathroom, room and kitchen. What are the features of IR floors and how to properly install them?

The weather in the house ... is determined by the heat ...

There are several types of underfloor heating, and the very first of the underfloor heating systems is a water floor. It works on the principle of conventional water heating, and is connected to a heating boiler.

Installing a water floor with your own hands, even according to the instructions, was a rather laborious process, so it was soon replaced by more practical and modern technologies. Let's consider each option separately.

Electric underfloor heating:

Cable. Most often, this is a high-resistance single cable that is heated by electricity.
Rod. The basis of the rod structure are carbon rods.
Film. The technology involves the heat transfer of floors by thermal conductivity of infrared radiation or convection. Most often, IR radiation is still used to heat the film underfloor heating, which is why they are called infrared underfloor heating.

There are two types of film system:

Carbon. The basis is lavsan film. Carbon fiber or a thin layer of graphite act as a heating element.
Bimetallic. A thin copper-aluminum layer is the heating element of this film system, it is located in the polyurethane film.

Which underfloor heating is better

The variety of underfloor heating technologies makes it difficult for the buyer to choose. All of them have their own characteristics, but which system is better?

A water floor is a system of pipes through which hot water passes. This option belongs to the very first, and does not have the practicality and efficiency of more modern materials.

Electric cable underfloor heating is a more practical and modern system. Such a floor is powered by electricity, so the use of this technology will be reflected in electricity bills. Rod floor heating works on a similar principle, and it cannot be called the best either.

Advertising manufacturers of underfloor heating can be very beautiful, but you should believe it, let's figure it out

Infrared floors also work on electricity, but directly heating is carried out by IR — radiation. This is a film type of tile floor, which is a thin film with a built-in heating element. This is the most reliable and practical type of floor heater.

The principle of operation of film coatings

The film coating uses a carbon or graphite heating element. Another option for such a floor is that the film is completely covered with carbon.

Film infrared floors are laid under the tiles, on a pre-cleaned and leveled surface. The film is connected to the mains, and thanks to infrared radiation, the surfaces in the room begin to heat up. This type of floor heating can be used as an auxiliary, and even as the main heating system for a room.

Characteristics of infrared heaters

The temperature of the infrared floors can be easily adjusted. The maximum heating is set to 50 degrees, but this is not necessary. As a rule, set the temperature at 21 degrees.

The system requires a voltage of 220 V and a maximum energy consumption of about 250 W/m 2 . With thermoregulation, energy consumption per 1 sq.m is 35-85 W.

As you can see in this layout, the heating is divided into separate zones. At the same time, heat is not supplied under the bath and shower, and why waste energy and money on them.

Advantages of infrared floor

The advantages of infrared floor over other technologies are as follows:

Ease of installation. Such a system is easy to install, especially when compared with a water floor.
Small IR film thickness. It does not affect the height of floors and tiles.
Offline work. The heating system works automatically. Turns on and off by timer and constantly maintains the required temperature.
Low cost of materials.
Long service life.
The efficiency of infrared floors is 20% higher than other types of warm floors.
There is no need for additional system maintenance.
If a single element of the system is damaged, the rest continue to work. This is possible due to their parallel connection.

Disadvantages of infrared systems when laying them under a tile

This technology has its drawbacks, although they are much less than the advantages:

High loads on the floor covering can lead to mechanical damage to the heating elements.
High electricity consumption resulting in high electricity bills.

Important! Although infrared heating requires high energy costs, they are much cheaper to install than other systems. In addition, no additional maintenance is required during operation.

Features of laying the infrared floor

Laying a film infrared underfloor heating under a tile has its own characteristics. There are several ways of installation, which are distinguished by only a couple of nuances.

Methods for installing IR coatings under tiles

There are two technologies for installing an infrared floor under a tile: dry and wet. The first option implies that the IR film will not come into contact with concrete. Installation of an infrared floor in a wet way, this is the pouring of concrete over the heating elements. Consider how to install a warm floor in each of the ways in more detail.

dry method

Dry installation is carried out as follows:

Room preparation. First, remove all debris and dust. Pits, cracks and bumps must be leveled and covered. If there are many cracks, you can make a new concrete screed using self-leveling mixtures. Next, install the waterproofing membrane. If a waterproofing membrane is used, then the joints must be sealed with putty or wide adhesive tape. The membrane is mounted with an overlap of 12 cm.
Thermal insulation. Insulation installation is important to prevent heat leakage. To do this, it is recommended to use a heater with a foil surface that repels up to 90% of heat (isolon, penofol, etc.). This will help to make the floor insulation as effective as possible.
Installation of IR film. It should be remembered that the IR film has its own characteristics, and in order to prevent difficulties during operation, all work is carried out strictly according to the instructions, especially the connection of the supply wires of the heating elements. The film is laid neatly, at a distance of at least 10 cm from the wall. The elements of the heating film should also not touch each other. To do this, a gap of 5-7 cm must be left between them.
Installation of the protective layer. This is necessary to protect the IR film from mechanical stress. Even ordinary polyethylene film can act as a protective layer. The main thing is that the material is not too dense - this can reduce the efficiency of floor heating.
Mounting in the form of strong sheets. This stage involves the installation of a durable subfloor on which the screed will be poured. For this, drywall sheets, or chipboard panels are often used. When mounting, be careful not to damage the IR film.

Important! Wood materials are less preferred. They do not transfer heat well, and this will lead to significant heat loss and reduce the efficiency of infrared floor heating.

Next, we move on to laying tiles, while using the classic technology. Installation is carried out using a conventional adhesive mixture, which is applied to the tile with a notched trowel. When laying, be sure to use a building level so that the tiles lie flat, and a rubberized hammer.

Important! Do not place IR film under furniture. This will negatively affect both the furniture itself (it will dry out faster) and the heating elements, due to poor air circulation.

wet method

This method is better suited for installing an infrared film heater under the tile in terms of economy and ease of installation. But in terms of safety, the wet laying method is much inferior due to the possible contact of the screed surface with the heating elements.

Step-by-step installation instructions in this way:

Floor preparation is similar to the dry method.
Laying insulation and IR film. This stage is also similar to the dry method.
Protective film installation. For wet laying, this stage is the most important, because it affects the durability of such a floor. If the concrete solution gets on the heating elements, the service life is reduced by at least 30%. We select a dense polyethylene film and carefully lay it on top of the IR film. The protective layer must be overlapped, we make a gap of at least 15-20 cm. The joints must be sealed with a wide adhesive tape. For reliability, many stack the film in several layers.
Laying reinforcing mesh. For this, a masonry metal mesh, or fiberglass painting mesh is used. Installation of reinforcement must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the protective film.
Pouring concrete screed. If the screed is thicker than 5-10 mm, the efficiency of the IR heater drops sharply, so it is important to make a layer within these dimensions. To make the floors smoother, self-leveling ready-made mixtures are often used.
Once the floors are dry, move on to laying ceramic tiles. The installation process is carried out in the classical way.

Thermal film installation

To install a warm infrared floor, you must follow the installation technology.

Damaged jumpers can result in failure of the entire thermal film section.

We prepare the necessary materials and tools in advance, then follow the instructions:

The first step is surface preparation. We remove all debris from the installation site, level the bumps and cover up all the cracks. The ideal option is to prepare a new screed.
We prepare the plan of the room. We mark the location of the furniture, and starting from this, we note the location of the film.
We lay the insulation.
We seal the joints of thermal insulation with a wide adhesive tape.
We put a heating film on top. Where it is necessary to cut the IR film, it is marked with a scissors symbol. We leave a gap of 5-10 mm between the individual parts of the film. In the place where the copper bus is located, we mount special terminal clamps.
With the help of pliers or electrical claws, we firmly compress these clamps.
All elements are connected in parallel.
We connect the wires of the required length in the place where it is planned to install the thermostat. The temperature sensor is installed under the film, wires are connected to it in advance. Next, we mount a protective plastic film and seal the joints with adhesive tape.
We mix the mortar and pour the concrete screed.

Important! Until the screed and adhesive mixture for tiles is completely dry, you can not turn on the infrared floors. This is approximately 28-30 days.

Rules for safe and comfortable operation

To ensure the safety of using warm infrared floors, you need to pay special attention to their autonomous operation and practicality of use. When installing a warm infrared floor of any kind, you should adhere to the following rules:

Be sure to provide grounding.
Installation of IR film is carried out only on a dry and flat surface.
The heating elements are connected directly to the machine and powered from the meter.

Finally

A tiled floor is always beautiful and reliable, and an IR film will help make it even more comfortable. In the bathroom or in the kitchen, thanks to this heating, it will always be pleasant to stand on the floor, even barefoot.

Heating the house will play an important role in providing comfort and coziness. One of the innovative ways of warming is laying an infrared warm floor. Installation of such a floor is carried out under different types of coating, including under tiles.

Consider the feasibility of using an infrared floor for tiles, describe the features of the types of film insulation, and also give step-by-step instructions for arranging a warm floor with your own hands.

Infrared floor under the tile: pros and cons

Infrared floor heating is one of the most functional and efficient modern methods of home heating. Its popularity is due to comfortable, high-quality and uniform heating.

The main idea of heating is to use a special thermal film. The polymer coating emits infrared rays, the size of which varies in the range of 5-20 microns. The main emitter in this case is a carbon carbonate paste placed in a protective polyester film.

By itself, the heat-insulating material as an infrared film is quite versatile. Unlike water floors, it can be used in different rooms (apartment, residential building) under various coatings. However, disputes between experts about the advisability of laying infrared floors under porcelain stoneware or tiles do not subside. Of course, tiles are a cold finishing material that needs additional heating, but there is an opinion that installation under such a coating of infrared insulation is not desirable. This is due to a number of reasons:

Low film adhesion. If you immediately lay tiles on the film coating or pour a screed, you will get a “floating” floor that is unstable to deformations. When tapped, concrete makes an empty sound, and if a heavy object is dropped on such a floor, then the screed has every chance of cracking. Some "masters" try to make a lot of serifs and cutouts to increase the hitch. But if these micro-holes are not securely insulated, then subsequently the floor can “beat” with current from leaks, while the RCD will constantly work.
Risk of short circuit. Tile mortars and screed adhesives are alkaline. Over time, the polyester film corrodes regardless of the number and thickness of the layers. The least dramatic outcome is a short circuit, the worst is sparking from exposed electrical connections.

Advice. Infrared floors are optimally suited for "dry" installation under linoleum, laminate, PVC tiles or carpet. Under porcelain stoneware, tiles, ceramics, it is better to use cable or rod electric floors.

Despite the listed disadvantages, not everyone is ready to abandon infrared tile insulation. During installation, special technologies are used to reduce the disadvantages and risks to a minimum. Such perseverance is due to the significant advantages of infrared floors:

efficient and uniform heating of housing;
ease of installation;
duration of operation;
minimum loss of room space - the thickness of the infrared floor is from 5 mm;
acceptable cost of an infrared floor under a tile (price);
heating of the room is improved due to the secondary convection of heated objects;
the concentration of negatively charged ions increases by 4 times - this has a positive effect on indoor air quality;
minimum electromagnetic radiation;
The operation of the infrared film is not accompanied by noise, vibration or dust emission.

This is interesting! 90% of the cure from the infrared floor freely passes through the screed and tiles, heating not only the air in the house, but also the human body

Choosing an infrared floor

Features of rod floors operating on the principle of infrared healing:

it is possible to lay the system directly into the adhesive solution;
the use of additional reinforcing mesh is not required;
installation of the core floor is easy to do on your own without the involvement of specialists;
automatic heating system adjustment mode - at maximum performance, an economical mode of operation is activated.

During the installation of film-type heating, it is important to comply with certain requirements, which will affect the increase in the cost of repairs. Infrared film, in turn, is available in two versions: with carbon and bimetallic heating element.

In the first version, the role of heating elements is performed by carbon fiber (carbon paste with various additives). The basis of the material is lavsan film, which has such qualities as: wear resistance, strength, elasticity and good dielectric characteristics.

Infrared floor under the tile: photo

The heating elements are soldered in two layers, the electricity is supplied through copper or silver-copper conductors. The underfloor heating is connected in parallel.

Important! Carbon infrared film can be used to insulate vertical surfaces and ceilings

The best option is an IR film with graphite sputtering. The material is characterized by high reliability and long service life. The disadvantage is the high cost.

The structure of film heating with a bimetallic heating element consists of two layers: aluminum and copper with additives.

The basis of bimetallic floors is a polyurethane elastic film. The circuit must be supplemented with a ground wire, and the installation procedure is a little more complicated. The connection is made through RCD and RCBO.

Important! Bimetallic infrared floor can not be laid under the tiles.

Technical characteristics and calculation of a warm film floor

Infrared heated floors under the tiles have the following characteristics:

maximum power consumption in heating mode - up to 250 W/sq.m.;
power consumption when setting the temperature control mode - 35-85 W/sq.m.;
radiation wavelength - 5-20 microns;
the peak percentage of infrared radiation in the spectrum is about 90-95%;
maximum heating temperature - 130°С;
operating voltage - 220 W.

High performance parameters make it possible to use film heating not only as an auxiliary, but also as the main element of the heating system.

When planning the arrangement of a warm floor, it is necessary to first calculate the area covered by the infrared film and the power consumption of the coating. The empirical value of the heat output for normal space heating is taken as 100 W/sq.m. heated area. Considering the 90% efficiency of IR film, this value equates to 111.1 W/m2.

For efficient use of underfloor heating, IR film must cover all places free from furniture. For example, if the free area is 80% and the whole room is 25 sq.m., then the size of the IR film will be 20 sq.m.

In the thermoregulatory mode (35%), power consumption will be: 0.35 * 220 W / sq.m. * 20 sq.m. * 1 h = 1.540 kWh.

Infrared floor for tiles: installation technology

Necessary materials

For arranging an infrared floor under a tile with your own hands, you can purchase a ready-made kit "Warm floor" or buy the materials yourself.

Standard equipment of the film underfloor heating system:

thermal film in a roll;
contact clamps;
a set of electrical wiring;
bituminous insulation on an adhesive basis;
PVC insulation;
detailed installation instructions.

Additionally, you need to prepare:

Step by step instructions for laying underfloor heating

The base under the warm floor must be even, without depressions, protrusions and other visible defects. Permissible height difference - maximum 3 mm. Before laying, the surface should be checked with a level and, if necessary, leveled - make a concrete screed according to the level. Let the screed “set” (28 days), clean the surface from dust. After carrying out the preparatory measures, you can proceed with the installation of the infrared floor.

Important! It is better to entrust electrical work on installing a warm floor to a professional master.

After connecting, it is necessary to check the performance of each heating strip at temperatures up to +30°C. If the system works well, then you can proceed to the next step - pouring the screed and tiling the surface.

As an additional protection against leaks, lay a polyethylene film on top of the infrared floor. Then cover the surface with a paint (plaster) mesh - this will improve the adhesion of the film and the screed. Fill the floor with a self-levelling mixture or screed, layer thickness - 8-10 mm. Leave the floor for 3 weeks for "coupling" and lay out the tiles.

Installation of infrared floors under the tiles: video

Basic requirements and recommendations for laying infrared underfloor heating under tiles

So that if the temperature sensor breaks down, it can be replaced, the device is passed through a strobe inside the corrugation.
If the infrared floor consumes more than 2 kW in total, then it is advisable to connect it through a separate machine.
Before pouring the cement screed, the integrity of the chain should be re-tested so that later it is not necessary to beat the tile.
After pouring the screed, the warm floor can be turned on only after complete drying, namely, not earlier than after 28 days.
If during the installation work the IN-film was damaged, then it is better to insulate it with aluminum tape on both sides.
When laying tiles, you can not use a metal reinforcing mesh.
Laying the floor must be carried out exclusively on a dry surface.
Underfloor heating must not be placed above heating elements such as a stove or fireplace.
Do not bend the film at an angle greater than 90°.
It is undesirable to lay a segment of the film floor exceeding 15 meters.

Ceramics, glazed tiles are considered the best floor for sanitary rooms, kitchens. A cold surface will become comfortable if you install an infrared floor under the tiles. Radiant heat does not dry up the air, it is useful. Which method to use, dry or wet, when creating a puff cake of a film underfloor heating under a tile? Are there any features in the installation of heating slab cladding? Here we will talk about the advantage of installing a warm film floor under the tile.

Why are tile floors better than cable ones?

Both types of heating circuits are powered by the electrical network. But the cable is laid on a base of mats or poured with a concrete screed. This slightly raises the surface of the floor, applied using a screed or fill.

The tape design of the infrared heater consists of graphite rods in a film, 3 mm thick. The infrared warm floor under the tiles is laid on the prepared base, no screed is required. You can do the installation of a warm film floor under the tile with your own hands.

Both heating systems require wiring to connect the circuit, with the installation of a thermostat. There are features of the use of insulation, adhesive composition.

Features of infrared floor heating

Laying tiles on the prepared surface of the room can be done in a wet and dry way. We suggest that you carefully consider the composition of the IR tape.

Infrared underfloor heating under the tile has its own characteristics. When applying self-leveling floors or screed, you need to consider:

The cement mortar does not form a bond with the coating film. If notches are applied to the film surface, they are not properly insulated, the floor will be shocked.
An alkaline screed solution leads to structural changes in the film surface, the tape will quickly become unusable.
A film IR heater based on bimetal cannot be used for laying under tiles, only carbon.

Based on the characteristics of the infrared film underfloor heating, it is better to install under the tile in a dry way. Experts consider the Teplolux film to be the most effective IR heater.

Installation of infrared floor heating under the tile

The figure shows the sequence of work on laying a film underfloor heating under a tile.

Before laying, the heating circuit should be outlined. It should not be located under furniture. Taking into account losses, efficiency of 90%, it is optimal to choose a material with a power of 200 W / m2. The larger the volume of the room, the greater the heat transfer should be if the IR film is the only source of heat.

The sequence of operations for laying the IR tape

The infrared heat-insulated floor under a tile keeps within, with observance of all recommendations of experts.

It is important to carry out all operations for laying an infrared warm field under a tile in strict sequence and accurately. In the absence of skills in working with electrical appliances, invite a specialist. At each stage, you need to ring the circuit to make sure that there are no sections with a short circuit. Carefully insulate the wires, crimp the terminals, install the thermostat - the most critical part of installing a warm floor.

Do you have any doubts about what material to choose for installing underfloor heating? Where is the best place to buy a film heater? Call, our experts will advise.

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