Underfloor heating carbon: core, film, under tiles, laminate

Humanity knows many ways to heat a home. From the stove and fireplace to solar-powered convectors. When choosing a heating method, various factors are taken into account:

Room configuration.
Availability of various types of energy carrier (solid or liquid fuel, natural gas, electricity, etc.), as well as the possibility of using it at a specific facility. For example, in an apartment building, it is impossible to install an individual wood-burning boiler.
Economic feasibility: in the regions, the cost of energy carriers varies significantly.
Possibility (and necessity) of redundancy of heating systems;
Automation of heating systems - it is not always possible to continuously monitor the heating boiler.
Aesthetic component.

We will consider a progressive technology: carbon fiber warm floor (carbon fiber).

Why electrical floor heating systems are so popular in modern homes

The heated air is formed at the lowest level, evenly rising through the volume of the room.
Large heat transfer area minimizes losses.
You can walk barefoot on a warm floor in winter;
Flat heating elements fit perfectly into the interior: they simply cannot be seen under the floor covering.
Electric cable underfloor heating makes it possible to fully automate the climate system. The controller does not just maintain a preset temperature, you can set low cost modes (when you are not at home), or turn on heating by a timer.
There are no problems with the delivery of energy: almost 100% of the housing stock is electrified.
Simple installation: no need to lay pipes for liquid heat transfer agent, installation of heating radiators, fans, pumps.
No maintenance required: a properly organized underfloor heating system lasts a long time. Any self-respecting manufacturer provides a minimum 10-year warranty.

There are also disadvantages, which, however, are covered by advantages:

To install the system, you will need to open the floor covering. In the case of linoleum or laminate, no problem. And if you want to implement a carbon underfloor heating under the tiles, you will have to carry out a full renovation of the room.
Relatively high cost of equipment, especially thermoelements. True, this problem occurs only once, when buying.
The cost of generating heat is higher than using gas or solid fuels.

And yet, the main plus: the carbon floor can be laid and connected independently. This requires an ordinary household tool and the basic skills of a home craftsman.

Features of installing a carbon underfloor heating

Laying the device does not take much time. In this case, the user does not need to have special skills. The installation can be broken down into several stages:

Preparation of materials and premises.
Preliminary calculations. It is necessary to calculate the heat loss, the required area for heating, to draw a sketch of the surface where the warm floor will function.
Installation of thermal insulation.
Installation of mats or foil (depends on the choice of heat source).

Features of installing a carbon underfloor heating

Preparing a place for a temperature sensor.
Installation of the thermostat, connection to the system and the temperature sensor.
Heating element connection tests.
Connecting the thermostat to the power supply.
Checking the correct operation of the panel heating.
Topcoat application.

Important! A carbon underfloor heating under the tiles requires the user to fill it with a screed or glue solution.Infrared heating does not need this procedure.

How to install electric floor heating

Varieties of electric floor heating systems

Heating systems using electrical energy can be divided into three main groups (each of which offers several versions):

An electric cable is used as a heat generator, the radiation is convection (heat rises up through the air).
The so-called "smart cable". The laying method is the same (wet). The optimal type of coverage: ceramic or porcelain tiles, stone, wood (including parquet), laminate. Carpets and linoleum are allowed.
Modular underfloor heating, consisting of heat-insulating plates with a cable inside. Mounted on a dry base. Ideal for all types of tiles, wood flooring, laminate and linoleum.
Foil floors that create a uniform climatic surface that heats up over the entire area.
Film carbon underfloor heating (the second name is carbon). Ideal for laying under natural parquet or laminate flooring. Installation under linoleum or carpet is allowed. Carbon heaters use an innovative heating method: infrared.
Rod floor heating, also with carbon heating elements. It fits into the structural elements of the building, in other words, it is poured into a screed or self-leveling floor. Suitable for all types of surfaces, including stone, tiles, wood and artificial materials. It also uses an infrared method of transferring heat energy.

Why install underfloor heating: carbon mat

The carbon mat is an advanced, innovative technology that uses infrared waves to heat a room. Carbon is a highly durable material, when exposed to electricity, it produces heat, which is based on the long-wave infrared range. The rods are connected in parallel to ensure smooth floor operation.

Due to the high thermal coefficient of heat transfer, the level and amount of heat that the floor produces can be regulated.

The innovative components from which the rods are made ensure the system has a long and trouble-free service life. The floor can be self-regulating, which significantly saves heat energy. That is why the costs of buying and installing such a floor pay off very quickly.

Related article: Bathroom countertop under the sink: selection and self-production

Many people prefer to install a warm carbon floor as it can independently regulate the room temperature.

Why is it worth installing such a floor:

The smart floor automatically regulates the room temperature. It reacts to the slightest fluctuations and changes in temperature and stabilizes it.
When installing or rearranging furniture, the carbon floor itself stops working in the area where the furniture was placed, since heat transfer has deteriorated there.
The floor feels the slightest fluctuations in heat transfer thanks to finely dispersed graphite, which is its composite material.
Such a floor reduces heating costs by at least 30%.
The carbon floor ionizes the air, which has a positive effect on the body.
The floor is reliable. It cannot overheat, since the core mat has increased strength and resistance to external influences.

The mat can be easily installed in rooms of any size and characteristics. Before buying, you just need to correctly calculate the amount of required material. The floor can be installed in a screed, as well as in tile adhesive.

Operating principle

Since our review focuses specifically on carbon technologies, we will analyze the principle of operation of a warm floor made of carbon.

First, let's figure out the terminology. The concepts of "carbon" and "carbon" cannot be divorced: they are one and the same technology. It's just that in Russia the word “carbon” or “carbon fiber” is traditionally used, and “carbon” sounds in foreign catalogs. In fact, they are one and the same.

Manufacturers offer two types of carbon floors: film and core. They differ in the way they are laid, the structure of the heating elements, and their application.

Why is this warm floor better than others?

Carbon floors can be used to heat indoor and outdoor areas. Their pluses:

Self-regulation

These are "smart" systems that control temperature and, consequently, power consumption without installing complex expensive equipment. The higher the temperature, the more the distance between the particles of the heating elements increases, and the heating is automatically reduced by increasing the resistance. Thus, energy consumption is reduced. When the temperature drops, the opposite process occurs.

On areas of the floor with increased stress, for example, in places where furniture is installed, the system will heat up significantly less. Moving furniture and heavy objects is not a problem; no additional heating protection measures are required.

Reliability and safety

Since the infrared carbon floor cannot overheat due to the thermal regulation, there is no risk of damage or deformation of the floor covering. The heating system is extremely reliable and does not fail.

Infrared radiation from a warm floor has no negative side effects; it is used in chambers for premature babies for gentle warming of babies and a healing effect. The scope of infrared systems is constantly expanding. They are used in spas, infrared saunas.

Profitability

The power of the carbon floor is 116 watts per running meter. When the layer of tile adhesive or the screed in which the systems are installed heats up, the power consumption decreases. Usually it is 87 watts per running meter.

To ensure maximum control of energy consumption, thermostats are installed. This saves up to 30% on energy costs. Carbon floors are the most economical of all heating systems today.

Carbon heating allows you to significantly save on energy costs. The systems are super reliable and safe

Carbon thermal film

Durable, heat-resistant polypropylene is used as a load-bearing base. This material is developed with the condition of complete environmental neutrality. That is, in normal operating modes of heating, underfloor heating should not emit a single harmful molecule into the room.

The film is made according to the principle of “triplex” automobile glass: 1-2 layers of a substrate, a working layer, on top there are 1-2 more layers of protection against damage. Special strips made from a mixture of carbon and graphite are laid on the lower fabric. The electrical resistance is carefully calculated, since the stability of the operation depends on it. Carbon is applied by spraying, which eliminates uneven thickness. The working strips are interconnected using the thinnest copper busbars.This metal has excellent electrical conductivity, so supply voltage losses are minimal.

The copper conductors themselves do not take part in the heating process. The protective layer (polypropylene top) not only protects the carbon strips from damage, it also acts as a heat conductive bridge between the heat source and the floor covering.

A few words about the polymer casing: It has high pressure, tear and abrasion resistance. In addition, the performance of the protective film remains stable even at a temperature of 120 ° C. This is at least twice the maximum operating temperature of the heating foil.

The principle of operation of carbon elements is the emission of long infrared waves. That is, the heat, as it were, penetrates the floor covering and directly affects the objects in the room. This is exactly how we feel infrared waves from a fire: the heat is alive, as if it is reproduced naturally.

Types of carbon floor

Nowadays, two types of carbon floors are produced - film and core. They differ not only in structure, but also in the way they are laid, and also have different technical characteristics.

Film floors

Thermal film, or continuous warm floor, is a web of strips welded together with heating elements, which are pure carbon or a mixture of carbon and graphite. The composition is sprayed onto a base made of heat-resistant polypropylene, and then covered with a two- or three-layer protective film on both sides. The polymer casing is able to withstand heating up to 120 ° C without changing its characteristics, has high tensile strength and resistance to other negative influences. Copper busbars are used to solder the strips.

Mounted carbon film underfloor heating

Laying of film floors is carried out on a dry flat surface directly under the topcoat, that is, there are no wet processes. This significantly speeds up installation and makes it easy to dismantle and reuse the system if necessary There are certain limitations when choosing floor coverings for these floors:

felt-based linoleum, carpet, carpet tiles - materials with low thermal conductivity reduce heating efficiency significantly;
tiles, porcelain stoneware, self-leveling floor - installation of the coating includes "wet" processes;
natural parquet, solid wood - can be used provided that the operating temperature of the system does not exceed 28 ° C.

Laminate - the optimal floor covering for the underfloor heating system

The foil floor can be cut into pieces, if necessary, to fit the room. If during operation one of the sections breaks down, this will not affect the overall functioning of the system, and the floor will work in the same mode.

Main characteristics of the film system

Technical specifications	The values
Film thickness	0.23-0.47 mm
Power consumption	130 W / M2
Energy consumption per m2	25-35 W / h
Maximum heating temperature	33 ° C
Roll length	50 m
Roll width	50-100 cm

Rod floor

The core floor has a more complex structure. It is a flexible rod system with a parallel connection. The rods are made of heat-resistant polymer and filled with a carbonic mixture, and the elements are connected using a stranded copper wire in a protective sheath. The design also includes a thermostat and a dedicated temperature sensor. Thanks to the parallel connection scheme, the system functions stably even if one or more heating elements burn out.

A feature of this system is the ability to self-regulate: when the temperature rises in a separate area (for example, under furniture), the power consumption of heating elements decreases, which eliminates overheating of the system. Conversely, where the surface cools quickly, the rods heat up more, increasing the power consumption. Such unique properties allow laying the floor in any room without restrictions and placing objects on top that have a large contact area - cabinets, cabinets, beds.

Resistant to heat trapping and can be stacked under furniture

Rod underfloor heating RHE

The core system is laid in a screed or a layer of tile adhesive with mandatory thermal insulation of the sub-base. As a heat-insulating substrate, it is recommended to use materials with a metallized coating that is resistant to the negative effects of screed components. Foil coatings in the mortar layer deteriorate rather quickly, therefore they are not suitable for carbon floors.

Carbon underfloor heating has a self-regulating effect and changes its consumption downward during operation

The main characteristics of the core floor

Technical specifications	The values
Power consumption	125-170 W / m
Energy consumption per m2	20-50 W / h
Energy consumption per m2	20-50 W / h
Step between heating elements	10 cm
Construction width	83 cm
Maximum permissible laying length	25 m
Thickness	3.5-5 mm
Maximum heating temperature	60 ° C

Prices for popular types of carbon floor heating

carbon underfloor heating

Advantages and Disadvantages of Carbon Fiber Film Systems

Undoubted advantages:

high temperature does not destroy or deform the structure of the film;
warming up occurs almost instantly;
heat distribution is absolutely uniform, it is just a powerful flow of regulated energy;
infrared radiation is not only harmless, it has a beneficial effect on the body (it is even used for medicinal purposes);
withstands a lot of weight under pressure;
carbon floors do not corrode, tolerate little moisture normally;
there are no unpleasant odors when heated;
absolute fire safety: this property is especially important when using carbon film in wooden houses;
ease of installation, no additional surface preparation is required;
the ability to use not only on the floor, but also on the walls (on the ceiling, use is pointless, warm air does not go down);
mobility: since film floors are not embedded in structural elements, they can be dismantled and reused in another room;
modularity of the structure: if one section is damaged, the rest continue to heat (subject to the integrity of the copper connecting strips);
carbon heaters are so thin that when installing the film, you do not need to change the height of the floor covering;
electric heaters are perfectly integrated into an intelligent control system "smart home";
in comparison with cable systems "warm floor", film carbon is 30% more economical;
electrical safety: undervoltage on the heating elements themselves, 220 volts only at the input to the control module.

Perhaps the only serious drawback:

the material is fragile enough to break, therefore, caution is required during installation;
the high cost of the equipment is undoubtedly justified by its good operational properties, while the product does not belong to the category of affordable ones.

Installation of a carbon underfloor heating is carried out directly under the topcoat, directly on the heat-insulating layer (vapor barrier).

Based on the technology, there is only one limitation: Carbon electric floors cannot be placed under stone or ceramic tiles, as they are used "wet" installation. It is impractical (although not prohibited) to use it under a thick carpet. The fleecy structure will simply shield the infrared radiation.

When laying under a tree or laminate, remember that this material dries at high temperatures. Therefore, a limiter of no more than 28 ° C is set on the control panel.

Info: There is a cheaper option for infrared heating. This is a bimetallic film. It uses a two-layer joint of aluminum and copper foil, which, like graphite carbon, emits infrared radiation. However, the consumer properties of such a film are much worse.

Design features

The direct conversion of electricity into usable infrared energy is efficient. But the previous option has drawbacks. So, in an ordinary conductor, the resistance does not change significantly with increasing temperature. Thus, there is no possibility of adjusting the heating along the length of the cable.

To create a uniform thermal field, an appropriate route configuration is required, with the same empty gaps. Consider the example of fixing the conductor on a mesh plastic backing. In fact, when installing the system in a standard room (4x5 m), you will have to place the structure over a larger area. But standard heating conductors are produced only in certain typical lengths. It will be difficult to find a suitable option or dock several sections.

These tasks have been solved using a combination of materials. Such warm floors were named after one component - carbon with an amorphous structure (carbon). Silver and graphite are also used in various combinations. They form conductors that create infrared radiation.

The function of "automatic regulator" is performed by polymer additives. When the threshold band is exceeded from + 18 ° C to + 22 ° C, these particles increase in size and increase the electrical resistance. The current decreases, the temperature decreases.

Carbon rods are assembled into blocks. They are connected at the ends with copper stranded conductors in polymer insulation.

Infrared carbon floor heating

You can quickly cover a large area with such elements. In this case, without unnecessary complications, the optimal distance between the heating elements is ensured.

Carbon fiber rod floor

Contrary to the advertisements, this is not a new generation of carbon fiber technology: core mats have not come to replace film carbon. This configuration is used where film cannot be used (it is poured into a screed or self-leveling floor). It is a set of parallel connected hydrocarbon rods with an admixture of graphite and silver, connected in parallel.

Technologically, a heating element is not even a rod. A bundle of carbon fiber threads is assembled to the required diameter and reliably covered under insulation. The shell material conducts heat well, and protects material, which is quite fragile to break, from mechanical stress during installation and use.

Graphite filaments combined with carbon and silver, when electric current passes through them, emit infrared waves. The material allows you to calculate resistance with precision accuracy and obtain the required thermal characteristics.

Since each rod is connected independently (on parallel buses), the failure of one (or several) elements will not affect the performance of the system. Unless there will be less heat. However, the method of laying (pouring into concrete) implies high requirements for reliability. Unlike carbon film, these heaters cannot be simply changed, you will have to destroy the entire surface of the screed.

Since the system is a monolith with overlap, care must be taken to direct the thermal radiation (infrared waves). They diverge evenly in all directions, therefore, when laying, it is necessary to provide a screen on the back side.

Otherwise, a significant part of the energy will go to heating the neighbors below (or the basement in a private house).

An interesting feature of carbon rods is the ability to self-regulate temperature. When overheated, the resistance decreases, and the rod cools down somewhat. This allows the heaters to be stacked over the entire area of the room, without highlighting the place where the furniture will be installed. This is very convenient, especially considering the impossibility of reconfiguring the location of the heat mats after the concrete has hardened.

Advantages and disadvantages of carbon rods

Advantages:

fast heating, uniform distribution of thermal radiation (in the presence of a reflective substrate on the rough side);
high design reliability - service life of at least 50 years;
convenient installation: you just cut the required length from the roll, and connect the surface with wires;
infrared radiation does not have a negative effect on people and interior items;
it is not the air that heats up, but the details of the room;
100% fire safety: firstly, carbon does not burn, and secondly, the system is walled up in concrete;
the system is not afraid of high humidity: even if you have a flood, after collecting water, the heaters can be turned on immediately;
when leaving the dwelling without heating (with a long stay), the system will not defrost;
just like the foil panels, the carbon core floor is integrated into the smart home system;
energy consumption is lower than that of cable underfloor heating;
if you can make a screed yourself - you can also do the installation of carbon rods yourself: saving on installation.

The kits are offered in different price and size categories.

Cons of technology:

the cost is too high for mass use;
for laying, it is required to fill the floor with a mixture, this reduces the height of the room;
an error during installation or a malfunction (this is unlikely) does not give a chance to fix the problem: all the wiring is under a layer of concrete.

findings

When planning your home's heating system, consider carbon fiber technology. Perhaps the carbon underfloor heating will be the only source of heat. In fact, the best use case is a redundant system. You can always choose which energy carrier is more profitable in a certain period. In addition, underfloor heating can be used simultaneously with traditional heating.

And if you are leaving the house for a long time, you can set the economy mode with intensive heating on a timer by the time you return.