I want to make every home as comfortable and warm as possible. The heating system has undergone several transformations in recent years. Today, many houses are equipped with an element such as a "warm floor". There are many old-timers in the heating technology market, but ambitious newcomers are offering innovative approaches to heating solutions. One of these manufacturers is the Swedish company Thermo.
Warm floor Thermo
Warm floors from Thermo are electric heating devices. They are suitable for all types of premises, including unheated non-residential areas. You can even use Thermo floors as the only source of heat. With the correct selection of power, they are able to provide sufficient heating of the room.
The system is available in two versions
Warm floor Thermo Thermocable. It is only available in a cable version. The main difference between the floor is the need for a concrete screed with a thickness of about 4 cm and a power of 130 W per sq. M. The complete set of the floor includes: a two-core heating cable, armored with a connecting wire, and sealed couplings (end and transition). On the outside, the system is insulated with PVC, and inside the system is silicone.
Installation of underfloor heating Thermo Thermocable in a screed
Heating systems that use a two-core heating cable have a lower level of electromagnetic radiation.
Diagram of a two-core heating cable
This equipment is based on a special mat. Thermomats, which are supplied in rolls and can be used under laminate flooring, are also made on the basis of a two-core cable. Such a floor does not require a concrete screed, tile adhesive is enough. System power - about 180 W per sq.m. The system includes a Teflon-insulated shielded mat.
Underfloor heating installation under tiles, laminate, carpet, linoleum
When choosing one of the systems, it is necessary to proceed from the purpose of heating. The following factors will influence the choice:
- whether the warm floor will be the only source of heat or an additional one;
- what area is the heating designed for;
- the presence of restrictions on the installation of the cable.
Thermo underfloor heating installation
Depending on these parameters, the optimal power required to heat the room will be determined.
Advantages of Thermo underfloor heating:
Thermo polymer pipe for underfloor heating
- High level of comfort. The system allows you to regulate the temperature that is set in the room using a thermostat. And the heated air itself goes from the legs to the head, therefore, it does not create unpleasant sensations and does not interfere with normal breathing.
- Aesthetic appeal. The Thermo system is mounted under a laminate or other floor covering, so it is not visible. Only a thermostat can remind about the system, which organically fits into any interior.
- Durability. Thanks to modern technology and the reliability of elements, Swedish floor heating systems have been serving for more than a decade.
Installation of underfloor heating Thermo - Ease of use. The automatic system does not require additional maintenance.
- Versatility of application. The heating element Thermo can act as the main source of heat, or it can be an auxiliary element of the heating system.
- Ease of installation. Even a beginner will be able to cope with the installation of the floor with the help of the hints in the enclosed operating instructions. Installation can be carried out both in a building under construction and in a residential one.
- Safety. The heating cable has improved insulation for the safety of the electrician.
Thermo systems can be installed not only in a standard screed, but also in a layer of tile adhesive.Thanks to its modern design and attractive price, Thermo underfloor heating has managed to gain a leading position in the market of heating devices for heating.
Thermo underfloor heating calculation
Select and calculate a warm floor doing it yourself is not as easy as it might seem at first glance, so it is best to turn to experienced specialists for this. If, nevertheless, you decide to calculate the warm one yourself, then we will try to describe this procedure. The whole process of calculating an electric underfloor heating can be decomposed into four steps, each of which we will try to describe in detail.
The rules below are true for a city apartment - in an apartment, the main source of heat is water heating batteries, and underfloor heating is installed as additional (comfortable) heating. More complex selection rules apply for cases of main heating, for heating loggias and balconies, open areas, steps, pipes and pipelines, etc.
| Thermomat heating mats 130 W / m2 | Heating mats for tiles Thermomat 180 W / m2 | Thermocable heating cable 20 W / m | Thermoregulators for underfloor heating Thermoreg |
| from 5 303 rub. | from 5 719 rub. | from 4 101 rub. | from 2 990 rub. |
The principle of operation of electric underfloor heating is very simple - when they are installed over the entire area chosen by you for laying, a special heating cable is laid out (there are two main types of them), after which the cable is poured from above with either sand-cement mortar or tile glue (depending on type of the laid cable) and the floor covering is laid on top.
Thus, the entire floor surface becomes a heat source in the room. The main plus of underfloor heating is the thermal comfort they create, and for our weather, which most of the year can most likely be attributed to cool, this is exactly what you need.
Step 1. Choosing the type of warm floor
We determine for ourselves what type of underfloor heating we plan to use. At the moment, the most widespread are two types of electric underfloor heating - heating cables and ultra-thin underfloor heating (Thermomat TVK-130 and Thermomat TVK-180 mats). The main difference between them is in the height to which the floor level in the room rises after the installation of underfloor heating. Heating cables are filled with sand-cement mortar (screed) with a height of 3.5 - 5 cm, not counting the floor covering.
Installation diagrams
| Thin mat in a layer of tile adhesive
A. Concrete base B. Thin heating mat C. A layer of tile adhesive D. Flooring | Heating cable in a screed
A. Concrete base B. Mounting tape C. Temperature sensor in corrugated tape D... Heating cable E. Screed layer F. Tile adhesive G. Flooring |
Ultra-thin underfloor heating is poured with a layer of tile adhesive to the thickness of the mat (2.8 mm), on which the floor tiles are laid, that is, the floor level rises by only 2.8 mm. There is also a difference in the amount of work performed. It is clear that even a 4 cm sand-cement screed is a more laborious process than laying a thin layer of tile glue. In addition, the time for complete curing of the screed is at least 28 days, while a half-centimeter layer of tile adhesive dries out in just 3 - 4 days.
That is, objectively super-thin mats are better suited for a city apartment in most parameters, but there is one drawback, the price for a thin mat is higher than for a cable.
Step 2. Calculating the "net" paving area
Both cables and mats are laid only on a "clean" area that is not occupied by fixed furniture or furniture on a solid base. In the bathroom, underfloor heating does not fit under the bath, washing machine, shower, in the kitchen - under the refrigerator, stove and kitchen furniture, etc.
Layout of cable laying on a "clean" area
The calculation, therefore, is very simple - from the total area of the room we subtract the area of all large-sized household appliances, plumbing fixtures and furniture, with the exception of tables and chairs.
Step 3. Choosing a set of underfloor heating
If you have settled on ultra-thin floors, then the choice is based on the "clean" laying area. You view the entire row of paving areas and choose from it the one that is closest to your area, but IN THE SMALLEST direction. For example, if the "clean" area in the bathroom is 3.2 m2, then you should choose a set with a designated laying area of 3 m2. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule.
First, if the room has a complex configuration of "clean" area (for example, the bathroom is densely packed with plumbing fixtures), then it makes sense to choose a set not one, but two positions less. For example, for the same bathroom with a "clean" area of 3.2 m2, but with its complex configuration, it makes sense to take a set not for 3 m2, but closer to 2 m2. Second - it always makes sense to take the smallest of the offered sets to the toilet. In any case, you can always contact us for advice.
Step 4. Choosing a thermostat
The thermostat (thermostat) is an integral part of the underfloor heating set. Its purpose is to maintain the temperature you set on the floor surface and to protect the cable from overheating. Conventionally, according to their functions, all thermostats can be divided into two groups - simple and complex, and the presence of a liquid crystal display does not mean that the thermostat belongs to the complex group.
| Thermoreg TI 200 with analog control |
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| Thermoreg TI 900 programmable |
| Thermoreg TI 950 programmable |
| Thermoreg TI 970 Programmable Touchscreen |
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The only function of simple thermostats (Thermoreg TI 200, Thermoreg TI 200 Design, Thermoreg TI 300) is to maintain the temperature you set on the floor surface AT ANY moment of time. That is, whenever you measure the floor temperature, it will always be equal to the set one - in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night. At the same time, one must understand that on weekdays, for example, there is no point in such work with a warm floor - most of the day we are at work, we sleep at night and, therefore, cannot enjoy the comfortable warmth of our floors.
On weekdays, we need a warm floor for several hours in the morning and several hours in the evening - the rest of the time the warm floor, it turns out, works "idle", but at the same time consuming electricity. If you do not want to pay for unnecessary operating time of the warm floor, then you need to choose complex thermostats, i.e. programmable (Thermoreg TI 900, Thermoreg TI 950, Thermoreg TI 950 Design, Thermoreg TI 970). They allow you to set a convenient floor schedule for you, maintaining an elevated surface temperature exactly when it is necessary, and lowering it in your absence.
Such thermostats are more expensive, of course, but since they can save from 30 to 50% of electricity compared to conventional thermostats, the difference in price will pay off within six months - a year of operation of such a thermostat. Also, the larger the area of the heated floor installed and its power, the more justified and profitable is the purchase of a programmable thermostat.
You can also order a free calculation of underfloor heating and heating systems by calling 5 or by filling out and submitting the form for calculating underfloor heating below. After sending, our managers will contact you as soon as possible to clarify the details.
Choice of flooring
Cable mats can be installed under almost any type of flooring: ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, stone. Some models can be used under laminate flooring. The systems have proved to be excellent even on the first floors of buildings, where low temperatures are usually noted on the floor.
Do-it-yourself warm floor
However, you should not lay the Thermo system under carpets, insulated linoleum and rubber-based coatings. Such materials are heat insulators, and therefore do not allow heat to spread around the perimeter of the room.
Valtec water floor
Extremely reliable systems made from quality materials and fasteners. The manufacturer offers underfloor heating Valtek complete with modules and blocks, which eliminates design errors, ensures stability of operation, eliminates leaks. Among the company's products, you can choose everything you need to install heating, provide thermal insulation, waterproofing. The catalogs show the price for underfloor heating mats with bosses for practical laying, for thermostats, etc. You can immediately order a set of underfloor heating with a pumping and mixing unit and a ShRN cabinet for 3 circuits up to 60m2 with a 300m pipe. at a price of 42 thousand rubles.
At the beginning of the design, the power of the underfloor heating is selected (pipe diameter, thermal regime, etc.), taking into account the presence or absence of main heating. After evaluating all the requirements, a drawing is drawn up, according to which the equipment is assembled. Next, the price is calculated for mats for a warm water floor, temperature sensors, heat regulators, and other components. In the diagram, the areas where it is necessary to lay a warm floor under the parquet are marked, as well as the method of laying, the zones of installation of distribution and control elements, the method of connecting to heating.
The manufacturer's kit includes:
- pipes made of metal polymer or high-pressure polyethylene;
- installation elements (fixing mats, heat distribution plates, substrate, etc.);
- manifold block with thermostat, mixing module.
Installation
Regardless of the form of release of Thermo floor, there are a number of requirements for installation work:
- It is important to consider the layout of the system.
- Do not allow the cable to stretch.
Installation of Thermo heating mats under floor coverings - Do not shorten the heating cable. If necessary, you can change its configuration, starting from the initial step.
- Do not lay the system at temperatures below 5 degrees.
- During the installation process, electrical resistance measurements must be performed.
- It is forbidden to lay the heating cable in the places where the overall furniture is installed.
- The connection of the system can only be carried out after the screed is completely cured. Better if done by a professional electrician.
Installation and operation
Installation and use of equipment from Thermo company does not cause difficulties, especially if a decision is made to additionally purchase thermomats. For installation, it is enough to roll them out onto a pre-leveled and dry surface, and lay the floor covering on top.
With the screed, things will be somewhat more complicated. In this case, the work is divided into several stages:
- Calculate the required amount of cable.
- Lay in a spiral, while stretching the wire is unacceptable.
During installation, it is important to regularly measure the voltage of the cable, and also not to allow it to be found in places where large-sized furniture will be installed in the future.
Laying mats
Installation of Thermo heating mats is quite simple: it boils down to rolling the finished rolls over the floor screed after complete drying.
The base is cleaned, after which it is necessary to outline the layout of the cable mat and the places of turns on it. The location of the temperature sensor and regulator is determined. A strobe is laid in the wall - a corrugated tube will be laid in it, in which the sensor and power wires will be placed.
Step-by-step installation instructions for Thermo heating mats
After placing the entire system and filling it with a screed or adhesive base, laminate or other covering is laid.
Advantages and disadvantages
In order to form a complete and objective opinion about Thermo underfloor heating, it is necessary to highlight both its advantages and some disadvantages.
Benefits:
- Comfort... The system provides a comfortable temperature for a person - 24 at the legs, at the body level - 20, in the head area - 16. At the same time, the system allows you to change the temperature regime in each room, depending on the needs of a person, using a special thermostat.
- Aesthetics... The installed system will not give itself out in a heated room, except for the generated home heat and a small thermostat on the wall that can fit into any interior.
- Durability... This system can serve your home for more than a dozen years. The company provides a warranty period of 20 years, which once again speaks of the reliability of the equipment. Also, the installation does not require any special maintenance.
- Versatility... The system can serve as both the main source of heating in the house and an auxiliary one, depending on the needs of the person. Also, the versatility of Thermo underfloor heating is observed during its installation, since it can be installed both in a house under construction and in a room under repair.
- Easy to install. With the help of the attached detailed instructions, as well as with a small number of necessary tools, even a beginner in the installation business can install the system.
But also one cannot do without disadvantages:
- Thermostat... Since the company itself does not produce thermostats, but orders them from another company specializing in this, their quality is not identical with the quality of Thermo Industri. Therefore, the duration of the thermostats is at times shorter than we would like. But the company seems to have noticed this problem and, lately, there are fewer and fewer complaints about the operation of this unit.
- Manufacturer... Some customers note that the system they bought is not Swedish, but produced in Russia, but they have no complaints about the quality of the system itself. Many checks did not reliably confirm the presence of a fake, but on the contrary, the company provided a certificate confirming its Swedish affiliation.
Variety of products
The company offers a wide range of heating mats and cables for underfloor heating. The main ones are:
Technical characteristics of Termomat mats
- Thermomat TVK-130. Thin mat for tiles to be laid in the floor adhesive.
- There is a special warm floor under the laminate. Thermomat TVK-130 LP, specially designed for installation under laminate and parquet floors. It features additional protection with reinforced foil. Installation of this type of mat is carried out without additional preparation, right under the floor covering.
- Thermomat TVK-180. A mat equipped with a cable with an increased power, which provides a faster warming up of the room. Designed for cold rooms.
- Thermocable SVK-20. Heating cable for residential and industrial applications.
Thermocable SVK-20 heating cable device - Thermo FreezeGuard. Self-regulating heating cable designed for heating objects subject to icing. Supplied to the market with a sleeve and a heat regulating matrix.
Thermo FreezeGuard cable structure
Underfloor heating from the Swedish company Thermo is an excellent solution for ensuring energy efficiency in any residential building or apartment. The system, laid under a laminate or tile, creates an ideal temperature regime for a person.
Heating mat
Heating mats are also called "thin warm floors" or "warm floors without screed". In the first case, it means the diameter of the heating cable in thermomats, which is always (approximately three times) smaller than that of heating cables, in the second, the fact that the heating mat can be laid under the tiles in a layer of tile adhesive without a cement-sand screed, making a rise floor level to a minimum. The disadvantage of the heating mat can be considered that floor insulation is not applied with it, however, the heating mat is located directly under the ceramic tiles, a material with lower thermal resistance than concrete,which ensures heating efficiency. [For insulation, you will need to make a screed 3-5 cm, while the main advantage of heating mats over heating cables is lost - the ability to make the warm floor thin].
