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Radiators and convectors for underfloor heating

Underfloor heating provides a more efficient and long-lasting heating system compared to traditional radiators and convectors. Radiators and convectors for underfloor heating offer many advantages and distinctive qualities. They distribute heat more evenly, providing a more comfortable indoor environment. The radiators and convectors are low profile and easy to install. They are also up to 40 percent more energy efficient than other heating systems, helping homeowners reduce their heating costs. Furthermore, the radiators and convectors for underfloor heating have longer lifespans than traditional radiators and convectors. These features make radiators and convectors for underfloor heating an ideal choice for those seeking an efficient and economic means of heating their homes.

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In the modern engineering and technical equipment of residential buildings, one of the key trends is the invisibility of laying communications. We propose to consider the heating sources embedded in the floor, to get acquainted with the efficiency of their work and the basic installation rules.

Radiators and convectors for underfloor heating

Why build in floor heaters

Due to the structural and architectural features, not every building allows the installation of wall heaters on enclosing structures. The main restrictions are dictated by:

  1. Wall material and their thickness sufficient for reliable surface mounting.
  2. Communication wiring diagram.
  3. The need for a continuous finish from ceiling to floor.

In addition to solving purely technical problems, there are also more practical aspects. This is, first of all, the invisibility of the heating system. The main advantage of floor convectors over underfloor heating systems is their high power, which makes it possible to compensate for even very significant heat losses.

Floor convectors

The heat distribution scheme for floor convectors also compares favorably with wall convectors. A cold unheated zone does not form near the floor, while the temperature rise with the ascent of hot air is less pronounced. Convectors built into the floor are very easy to use, but for their installation you will have to invest a large amount of funds in the engineering support of the building.

Varieties of floor convectors

The cost of floor convectors is much higher in comparison with other heating devices. The only exception is split systems on air pumps, which, by the way, are also used in floor heaters..

How much do you have to pay for a floor heater? The price depends on a number of criteria:

  1. Convector dimensions.
  2. Its power density, that is, heat transfer per 1 running meter. m.
  3. Thermostatic control method.
  4. Air blower.
  5. Workmanship and country of origin.

Floor convector design Floor convector design: 1 – grate; 2 – protective cover of the connection chamber; 3 – tangential fans; 4 – electrical connection block; 5 – fasteners; 6 – heat exchanger; 7 – convector body; 8 – connecting pipes; 9 – holes for connection

With the help of convectors in the floor, it is possible to create a heat curtain of practically unlimited length, although individual sections, with rare exceptions, do not exceed 3 meters in length. On average, convectors occupy about 200 mm in width without forced airflow and about 300-400 mm if available..

The specific heat transfer of floor convectors ranges from 0.3 to 1 kW per linear meter. In terms of cost, each kilowatt of power is equivalent to an amount of 10-15 thousand rubles for domestic products and from 30 thousand rubles for imported equipment. The presence of forced airflow does not significantly increase the cost, but significantly increases heat transfer.

Air circulation in the convector

For ease of use, floor-mounted convectors can be equipped with automatic regulators of the flow rate and air exchange rate, although most ordinary models are simply equipped with shut-off or control valves. There is also a difference in the source of heat for heating the air, it can be the coolant of the water heating system or electricity. In the latter case, the temperature can be adjusted both by cutoff and by automatic power adjustment to the current operating mode..

Built-in convector with forced ventilation

Application area

The most obvious setting, where there are practically no alternatives for floor convectors, is the need to heat large glazing fronts adjacent to the floor of the room. Even a 20-30 cm parapet under the glass showcase would make it possible to install much cheaper wall-mounting devices.

Radiators built into the floor

In this case, underfloor heating systems do not really help to solve the problem, because any glazing is several times inferior to capital fences in terms of resistance to heat transfer. Thanks to floor convectors, it is possible to organize an effective intake of cold air from under a window or door, heat it up and distribute it throughout the habitable volume of the room. There are, however, floor convectors that take air from the street, their use must be coordinated with the ventilation mode.

Convectors recessed into the floor are also very useful in organizing a thermal curtain opposite doors leading to open terraces and other spaces connected to the street. In such cases, the main calculation is not to compensate for heat loss, but to make the entrance of people into the room more comfortable..

Floor convectors

If desired and appropriate financial capabilities, all other heating devices can be replaced with floor convectors. The devices we are considering do not form extreme temperatures in the direct contact zone, and therefore, even for leather furniture installed in the immediate vicinity, optimal operating conditions are maintained.

Difficulties in the hydraulic connection

If the installation of electric convectors is limited to their neat embedding into the floor and adjoining the floor covering, then for exchangers on a liquid heat carrier, the connection diagram to the heating system should be properly organized.

The tie-in point of the pipelines supplying the convectors should be as close as possible to the boiler or to the inlet of the hot coolant into the apartment. The permissible operating temperature of most convectors is slightly above 100 ° C. Almost all types of equipment are capable of working when connected to centralized heating systems with a working pressure of up to 10 atm (with a building height of up to 9-12 floors). For systems with a higher water column, devices that can withstand up to 14-16 atm should be used.

Floor convector connection

The convector is connected to the prepared pipe outlets entirely inside the installation box. Accordingly, the length of the bends should allow pressing the connecting fittings for connection, plus a small margin. Most floor convectors are supplied with small bellows hoses, eliminating the need to fine-tune the length of the bends. There are also tee or straight threaded connections designed to connect convectors both in a parallel bundle and separately.

Connecting a recessed radiator

All piping of the heat exchanger, provided by the manufacturer and the functionality of the device, is assembled at the factory. The convector may already have a built-in air bleed valve, flow regulator or electrically operated valve, but they can also be installed during the connection process. If necessary, the convector can be supplemented with shut-off or control valves – there is enough space inside the box for this. For more convenient use, flow-through thermostats can be taken out to the manifold assembly, but only if each convector is connected to it with a separate pair of pipes.

Embedding technique

The installation of the convector can be carried out at the stage of pouring the concrete base of the floor. Included with many devices are protective covers that maintain the tightness of the technical box during concrete work. It is enough just to wrap the convector with a thin heat-insulating material, which will provide heat cut-off and facilitate dismantling in case of repair or replacement..

Installation of the floor convector

A more technologically advanced way of embedding is the advance arrangement of a niche, obviously larger in size than the body of the heater. In this case, it is much easier to align the convector along the plane of the floor covering and orient it relative to walls or other stationary objects. For the correct positioning, there are adjusting feet and a system of attachment to the base of the floor, anticipating the ascent or displacement of the box when it is bricked up.

An additional advantage of the latter method of embedding is the use of cement mortar with a fine porous filler, which helps to reduce heat leakage. This is especially important if there is no heating system installed on adjacent floor areas. After fastening to the base and filling the gaps with a mixture with a liquid consistency, the protective covers and spacers are dismantled, which hold the walls of the body from being squeezed..

Floor radiator

At the final stage, the pipe outlets are trimmed and the convector is connected to the general system. The upper edge of the box in most of the models is represented by a decorative corner, which provides easy installation of the protective grille and aesthetic adjoining to the floor finish without the use of end sills.

Maintenance and repair

During operation, convectors collect in themselves a fairly large amount of dust, which is abundant in the lower area of ​​the room, from where air is taken. To prevent this dust from spreading throughout the heated space, high-quality convectors are equipped with air filters and dust traps. Their cleaning forms the basis of the convector’s maintenance; adjustment and performance tuning are carried out a little less often..

Maintenance of floor radiators

The heat exchanger for floor-mounted convectors is made of high quality materials with a polished inner surface, on which the build-up of solid impurities is not observed. When flushing the heating system, it is recommended to disconnect the device from the system, and short-circuit the supply pipes.

Most representatives of this type of heating technology, especially foreign production, have a modular device. If necessary, any part can be safely dismantled and returned to its place, which is very convenient, for example, if the blower or control system is out of order.

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Comments: 1
  1. Emily Campbell

    Can radiators and convectors be used for underfloor heating systems? How effective are these heating methods in terms of distributing heat evenly throughout a room? Are there any specific design considerations or modifications needed when integrating them with underfloor heating?

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