Installation of underfloor heating in a bath can be done in different ways. The most popular are water and electric floors. We will talk about which of these underfloor heating systems is optimal for a bath in the article. Content:
- System selection
- Electric floor
- Water floor
- Infrared floor
- General recommendations
The main advantage of the "warm floor" heating system in the bath is that it heats not only the floor, but the whole room as well. In addition, it is very important for the bath that the floor is warm, and if a heated person walks on a cold surface, he can easily catch a cold.
Choosing a floor heating system for a bath
When choosing a floor heating system, it is important to consider the appropriateness of this or that type of floor in the bath. For example, underfloor heating in a steam room carries the possibility of a leak that can be repaired, but additional money and time will have to be spent. But it is less expensive financially than electric.
When installing an electric underfloor heating in a bath, your electricity bill will immediately increase, but at the same time it is easier to maintain and install.
There is another alternative to water and electric underfloor heating. An infrared warm film floor is a special heat-resistant film. It contains strips of carbon paste. This paste is interconnected by copper busbars, which are also soldered into the film. When a current of a certain frequency and strength is applied through the tires, the carbon elements begin to emit infrared radiation. The wavelength is 5–20 µm.
To install a water or electric floor heating you will need:
- Heating cable - for electric underfloor heating (from 350 rudders per meter);
- Water pipes - for installing a water heated floor (from 90 rubles per meter);
- Mortar - if the warm floor is concrete (from 2 thousand rubles per cubic meter);
- Thermal insulation material (from 70 rubles per square meter).
Installation of electric underfloor heating in the bath
The traditional method of installing an electric underfloor heating is to lay a heating cable between the base of the floor and the facing material, directly in the concrete screed. The cable can be single-core - equipped with two sleeves, as well as two-core - with one sleeve and has a protective sheath with a screen.
The cable is installed in this way:
- We lay the heat-insulating material at a distance of 5 cm from the walls and 10 cm from the heating devices.
- Then we install the cable.
- We make a concrete screed on top of the cable (layer 5 cm).
- We put the floor covering.
It is good when wood will act as a floor covering, since it has a reduced thermal conductivity, which will help to keep warm, and the aesthetic appearance of the tree will create coziness.
Take note: if the heated floor in the bath is electric, then you can install a heat supply control system. This is very convenient, because you can set the optimal heating temperature for the "warm floor" system. There are so-called mats - they are even easier to install. The technology of their production involves the installation of a heating cable in a special mat. Such mats are very convenient, they are installed under any floor covering, and you do not need to lay the cable yourself.
Features of installing a water heated floor in a bath
Installation of a water heated floor in a bath provides for the possibility of connecting it to the main water heating system of the bath. You do not have to install additional heating devices, and this does not bring additional costs. The plus is a significant savings in electricity, in comparison with an electric underfloor heating.
The disadvantages of a water-heated floor, albeit insignificant, are also worth mentioning:
- There is no way to independently regulate the temperature.
- Possibility of leakage, as well as difficulties with its identification and elimination.
The pipe installation process looks like this:
- The pipes can be laid in such a way as "snail" or "snake". The advantage of the "snake" is that it is much easier and more convenient to install, and the advantage of the "snail" is a more uniform temperature distribution.
- If the underfloor heating is wooden, then the pipes should be laid on logs or "subfloor".
- Mineral wool or poplan can be used as thermal insulation.
- If the underfloor heating is concrete, the pipes are laid on an insulating material and filled with concrete.
- We put a special foil film under the pipes, which serves as a kind of "reflector" of heat.
- Next comes the flooring.
Remember that a water heated floor in a bath requires a water pump, and instead of water for heating, you can use ethylene glycol, antifreeze and other special mixtures of this kind.
Installation of an infrared film floor in a bath
Infrared film underfloor heating is the newest method in the "family" of underfloor heating. It is distinguished by its simplicity of assembly and disassembly. You can easily install it yourself. It is suitable for any kind of flooring. Level the floor surface before proceeding with the underfloor heating installation. Remember that the floor height will increase by 1.5 cm.
When installing a film infrared floor in a bath, we adhere to the following instructions:
- We put heat-insulating material on the floor. Please note that the metallized part must be on top. You can not use a material where the reflective layer is aluminum. Connect the pieces with tape.
- Next, you can start installing the infrared film layer. Move at least 10 cm away from the walls. Also, do not lay the material where you plan to install large-sized furniture. Remember not to overlap the film.
- After the film is laid, we fix the sections with electrical tape or tape.
- We connect the warm floor to the thermostat with copper multicore cables in parallel. Their cross section should be at least 1.5 mm square.
- The temperature sensor is synchronized with the thermostat. We check the work of the IR film floor. It is worth doing this before the finishing work on the installation of the flooring begins.
General recommendations for installing underfloor heating in a bath
Before you start installing a warm floor in a bath, plan in advance the placement of furniture and electrical appliances. This way, you can determine which part of the floor does not need to be heated, and which part should not be heated at all. For example, it is possible not to heat the places where there is large furniture. And where electrical appliances are located, it is generally not recommended for safety reasons. If you make such miscalculations in advance, then you can significantly save on the purchase of cables or pipes.
The video provides instructions for installing an infrared heated floor in a bath:
Having considered the question of how to make a warm floor in a bath with your own hands, it becomes obvious that this will not be difficult. But in some points it is important to consult with specialists in this field. Especially when it comes to installing an electric floor heating. Potential danger from contact with steam in a bath is not excluded - it is important to get the opinion of a specialist.
