Heating options are not limited to wall-mounted radiators. Underfloor heating systems make your stay in the house especially comfortable. They are electric and water. In the first case, heating is carried out by a cable, in the second - by pipes with a hot coolant. Polypropylene is a reliable material for mounting the system. Plastic pipes can withstand high temperatures and last up to 50 years.
- Features of warm water floors
- Advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene
- Types of polypropylene pipes
- Single layer
- Multilayer
- Application nuances
- Step-by-step instructions for installing a polypropylene circuit
- Preparation of the base
- Installation of polypropylene pipes
- Hydraulic test
- Pouring concrete screed
Features of warm water floors
The room is heated due to the circulation of the coolant in the circuit, placed in the concrete floor screed. The water is heated in a heating boiler connected to the system. The movement of liquid in a closed loop is provided by a circulation pump. Also, the underfloor heating scheme includes a distribution manifold, shut-off valves, fittings.
The base of the floor is insulated and waterproofed before installation. After laying, connecting and checking the system, the pipes are poured with concrete screed. Heat is evenly distributed throughout the entire thickness of the formation, accumulated and transferred to the room. This is the best option for heating the house using the convection principle. In well-insulated rooms, it can serve as the main source of heating.
Warm water floors are usually found in private homes. In apartments, the systems are not prohibited, but during their installation, residents face some difficulties.
It is forbidden to connect the water circuit to the central heating system, therefore it is necessary to install an autonomous boiler. In addition, it is necessary to find out whether the floor can support the weight of the concrete screed. One of the main disadvantages of the system is the complexity of repair in the event of a leak. In an apartment building, the problem will result in flooding of neighbors.
Advantages and disadvantages of polypropylene
One of the most popular types of water heating is a warm floor made of polypropylene pipes. Among the many available materials, it is chosen due to its many advantages:
- Lack of corrosion and deposits.
- Chemical inertness, the material does not oxidize when interacting with concrete.
- Reinforced pipes have the strength required for the safe operation of the system.
- The high thermal conductivity of polypropylene ensures fast heat transfer.
- Long-term operation of the warm floor. With proper installation, the service life is 25-30 years.
- Affordable cost of polypropylene products.
- The material is resistant to temperature fluctuations, does not tear when water freezes.
Disadvantages:
- Polypropylene for underfloor heating is not flexible, therefore, when installing the circuit, connecting fittings are required.
- High expansion coefficient when heated.
- To install the system, you need to know how to handle a soldering machine.
When choosing a material for installing a heating system, the thickness and diameter of the pipes are taken into account.
Types of polypropylene pipes
By design, the pipes are single-layer and multi-layer. The two large groups are divided into several subgroups according to the type of base material or reinforcement.
Single layer
The scope of products depends on the material used for their manufacture:
- PPH - homopropylene products for cold water supply.
- PPB is a block copolymer used in low temperature heating systems.
- PPR - random copolymer is the best option for installing underfloor heating.
- PPS is non-flammable polypropylene that can withstand high water temperatures.
Working pressure is another classification parameter. It is indicated by the manufacturer when marking products:
- PN10 is a thin-walled construction rated for 10 bar and 45 ° C.
- PN16 - designed for a nominal pressure of 16 bar.
- PN20 - the product is designed for pipelines with a pressure of 20 bar and a water flow up to 75 ° C.
Russian-made pipes have a service class determined by GOST. Products of 3-4 class are recommended for heating.
Multilayer
Pipes consisting of several layers are more resistant to damage and deformation when heated. The reinforcing frame is made of fiberglass or aluminum foil. It is sandwiched between two layers of propylene. The foil protects the piping from the penetration of air into the closed system. Products with a composite frame are more often used when installing a water-heated floor. They have the required rigidity, do not require stripping when soldering.
Application nuances
In order for the heating system to work efficiently, it is necessary to perform a preliminary calculation of the number of pipes and select a laying scheme. It is advisable to make a drawing on graph paper. There are two layering schemes - "snake" and "snail". To speed up installation, professionals recommend placing the contour on a grid with large cells, attaching it with plastic clips. Pipeline laying can be double or single. The optimum pipe diameter is 16-20 mm.
For the normal functioning of a warm floor, there are several rules for installing polypropylene:
- The total length of the circuit should not exceed 80 meters.
- The recommended pitch of turns is 30 cm; to increase the heating intensity, it is reduced to 15 cm.
- The "snake" installation scheme is simpler, but it is suitable for small rooms.
- The coolant temperature should be between 35-55 ° C.
Before starting work, the floor covering is selected. The underfloor heating system is compatible with tiles, laminate, linoleum.
Step-by-step instructions for installing a polypropylene circuit
To install a warm floor from polypropylene pipes with your own hands, you will need the following tools:
- soldering iron for plastic with nozzles;
- scissors for cutting pipes;
- roulette;
- building level;
- drill.
It is advisable to use a concrete mixer to prepare a concrete solution.
Preparation of the base
The base base for the heating system must be horizontal. With significant differences in height, a concrete screed is poured. The structure is covered with a layer of waterproofing. The most practical option is plastic wrap. A damper tape is glued around the perimeter of the room to compensate for the expansion of the concrete. The next step is thermal insulation. To reduce heat loss, plates of expanded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, basalt wool are laid under the contour. Experts advise using a material with a foil surface. It reflects warmth into the room.
Installation of polypropylene pipes
Before laying, a distribution manifold with a valve and valves is installed. A contour will be attached to it. The pipes are laid on insulation or a reinforcing mesh with cells of 10 × 10 cm. The second option is more convenient and reliable. When working with polypropylene, it is important to observe the temperature regime. Installation is carried out in a warm room, where it is above + 5 ° C.
The contour is laid out according to the outlined scheme. Individual sections are connected with a soldering iron. Soldering gives a strong and tight seam. Beginners are advised to do a few test welds to avoid damaging the pipeline. The pipes are attached to the reinforcing mesh with plastic clamps and wire.Do not overtighten fasteners.
Hydraulic test
After connecting the circuit to the distribution unit, the system is pressurized. The pipeline is supplied with water under pressure. The procedure helps to find low-quality seams, cracks. The water is left for a day and the pressure parameters are monitored. If they are stable, the warm floor is assembled with high quality.
Pouring concrete screed
The final stage is the pouring of a cement screed along the lighthouses. The solution is poured onto the floor and stretched with a rule. The optimum layer thickness is 5-7 cm. After the concrete has set, the beacons are removed, the holes are sealed with cement mortar. For uniform drying, the screed is covered with a film and watered with water for 14 days. The underfloor heating system is switched on after 1 month.
Polypropylene pipes are durable, inexpensive and reliable. The material is easily assembled, allowing you to do the entire volume of work with your own hands.
Are you idiots? Polypropylene pipes have very low thermal conductivity, as pipes for underfloor heating either metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene are used, and in one piece, without joints!
This is how many corners you made. the pump is not pumped along its length. And warm floors are not made of propylene due to low thermal conductivity.
I completely agree with the inadmissibility of using polypropylene pipes for underfloor heating. I think the main disadvantage is the large linear expansion of the pipes; when pouring into concrete, stresses will be created, which can lead to cracks at the points of connection of the fittings.
it is easier then to assemble from steel pipes with corners, pp is the most non-thermally conductive material of all those used today, this is money in concrete !!!!! then you will have to smoke for 2-5 days to warm up the floors, if the screed is thin, or even more, that shitik, that metaloplast will not cost much more than PP due to the installation of angles, what's the catch? shitik and metal-plastic and thinner and laying is a pleasure and by the way the length of one circuit on any floor should not exceed 60 meters with a pipe D16, otherwise the pump will not push !!!
The most ineffective floor heating !!!
I will answer Alexey about the thermal conductivity of the material. Cross-linked polyethylene is often used, it also has a weak thermal conductivity, but nevertheless, it is used. I used a sewer 16D, length 82 m, everything is pressed through perfectly, I put 45 * in the gas boiler for the whole house, 27 * comes out from the return of the warm floor. Not bad at all, I think, given, I repeat, that this temperature is set for heating a two-story house. I played it safe and cut 2 additional pumps into the heating system, and everything works fine without turning on these pumps.
As for the expansion of the PP in the screed, and a large number of joints, of course you cannot argue here, the PP cannot be used. Sobstna I looked here after seeing this table of contents of the topic. My opinion TS is a provocateur. )
For almost 17 years now, the warm floor from PP has served faithfully. At that time, there were simply no sewn pipes, and even with an oxygen barrier. The choice was between metal-plastic and PP, and since metal-plastic is a coffin with music, the choice stopped on the second one. So, all the criticism about PP in a warm field is dancing with tambourines. It's just easier for installers to screw a sewn pipe and not to solder with polypropylene.
PS: Compare the wall thickness of the cross-linked and PP pipes and think which one will last longer.
I completely agree with Vitalik, I installed a warm floor from PP back in 2005! Everything is Super !!!