Which underfloor heating is better for tiles: the pros and cons of various solutions + an overview of the best manufacturers

Tiles are considered almost perfect flooring. She is able to serve more than a decade. The material is not afraid of dampness, chemically active substances, copes well with mechanical stresses.

Another advantage is the ability to mount almost any type of floor heating under it. We will figure out what criteria to choose a warm floor for tiles - which is best for a private house and apartment.

What affects the choice of a warm floor?

To navigate the choice of a warm floor for a tile, it is worth paying attention to such nuances:

• Functions. The power and, accordingly, the type of floor heating depend on whether the system will be primary, secondary or alternative. If the underfloor heating is intended for additional heating, the choice is wider.
• Screed. It is necessary to decide whether a concrete screed will be made during the arrangement of the floor. Also of fundamental importance may be the question of its thickness, especially when it comes to a room with a low ceiling.
• Type of dwelling. If in private houses almost any decisions are acceptable, then owners of apartments in high-rise buildings are often limited in their choice of heating systems.
• The cost of the system itself and its operation. Cheap equipment is far from always the most economical. When choosing a warm floor, everything should be taken into account: the cost of materials, the complexity of installation, consumption and the price of energy resources.

In any case, it is better to put a warm floor under the tile, because the material is very cold to the touch and it is unpleasant to become feet on it.

However, the type of system should be chosen wisely. It should fully fulfill its functions, rationally spend resources.

Water floor - a profitable solution. Although the installation of the system is laborious, and the materials are expensive, these costs and troubles are paid off due to the extremely rational consumption of resources

When choosing a system, you must also take into account the features of its maintenance and repair. It is desirable that the equipment has free access in case of breakage.

Pros and cons of heterogeneous systems

In household and construction stores, you can purchase underfloor heating of the following types:

• water;
• electric;
• electro-water.

Moreover, electro-water systems have appeared recently, so it is still difficult to judge their effectiveness and durability. But the electric and water heating is time-tested. The pros and cons of these floors are well known.

We suggest that you consider in detail all the options for underfloor heating, compare their advantages, disadvantages, limitations in scope. So it will be easier to choose a suitable warm floor for the tile, taking into account the operating conditions, type and purpose of the premises.

Option # 1: water floor heating

Water floor is a piping system with a coolant, which is located between the concrete or wood base and the final floor covering. Heated water enters the pipes either directly from the boiler or from central heating.

Polymer and metal pipes are suitable for water systems, however, products of the first type are increasingly being chosen. This is due to the greater durability of the pipelines, their resistance to corrosion

Do not choose a water system for an apartment in a multi-storey building. This is due to the inconvenience that may arise due to the connection to central heating, and the possible consequences of accidents. The risks are too great. But for private homes there are no such restrictions.

Although it is undesirable to install water floors in high-rise buildings, the owners of apartments located on the first floors can afford this luxury and connect to the return pipe (agreement is required)

Water systems are economical. Their installation reduces energy consumption by 20-30%, and in rooms with high ceilings - up to 50-60%. This is possible due to the fact that the coolant temperature in the pipes does not exceed 30-50 ° C. If the ceiling height in the house is higher than standard, then the air does not warm up completely: 2-2.5 m above the floor level.

In a private house, two heating circuits are often connected. Water is heated in the boiler, passes through radiators, and then enters the pipeline of underfloor heating. This allows you to maximize the rational use of resources and get the most out of it.

The design of the water floor is complex and is a multi-layer cake.Moreover, at each stage of installation it is necessary to carefully carry out work, otherwise accidents and leaks are possible. If this happens, you will have to tear down the floors for repair.

Properly installed water floors become a reliable and efficient source of heat. Ideally, they should complement or duplicate the main heating system. Another caveat: that the heating was uniform and stable, you will have to take care of high-quality thermal insulation.

Option # 2: electric cable

Cable floors do not require any special care and maintenance, unlike water systems. They can be installed in country houses or cottages, where they do not live permanently, but go on weekends and holidays.

Non-freezing liquid must be poured into the pipes of the water floors so that the system does not freeze during severe frosts. It is also desirable to clean the coolant. There are no such problems with the cable.

The efficiency of cable electric floors reaches 100%, which is impossible to achieve when installing water systems in which there is additional heat loss when moving heated water through the pipeline

When installing cable floors, the height of the room from floor to ceiling decreases slightly, because screed thickness may be minimal. On average, the thickness of the “pie” of a warm electric floor does not exceed 5 cm. The weight of the cable is much less than that of pipes. Accordingly, the load on the floor slabs is also reduced.

For the operation of a cable electric floor, it is enough to connect to a 220 V network, however, the quality of the wiring is of fundamental importance. The power of the equipment is about 80 - 150 W / sq.m, and the power network in the house must withstand the additional load. This limits the use of electric heating systems in rooms with old wiring: it will have to be changed.

To reduce the load on the network, save on bill payments and achieve optimal temperature in any weather, you can use thermostats that control the operation of the system

Under favorable conditions, the life of the cable can reach half a century. The design is simple, reliable, does not require special maintenance. This is due to the absence of rubbing parts that could fail. There are cases when the electrical system worked without any glitches for 62 years - in the Oslo Cathedral. It was dismantled in working condition when replacing a worn coating.

Cable floor for tiles - an excellent solution for an apartment and a private house. An electrical system consumes more resources than a water system, and is more expensive to operate, but has its own undeniable advantages.

Option # 3: heating mats

This is the same cable floor, but in a more convenient form: the wire is fixed on a special grid (width 50 cm, length up to 30 m). The use of mats significantly speeds up the installation of the electrical system. They can not be laid on the entire floor, but only on the part that needs heating, bypassing the areas where furniture or plumbing will be installed.

In heating mats, single and twin cables are used. Products of the first type are cheaper, and the second is safer, because during their work there is no electromagnetic field radiation. Both types of thermomats are convenient in laying and do not reduce the distance to the ceiling (mesh thickness - about 3 mm).

To lay the thermomat, no special skills are needed: it is enough to be able to handle simple tools and clearly follow the instructions of the manufacturer

Thermomats are an ideal solution for a tiled underfloor heating. This system is as simple and effective as a cable system, and for its installation you need to make a minimum of effort.

Option # 4: film systems

Film systems operate by emitting energy in the infrared spectrum. They warm opaque objects, including flooring. The main advantage of the film is that the temperature of the heating rods themselves almost does not increase, i.e. no extra power consumption.When the top cover heats up, the heat rises up by 2-2.5 m. The most comfortable zone is below, near the feet.

The system is simple. It consists of a polymer heating film about 0.4 mm thick, a temperature sensor, and a temperature regulator. An electric current is supplied to the graphite strips, and they generate infrared radiation.

The sensor is a rod or plate of two soldered metal elements. Depending on the type, it can be remote or located between heaters

When heated to a predetermined temperature, the sensor is triggered, and the thermostat controls the operation of the warm floor. Convenience of operation of the system largely depends on the type of temperature controller selected.

Some models are real mini-computers that can be programmed for a specific mode of operation for a long time - for a week, two or a month.

When the film heating system is operating, an electromagnetic field is formed, however it is very weak and has practically no effect on humans

With all the advantages of an infrared film, it is better not to lay it under a tile or choose it with carbon heaters, as bimetal will not work. Due to poor adhesion of the film to the tile adhesive, problems arise: the system does not work efficiently.

Due to the small film thickness, the underfloor heating system occupies a minimum of space. Laying is simple, does not require the use of expensive tools and sophisticated technologies

Difficulties with the adhesion quality of glue and underfloor heating can be solved: you can lay a fine-mesh fiberglass mesh or lay sheets of gypsum fiberboard, and on top of them - tiles. This will slightly improve the situation. However, then a legitimate question arises whether it is worth overpaying for materials and putting more effort into installation, if you can simply choose heating mats or a cable system.

Option # 5: electro-water heating

Such heating is a system of pipes made of structured polyethylene with a diameter of about 2 cm. They are filled with antifreeze and laid seven-core chromium-nickel heating cable with Teflon coating. The pipeline is laid in a concrete screed. If it is damaged, antifreeze will appear on the surface of the coating, indicating the place of failure. This greatly facilitates the diagnosis and repair of underfloor heating.

On average, electro-water floors consume about 14.4 W / m2. The system is controlled by a thermostat, which turns on heating after the temperature drops. Since antifreeze cools very slowly, the energy consumption is small

The heating element gives off heat to the antifreeze, which almost immediately boils. Due to this, the floor warms up very quickly, after which it keeps the temperature for a long time. Such a system allows you to spend a minimum of electricity with maximum efficiency. It is resistant to overheating, so it can be fearlessly mounted under furniture, to do a rearrangement.

What type of heating to choose?

Under the tile, heating mats, water, electro-water floors are best suited. The option of a cable system is worth considering if you have the skills to independently install such floors or you can order such a service for a reasonable price. It is worth remembering that there may be a problem with the diagnosis and repair of breakdowns.

Water floor - relatively cheap heating. If it is possible to connect the heating circuit to a gas boiler, it is possible to provide economical floor heating. If you have to use electricity, it is better to give preference to the electro-water system

Infrared film floors are considered the worst solution, despite being efficient and cost-effective. They are great for installation under the laminate, but do not get along well with the tiles. Experts advise choosing a different, more practical, heating option.

TOP 9 of the best manufacturers of underfloor heating

There are many good manufacturers of underfloor heating, but when choosing a heating system it makes sense to buy not just good, but the best and at a reasonable price. Domestic ratings are led by such brands:

1. Thermo
2. Rehau;
3. Caleo;
4. Ensto;
5. Energy
6. Unimat;
7. Devi
8. "Heatluxury";
9. "National comfort."

These brands have proven their worth. Their products undergo stringent multi-stage quality control, and there are practically no complaints from customers.

All named market leaders are well-deserved. Another important plus: the systems are really inexpensive and economical.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

All heated floors have features that are not mentioned by manufacturers. We offer useful video tutorials and reviews. Thanks to them, you can choose the right system that is suitable specifically for your operating conditions.

Video instruction for choosing the best electric floor:

Video tutorial on laying tiles on a mounted floor heating:

The main disadvantages of different types of electric floors:

Which warm floor is better for tiles can only be determined by the owner of the room.He only knows everything about the operating conditions of the system, the intensity of its operation, the desired temperature regime. General recommendations are not suitable for everyone, so you should spend time and choose the best heating option. The reward for your efforts will be warmth, comfort and future savings.