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What is the maximum length of a heated floor? How to calculate the length of a pipe for a heated floor

Without preliminary calculations it is not feasible. To obtain the length of the pipes, the power of the entire heating system and other required values, you will need to enter only accurate data into the online calculator. You can learn more about the rules and nuances of calculation below.

General data for calculation

The first parameter that needs to be taken into account before making calculations is the choice of heating system option: whether it will be the main or auxiliary. In the first case, it must have more power in order to independently heat the entire house. The second option is applicable for rooms with low heat output from radiators.

The temperature regime of the floor is selected according to building codes:

The floor surface of the living room should be heated to 29 degrees.
At the edges of the room, the floor can be heated up to 35 degrees to compensate for heat loss through cold walls and from drafts coming through opening doors.
In bathrooms and high humidity areas optimal temperature– 33 degrees.

If the installation of a heated floor is carried out underneath parquet board, then you need to take into account that the temperature should not exceed 27 degrees, otherwise flooring spoil quickly.

The following auxiliary parameters are used:

Total length of pipes and their pitch (installation distance between pipes). It is calculated using an auxiliary parameter in the form of the configuration and area of the room.
Heat loss. This parameter takes into account the thermal conductivity of the material from which the house is built, as well as its degree of wear.
Flooring. The choice of floor covering affects the thermal conductivity of the floor. It is optimal to use tiles and porcelain stoneware, since they have high thermal conductivity and warm up quickly. When choosing linoleum or laminate, it is worth purchasing a material that does not have a thermal insulation layer. From wooden covering It is worth refusing, since such a floor will practically not heat up.
Climate of the area, in which there is a building with a heated floor system. It is necessary to take into account the seasonal change in temperatures in this region and the most low temperature in winter.

Most of the heat in a home escapes through it thin walls and low-quality window construction materials. Before implementing the heating system in question, it makes sense to insulate the house itself, and then calculate its heat loss. This will significantly reduce the energy costs of its owner.

Calculation of pipes for heated floors

Water heated floor is a connection of pipes that are connected to the collector. It can be made of metal-plastic, copper or corrugated pipes. In any case, it is necessary to correctly determine its length. To do this, it is proposed to use a graphical method.

The future outline is drawn on graph paper to scale or life-size. heating element", having previously selected the type of pipe laying. As a rule, the choice is made in favor of one of two options:

Snake. Selected for small residential premises with low heat losses. The pipe is positioned like an elongated sinusoid and extends along the wall to the collector. The disadvantage of this installation is that the coolant in the pipe gradually cools, so the temperature at the beginning and end of the room can vary greatly. For example, if the pipe length is 70 m, then the difference may be 10 degrees.
Snail. This scheme assumes that the pipe is initially laid along the walls, and then bent 90 degrees and twisted. Thanks to this installation, it is possible to alternate cold and hot pipes, obtaining a uniformly heated surface.

Having chosen the type of installation, the following indicators are taken into account when implementing the scheme on paper:

The pipe pitch allowed in a spiral varies from 10 to 15 cm.
The length of the pipes in the circuit does not exceed 120 m. To determine the exact length (L), you can use the formula:
L = S/N * 1.1, Where

S– area covered by the contour (m?);
N– pitch (m);
1,1 – safety factor for bending.
It is worth understanding that the pipe must be located as a single piece from the outlet of the pressure manifold to the “return”.
The diameter of the pipes being laid is 16 mm, and the thickness of the screed does not exceed 6 cm. There are also diameters of 20 and 25. Ideally, the larger this parameter, the higher the heat transfer of the system.

The coolant temperature and its speed are determined based on average values:

Water consumption per hour with a pipe diameter of 16 cm can reach from 27 to 30 liters per hour.
To warm the room to a temperature of 25 to 37 degrees, the system itself needs to heat up to 40-55 °C.
A pressure loss in the housing of 13-15 kPa will help reduce the temperature in the circuit to 15 degrees.

As a result of applying the graphical method, the input and output of the heating system will be known.

Calculation of the power of a water heated floor

It begins in the same way as in the previous method - by preparing graph paper, only in this case it is necessary to apply not only the contours, but also the location of windows and doors. Drawing scaling: 0.5 meters = 1 cm.

To do this, it is worth considering several conditions:

Pipes must be located along the windows to prevent significant heat loss through them.
The maximum area for installing heated floors should not exceed 20 m2. If the room is larger, then it is divided into 2 or more parts, and a separate circuit is calculated for each of them.
It is necessary to maintain the required value from the walls to the first branch of the contour of 25 cm.

The choice of pipe diameter will be influenced by their location relative to each other, and it should not exceed 50 cm. The heat transfer value per 1 m2 equal to 50 W is achieved with a pipe pitch of 30 cm, if during the calculation it turns out to be larger, then it is necessary to reduce the pipe pitch.

Determining the number of pipes is quite simple: first measure their length, and then multiply it by a scale factor, add 2 m to the resulting length to connect the circuit to the riser. Considering that permissible length pipes are in the range from 100 to 120 m, you need to divide the total length by the selected length of one pipe.

The parameter of the underfloor heating is determined based on the area of the room, which is obtained after multiplying the length and width of the room. If the room has a complex configuration, to obtain an accurate result, it must be divided into segments and the area of each of them calculated.

Examples of calculating water heated floors

Below you can see two examples of calculating a water heated floor:

Example 1

In a room with walls 4–6 m long, the furniture in which takes up almost a quarter of it, the heated floor should occupy at least 17 m2. To carry it out, pipes with a diameter of 20 mm are used, which are laid like a snake. A step of 30 cm is maintained between them. Laying is carried out along a short wall.

Before laying pipes, it is necessary to draw a diagram of their location on the floor on the most appropriate scale. In total, such a room will fit 11 rows of pipes, each of which will be 5 m long, for a total of 55 m of pipeline. Another 2 m is added to the resulting pipe length. This is the distance that must be maintained before connecting to the riser. The total length of the pipes will be 57 m.

If the room is very cold, it may be necessary to install double-circuit heating. Then you should stock up on at least 140 m of pipes; this length of pipeline will help compensate for the strong pressure drop at the outlet and inlet of the system. Every contour can be done different lengths, but the difference between them should not be more than 15 meters. For example, one circuit is 76 m long, and the second is 64 m long.

Heated floor calculations can be carried out using two methods:

For the first method, the formula is used:
L = S? 1.1/B, Where

L– pipeline length;
B– laying step, measured in meters;
S– heating area, in m2.
The second option uses the tabular data below. They are multiplied by the area of the contour.

Example 2

It is required to install a heated floor in a room with walls 5x6 m long, total area which is 30 m2. For the system to work effectively, it must heat at least 70% of the space, which is 21 m2. We will assume that the average heat loss is about 80 W/m2. So, the specific heat loss will be 1680 W/m2 (21x80). The desired temperature in the room is 20 degrees, and pipes with a diameter of 20 mm will be used. A 7 cm screed and tiles are placed on them. The relationship between pitch, coolant heat, heat flux density and pipe diameter is presented in the diagram:

So, if there is a 20 mm pipe, to compensate for heat loss of 80 W/m2 it will take 31.5 degrees with a step of 10 cm and 33.5 degrees with a step of 15 cm.

The temperature on the floor surface is 6 degrees less than the temperature of the water in the pipes, which is due to the presence of screed and coating.

Video: Calculation of a warm water floor

From the video you will be able to learn the theory of hydraulics associated with the installation of heated floors, its application to calculations, an example of calculating a water heated floor in special program online. First, simple pipe connection circuits for such a floor will be considered, and then more complex versions of them, in which all components of the underfloor heating system will be calculated:

If you do your own calculations, errors may occur. To avoid them and check the correctness of the calculations, you should use computer programs, which contain correction factors. To calculate a warm floor, you need to select the pipe laying interval, their diameter, and material. The error of calculations by the online program does not exceed 15%.

Laying heating pipes under the floor covering is considered one of best options heating a house or apartment. They consume fewer resources to maintain the specified temperature in the room, exceed standard wall-mounted radiators in terms of reliability, distribute heat evenly in the room, rather than creating separate “cold” and “hot” zones.

Length of the water heated floor contour - the most important parameter, which must be determined before starting installation work. The future power of the system, the heating level, and the choice of components and structural units depend on it.

Laying options

Builders use four common pipe laying patterns, each of which is better suited for indoor use. various shapes. The maximum length of the heated floor contour largely depends on their “pattern”. This:

"Snake". Sequential laying, where the hot and cold lines follow each other. Suitable for elongated rooms divided into zones of different temperatures.
"Double Snake" Used in rectangular rooms, but without zoning. Provides uniform heating of the area.
"Corner Snake". A sequential system for a room with equal length walls and a low heating zone.
"Snail". Double laying system, suitable for close-to-square rooms without cold spots.

The chosen installation option affects the maximum length of the water floor, because the number of pipe loops and the bending radius change, which also “eats” a certain percentage of the material.

Length calculation

The maximum length of the underfloor heating pipe for each circuit is calculated separately. To get the required value you will need the following formula:

Sh*(D/Shu)+Shu*2*(D/3)+K*2

The values are indicated in meters and mean the following:

W is the width of the room.
D is the length of the room.
Shu - “laying step” (distance between loops).
K is the distance from the collector to the connection point with the circuits.

The length of the heated floor contour obtained as a result of calculations is additionally increased by 5%, which includes a small margin for leveling out errors, changing the bending radius of the pipe and connecting to fittings.

As an example calculation maximum length pipes for heated floors for 1 circuit, let’s take a room of 18 m2 with sides of 6 and 3 m. The distance to the collector is 4 m, and the laying step is 20 cm, the following is obtained:

3*(6/0,2)+0,2*2*(6/3)+4*2=98,8

5% is added to the result, which is 4.94 m and the recommended length of the water heated floor circuit increases to 103.74 m, which is rounded up to 104 m.

Dependence on pipe diameter

The second most important characteristic is the diameter of the pipe used. It directly affects the maximum length, the number of circuits in the room and the power of the pump, which is responsible for circulating the coolant.

In apartments and houses with medium-sized rooms, pipes of 16, 18 or 20 mm are used. The first value is optimal for residential premises; it is balanced in terms of costs and performance. The maximum length of a water heated floor circuit with 16 pipes is 90-100 m, depending on the choice of pipe material. It is not recommended to exceed this figure, because the so-called “locked loop” effect may occur when, regardless of the power of the pump, the movement of the coolant in the communication stops due to high fluid resistance.

To select optimal solution and take into account all the nuances, it is better to contact our specialist for advice.

Number of circuits and power

The installation of the heating system must comply with the following recommendations:

One loop per room of a small area or part of a large one; stretching the loop over several rooms is irrational.
One pump per collector, even if the declared power is enough to provide two “combs”.
With a maximum length of underfloor heating pipe of 16 mm per 100 m, the collector is installed on no more than 9 loops.

If the maximum length of the heated floor loop 16 pipes exceeds the recommended value, then the room is divided into separate circuits, which are connected into one heating network by a manifold. To ensure uniform distribution of coolant throughout the system, experts advise not to exceed the difference between individual loops of 15 m, otherwise the smaller circuit will heat up much more than the larger one.

But what to do if the length of the heated floor contour of a 16 mm pipe differs by a value that exceeds 15 m? Balancing fittings will help, changing the amount of coolant circulating through each loop. With its help, the difference in lengths can be almost two times.

Room temperature

Also, the length of the heated floor contours for pipe 16 affects the heating level. To maintain a comfortable indoor environment, a certain temperature is required. To do this, the water pumped through the system is heated to 55-60 °C. Exceeding this indicator may have a detrimental effect on the integrity of the material. engineering communications. Depending on the purpose of the room, on average we get:

27-29 °C for living rooms;
34-35 °C in corridors, hallways and walk-through areas;
32-33 °C in rooms with high humidity.

In accordance with the maximum length of the heated floor circuit of 16 mm in 90-100 m, the difference at the “input” and “output” of the mixing boiler should not exceed 5 °C, a different value indicates heat loss on the heating main.

Today it is difficult to imagine country house no floor heating. Before you start installing heating, you need to calculate the length of the pipe that is used for the heated floor. Almost every country house has its own heating system; the owners of such houses independently install a water floor - if this is provided for by the layout of the premises. Of course, it is possible to install such warm floors in apartments, but such a process can bring a lot of trouble to both apartment owners and employees. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to connect the heated floor to the heating system, and installing an additional boiler is problematic.

The size and shape of the pipe for a heated floor can be different, therefore, in order to understand how to calculate a heated floor, you need to understand in more detail the system and structure of such a system.

How can I install a heated floor?

There are several ways to install heated floors. For example, we can consider 2 methods.

Grazing. This floor has a flooring made of various materials, such as polystyrene or wood. It is worth noting that such a floor is faster to install and put into operation, since it does not require additional time for pouring the screed and drying it.

Concrete. This type of floor has a screed, which will take more time to apply, so if you want to make a warm floor as quickly as possible, then this option will not suit you.

In any case, installing a heated floor is a difficult task, so it is not recommended to carry out this process yourself. If there are no additional funds for workers, then you can install the floor yourself, but strictly following the installation instructions.

Concrete installation of heated floors

Despite the fact that it takes longer to lay heated floors this way, it is more popular. The pipe for underfloor heating is selected depending on the materials. It is worth noting that the price of the pipe will also depend on the material from which it is made. With this method, the pipe is laid along the contour. After laying the pipe, it is poured concrete screed without additional thermal insulation materials.

Calculation and installation of heated floors

Before you begin installing the floor, you need to calculate the required number of pipes and other materials. The first step is to divide the room into several identical squares. The number of parts in a room depends on the area of the room and its geometry.

Calculation of the required amount of pipe

The maximum circuit length required for a warm water floor should not exceed 120 meters. It is worth noting that these dimensions are indicated for several reasons.

Due to the fact that water in the pipes can affect the integrity of the screed, if it is installed incorrectly, the floor can be damaged. An increase or decrease in temperature negatively affects the quality of a wooden floor or linoleum. By choosing the optimal square sizes, you distribute energy and water through the pipes more efficiently.

Once the room has been divided into parts, you can begin planning the shape of the pipe.

Methods for laying pipes for heated floors

There are 4 ways to lay the pipe:

Snake;
Double snake (fits into 2 pipes);
Snail. The pipe is laid in 2 folds (bends) coming from one source, gradually rounding towards the middle;
Corner snake. Two pipes come out from one corner: the first pipe starts the snake, the second ends it.

Depending on which pipe laying method you choose, you need to calculate the number of pipes. It is worth noting that pipes can be laid in several ways.

Which installation method should you choose?

In large rooms that have a flat square or rectangular shape, it is recommended to use the “snail” installation method, so the large room will always be warm and cozy.

If the room is long or small, then it is recommended to use a “snake”.

Laying step

In order for a person’s feet not to feel the difference between sections of the floor, it is necessary to adhere to a certain length between the pipes, at the edge this length should be approximately 10 cm, then with a difference of 5 cm, for example, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm .

The distance between the pipes should not exceed 30 cm, otherwise walking on such a floor will be simply unpleasant.

Calculation of pipes for heated floors

On average, 1 m2 requires 5 linear meters pipes. This method is easier to determine how many pipes per m2 are needed to install a heated floor. With this calculation, the step length is 20 cm.
You can determine the required amount of pipe using the formula: L = S / N * 1.1, where:

S – area of the room.
N – Laying step.
1.1 – pipe reserve for turns.

When calculating, it is also necessary to add the number of meters from the floor to the collector and back.
Example:

Floor area (usable area): 15 m2;
Distance from floor to collector: 4 m;
Step for laying heated floors: 15 cm (0.15 m);
Calculations: 15 / 0.15 * 1.1 + (4 * 2) = 118 m.

How long should the contour of a water heated floor be?

These parameters must be calculated based on the diameter and material from which the pipes are made. So, for example, for metal-plastic pipes with a diameter of 16 inches, the length of the water-heated floor contour should not exceed 100 meters. The optimal length for such a pipe is 75-80 meters.

For pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene with a diameter of 18 mm, the length of the contour on the surface for a warm floor should not exceed 120 meters. In practice, this length is 90-100 meters.

For metal plastic pipe with a diameter of 20 mm, the maximum length of the heated floor should be approximately 100-120 meters, depending on the manufacturer.

It is recommended to select pipes for laying on the floor based on the area of the room. It is worth noting that their durability and quality of work depend on what material the pipes are made of and how they are laid on the surface. The best option would be metal-plastic pipes.

Floor installation steps

After you have chosen high-quality and reliable pipes, it is recommended to begin installing the heated floor. This needs to be done in several stages.

Installation of thermal insulation

At this stage, preparatory work, the floor is cleared and a layer of thermal insulation is laid. Polystyrene foam can act as thermal insulation. Layers of foam plastic are laid on the subfloor. The thickness of the foam should not exceed 15 cm. It is recommended to calculate the thickness depending on the size of the room, its location in the apartment, as well as the individual preferences of the person.

Installation of waterproofing

After the foam has been laid, it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing. As suitable for waterproofing polyethylene film. Polyethylene film it is fixed to the walls (near the baseboard), and the floor is reinforced with mesh on top.

Laying and securing pipes

Next, you can lay the pipes for the heated floor. Once you have calculated and chosen the pipe laying scheme, this process will not take you much time. When laying pipes, they must be secured to reinforcing mesh special braces or clamps.

Crimping

Crimping is practically last stage installation of heated floors. Pressure testing must be carried out within 24 hours at operating pressure. Thanks to this stage, it is possible to identify and eliminate mechanical damage pipes

Pouring concrete mortar

All floor pouring work is carried out under pressure. It is worth noting that the thickness of the concrete layer should not exceed 7 cm.

After the concrete has dried, you can lay the floor. It is recommended to use tiles or linoleum as flooring. If you choose parquet or any other natural surface, due to possible temperature changes, such a surface may become unusable.

Manifold cabinet and its installation

Before calculating the pipe flow required for installation on the surface and underfloor heating, you need to prepare a place for the collector.

A manifold is a device that maintains pressure in pipes and heats used water. This device also allows you to maintain the required temperature in the room. It is worth noting that you need to buy a collector depending on the size of the room.

How and where should the manifold cabinet be installed?

There are no restrictions for installing a manifold cabinet; at the same time, there are several recommendations.

It is also not recommended to install the manifold cabinet too high, since ultimately the water circulation may occur unevenly. Optimal height to install the cabinet 20-30 cm above the bare floor.

Tips for those who decide to install heated floors themselves

There must be an air vent on top of the collector cabinet. Laying heated floors under furniture is strictly prohibited. Firstly, because this will lead to damage to the materials from which the furniture is made. Secondly, it may cause a fire. Materials that are flammable may easily catch fire if the room is exposed to high temperature. Thirdly, heat from the floor must constantly rise, furniture prevents this, thus the pipes heat up faster and can deteriorate.

It is necessary to select a collector depending on the size of the room. In the store, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to what dimensions this or that collector is designed for.

Pay attention to the advantages of certain materials from which the pipes are made.

Main qualities of pipes:

Wear resistance;
Heat resistance.

Buy pipes with a medium diameter. If the diameter of the pipe is too large, the circulation of water will take a very long time, and when reaching the middle or end (depending on the installation method), the water will cool down, the same situation will occur with a pipe with small diameter. Therefore, the best option would be pipes with a diameter of 20-40 mm.

Before calculating a heated floor, consult with those who have already done this. Calculation of the area and number of pipes is important stage preparation for floor installation. In order not to make a mistake, buy + 4 meters of pipe, this will allow you not to save on the pipe if it is not enough.

Before laying the pipes, step back 20 cm from the walls in advance, this is the average distance over which the heat from the pipes acts. Calculate your steps wisely. If the distance between the pipes is calculated incorrectly, the room and floor will be heated in strips.

After installing the system, test it, so you can understand in advance whether the collector was installed correctly, and also notice mechanical damage.

If you install a heated floor correctly, it will serve you for many years. If you have any questions, it is better to ask them to an expert on our website or contact specialists who will efficiently, quickly and reliably improve and prepare your room for installing heated floors.

In order to avoid unnecessary costs and technological errors, which can lead to partial or complete rework of the system with your own hands, the calculation of the water heated floor is made in advance, before installation begins. The following input data is required:

Materials from which housing is built;
Availability of other heating sources;
Room area;
Availability of external insulation and quality of glazing;
Regional location of the house.

You also need to determine what maximum air temperature in the room is required for the comfort of the residents. On average, it is recommended to design the water floor contour based on 30-33 °C. However, such high performance during operation they may not be needed; a person feels most comfortable at temperatures up to 25 degrees.

In the case when additional heat sources are used in the house (air conditioning, central or independent heating etc.), the calculation of heated floors can be based on average maximum values of 25-28 °C.

Advice! It is strongly recommended not to connect warm water floors with your own hands directly through central system heating. It is advisable to use a heat exchanger. Ideal option– completely autonomous heating and connection of heated floors through a manifold to the boiler.

The efficiency of the system directly depends on the material of the pipes through which the coolant will move. There are 3 varieties used:

Copper;
Polyethylene or cross-linked polypropylene;
Metal-plastic.

U copper pipes maximum heat transfer, but quite high cost. Polyethylene and polypropylene pipes have low thermal conductivity, but are relatively cheap. The best option in terms of price and quality – metal-plastic pipes. They have low heat transfer consumption and a reasonable price.

Experienced specialists primarily take into account the following parameters:

Determining the desired t value in the room.
Correctly calculate heat loss at home. To do this, you can use calculator programs or invite a specialist, but it is also possible to make an approximate calculation of heat loss yourself. A simple way to calculate a warm water floor and heat loss in a room is the average value of heat loss in a room - 100 W per 1 sq. meter, taking into account a ceiling height of no more than 3 meters and the absence of adjacent unheated premises. For corner rooms and those that have two or more windows - heat loss is calculated based on a value of 150 W per 1 sq. meter.
Calculation of how much heat loss the circuit will have for each m2 of area heated by the water system.
Determination of heat consumption per m2 based on decorative material coatings (for example, ceramics have higher heat transfer than laminate).
Calculation of surface temperature taking into account heat loss, heat transfer, and desired temperature.

On average, the required power for every 10 m2 of laying area should be about 1.5 kW. In this case, you need to take into account point 4 in the above list. If the house is well insulated and the windows are made of high-quality profiles, then 20% of the power can be allocated to heat transfer.

Accordingly, with a room area of 20 m2, the calculation will take place according to the following formula: Q = q*x*S.

3kW*1.2=3.6kW, where

Q – required heating power,

q = 1.5 kW = 0.15 kW - this is a constant for every 10 m2,

x = 1.2 is the average heat loss coefficient,

S – area of the room.

Before you begin installing the system yourself, it is recommended to draw up a plan diagram, accurately indicate the distance between the walls and the presence of other heat sources in the house. This will allow you to calculate the power of the water floor as accurately as possible. If the area of the room does not allow the use of one circuit, then it is correct to plan the system taking into account the installation of the collector. In addition, you will need to install the cabinet for the device yourself and determine its location, distance to the walls, etc.

How many meters is the optimal contour length?

H2_2

There is often information that the maximum length of one circuit is 120 m. This is not entirely true, since the parameter directly depends on the diameter of the pipe:

16 mm – max L 90 meter.
17 mm – max L 100 meter.
20 mm – max L 120 meter.

Accordingly, than larger diameter pipeline, the lower the hydraulic resistance and pressure. This means the contour is longer. However experienced craftsmen It is recommended not to “chase” the maximum length and choose pipes D 16 mm.

You also need to take into account that thick pipes D 20 mm are problematic to bend, so the laying loops will be larger than the recommended parameter. And this means a low level of system efficiency, because the distance between the turns will be large; in any case, you will have to make a square outline of the snail.

If one circuit is not enough to heat a large room, then it is better to install a double-circuit floor with your own hands. In this case, it is strongly recommended to make the contours the same length so that the heating of the surface area is uniform. But if the difference in size cannot be avoided, an error of 10 meters is allowed. The distance between the contours is equal to the recommended step.

Hydraulic pitch between turns

The uniformity of surface heating depends on the pitch of the coil. Typically, two types of pipe laying are used: snake or snail.

It is preferable to make a snake in rooms with minimal heat loss and a small area. For example, in a bathroom or hallway (since they are located inside a private house or apartment without contact with the outside environment). Optimal step loops for a snake - 15-20 cm. With this type of installation, the pressure loss is approximately 2500 Pa.

Snail loops are used in spacious rooms. This method saves the length of the circuit and makes it possible to evenly heat the room, both in the middle and closer to the outer walls. The loop pitch is recommended within 15-30 cm. Experts say that the ideal step distance is 15 cm. Pressure loss in the cochlea is 1600 Pa. Accordingly, this do-it-yourself installation option is more profitable in terms of system power efficiency (you can cover less usable area). Conclusion: the cochlea is more efficient, its pressure drops less, and its efficiency is correspondingly higher.

The general rule for both schemes is that closer to the walls the step should be reduced to 10 cm. Accordingly, from the middle of the room the loops of the circuit are gradually compacted. Minimum laying distance to outer wall 10-15 cm.

Another important point- pipes cannot be laid on top of the seams concrete slabs. It is necessary to draw up the diagram in such a way that the same location of the loop is maintained between the joints of the slab on both sides. For installation with your own hands, you can first draw a diagram on a rough screed with chalk.

How many degrees are allowed when temperature changes

System design, in addition to heat and pressure losses, involves temperature changes. The maximum difference is 10 degrees. But it is recommended to focus on 5 °C for uniform operation of the system. If the specified comfortable floor surface temperature is 30 °C, then the direct pipeline should supply about 35 °C.

Pressure and temperature, as well as their losses, are checked during pressure testing (checking the system before final filling finishing screed). If the design is done correctly, then given parameters will be accurate with an error of no more than 3-5%. The higher the t difference, the higher the floor power consumption.

Warm floors great solution to improve your home. The floor temperature directly depends on the length of the heated floor pipes hidden in the screed. The pipe in the floor is laid in loops. In fact, the total length of the pipe is determined by the number of loops and their length. It is clear that the longer the pipe in the same volume, the warmer the floor. In this article we will talk about restrictions on the length of one heated floor circuit.

Approximate design characteristics for pipes with a diameter of 16 and 20 mm are: 80-100 and 100-120 meters, respectively. These data are provided as approximate estimates. Let's take a closer look at the process of installing and pouring heated floors.

Consequences of exceeding the length

Let's figure out what consequences an increase in the length of the heated floor pipe can lead to. One of the reasons is an increase in hydraulic resistance, which will create additional load on the hydraulic pump, as a result of which it may fail or simply may not cope with the task assigned to it. The resistance calculation consists of many parameters. Conditions, installation parameters. The material of the pipes used. Here are the three main ones: loop length, number of bends and thermal load on it.

It is worth noting that the thermal load increases with increasing loop. The flow speed and hydraulic resistance also increase. There are restrictions on flow speed. It should not exceed 0.5 m/s. If we exceed this value, various noise effects may occur in the pipeline system. The main parameter for which this calculation is made also increases. Hydraulic resistance of our system. There are restrictions on it too. They amount to 30-40 kP per loop.

The next reason is that as the length of the heated floor pipe increases, the pressure on the walls of the pipe increases, causing this section to lengthen when heated. The pipe located in the screed has nowhere to go. And it will begin to narrow at the very weak point. The narrowing can cause blockage of the flow in the coolant. For pipes made from different material, different coefficient extensions. For example, polymer pipes have a very high expansion coefficient. All these parameters must be taken into account when installing heated floors.

Therefore, it is necessary to fill the heated floor screed with pressed pipes. Pressure better with air with a pressure of approximately 4 bar. This way, when you fill the system with water and start heating it, the pipe in the screed will have room to expand.

Optimal pipe length

Taking into account all the above reasons, taking into account corrections for the linear expansion of the pipe material, we will take as a basis the maximum length of underfloor heating pipes per circuit:

What length of underfloor heating pipe will be optimal?
Let's find out the optimal length of the underfloor heating pipe and what the consequences may be if the circuit is longer. Everything in our article

One of the conditions for the implementation of high-quality and proper heating The purpose of a room using a heated floor is to maintain the temperature of the coolant in accordance with the specified parameters.

These parameters are determined by the project, taking into account required quantity heat for a heated room and floor covering.

Required data for calculation

To maintain a given temperature in the room, it is necessary to correctly calculate the length of the loops used to circulate the coolant.

First, you need to collect the initial data on the basis of which the calculation will be performed and which consists of the following indicators and characteristics:

the temperature that should be above the floor covering,
layout diagram of loops with coolant,
distance between pipes,
maximum possible pipe length,
possibility of using several contours of different lengths,
connection of several loops to one collector and to one pump and their possible number with such a connection.

Based on the listed data, you can correctly calculate the length of the heated floor circuit and thereby ensure comfortable temperature regime indoors with minimal costs to pay for energy supply.

Floor temperature

The temperature on the surface of a floor made with a water heating device underneath depends on functional purpose premises. Its values should be no more than those indicated in the table:

Pipe laying options used for heated floors

The laying pattern can be made with a regular, double and corner snake or snail. Also possible various combinations These options, for example, along the edge of the room you can lay out a pipe like a snake, and then the middle part - like a snail.

In large rooms with complex configurations, it is better to install it in a snail style. In rooms of small size and having a variety of complex configurations, snake laying is used.

Distance between pipes

The pipe laying pitch is determined by calculation and usually corresponds to 15, 20 and 25 cm, but no more. When laying out the pipes at intervals of more than 25 cm, a person’s foot will feel the temperature difference between and directly above them.

Along the edges of the room, the heating circuit pipe is laid in increments of 10 cm.

Allowable contour length

This depends on the pressure in a particular closed loop and hydraulic resistance, the values of which determine the diameter of the pipes and the volume of liquid that is supplied to them per unit time.

When installing a heated floor, situations often occur when the circulation of the coolant in a separate loop is disrupted, which cannot be restored by any pump; water is blocked in this circuit, as a result of which it cools down. This results in pressure losses of up to 0.2 bar.

Based on practical experience, you can adhere to the following recommended sizes:

Less than 100 m can be a loop made from a metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm. For reliability optimal size is 80 m.
No more than 120 m is the maximum length of the contour of an 18 mm pipe made of cross-linked polyethylene. Experts try to install a circuit 80-100 m long.
No more than 120-125 m is considered an acceptable loop size for metal-plastic with a diameter of 20 mm. In practice, they also try to reduce this length to ensure sufficient reliability of the system.

To more accurately determine the size of the loop length for a heated floor in the room in question, in which there will be no problems with coolant circulation, it is necessary to perform calculations.

Application of multiple contours of different lengths

For example, it is necessary to install a heated floor system in several rooms, one of which, say a bathroom, has an area of 4 m2. This means that heating it will require 40 m of pipe. It is impractical to arrange 40 m loops in other rooms, whereas 80-100 m loops can be made.

The difference in pipe lengths is determined by calculation. If it is impossible to perform calculations, you can apply a requirement that allows a difference in the length of the contours of the order of 30-40%.

Also, the difference in loop lengths can be compensated by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the pipe and changing the pitch of its installation.

Possibility of connection to one unit and pump

The number of loops that can be connected to one collector and one pump is determined depending on the power of the equipment used, the number of thermal circuits, the diameter and material of the pipes used, the area of the heated premises, the material of the enclosing structures and many other various indicators.

Such calculations must be entrusted to specialists who have knowledge and practical skills in carrying out such projects.

Loop size determination

Having collected all the initial data, having considered possible options creating a heated floor and having determined the most optimal one, you can proceed directly to calculating the length of the water heated floor circuit.

To do this, you need to divide the area of the room in which the loops for water floor heating are laid by the distance between the pipes and multiply by a factor of 1.1, which takes into account 10% for turns and bends.

You can determine the length of the loop laid in increments of 20 cm in a room of 10 m2, located at a distance of 3 m from the collector, by following these steps:

In this room, 61 m of pipe must be laid, forming a thermal circuit, to ensure high-quality heating of the floor covering.

The presented calculation helps create conditions for maintaining comfortable temperature air in small separate rooms.

To correctly determine the pipe length of several heating circuits for large quantity premises powered from one collector, it is necessary to involve a design organization.

She will do this with the help of specialized programs that take into account many various factors, on which uninterrupted water circulation, and therefore high-quality floor heating, depends.

Optimal length of the heated floor contour
One of the conditions for high-quality and proper heating of a room using a heated floor is the optimal length of the heated floor circuit.

Calls to measure seven times folk wisdom. And you can't argue with that.

In practice, it is not easy to realize what has been repeatedly replayed in your head.

In this article we will talk about the work associated with the communications of a warm water floor, in particular we will pay attention to the length of its contour.

If we plan to install a water heated floor, the length of the circuit is one of the first issues that needs to be dealt with.

Pipe location

The underfloor heating system includes a considerable list of elements. We are interested in tubes. It is their length that defines the concept of “maximum length of a warm water floor.” They must be laid taking into account the characteristics of the room.

From this we get four options, known as:

If you do correct styling, then each of the listed types will be effective for heating the room. The length of the pipe and the volume of water may (and most likely will) be different. The maximum length of the water heated floor circuit for a particular room will depend on this.

Main calculations: water volume and pipeline length

There are no tricks here; on the contrary, everything is very simple. For example, we chose the snake option. We will use a number of indicators, among which is the length of the water heated floor circuit. Another parameter is diameter. Pipes with a diameter of 2 cm are mainly used.

We also take into account the distance from the pipes to the wall. Here it is recommended to fit within the range of 20-30 cm, but it is better to place the pipes clearly at a distance of 20 cm.

The distance between the pipes is 30 cm. The width of the pipe itself is 3 cm. In practice, we get a distance between them of 27 cm.
Now let's move on to the area of the room.

This indicator will be decisive for such a parameter of a warm water floor as the length of the circuit:

Let’s say our room is 5 meters long and 4 meters wide.
Laying the pipeline of our system always starts from the smaller side, that is, from the width.
To create the base of the pipeline, we take 15 pipes.
A gap of 10 cm remains near the walls, which then increases by 5 cm on each side.
The section between the pipeline and the collector is 40 cm. This distance exceeds those 20 cm from the wall that we talked about above, since a water drainage channel will have to be installed in this area.

Our indicators now make it possible to calculate the length of the pipeline: 15x3.4 = 51 m. The entire circuit will take 56 m, since we should also take into account the length of the so-called. collector section, which is 5 m.

Quantity

One of the following questions: what is the maximum length of a water heated floor circuit? What to do if the room requires, for example, 130 or 140-150 m of pipe? The solution is very simple: you will need to make more than one circuit.

The main thing in the operation of a water heated floor system is efficiency. If, according to calculations, we need 160 m of pipe, then we make two circuits of 80 m each. After all, the optimal length of the water-heated floor circuit should not exceed this figure. This is due to the ability of the equipment to create the necessary pressure and circulation in the system.

It is not necessary to make the two pipelines absolutely equal, but it is also not desirable for the difference to be noticeable. Experts believe that the difference may well reach 15 m.

We have also prepared the following useful information for you:

Maximum length of the water heated floor circuit

To determine this parameter we must consider:

hydraulic resistance,
pressure loss in a specific circuit.

The listed parameters are determined, first of all, by the diameter of the pipes used for a warm water floor, and the volume of coolant (per unit of time).

In the installation of heated floors there is a concept - the so-called effect. locked loop. We are talking about a situation where circulation through the loop will be impossible, regardless of the power of the pump. This effect is inherent in a pressure loss situation of 0.2 bar (20 kPa).

In order not to confuse you with long calculations, we will write a few recommendations, proven by practice:

A maximum contour of 100 m is used for pipes with a diameter of 16 mm made of metal-plastic or polyethylene. Ideal option – 80 m
A contour of 120 m is the limit for an 18 mm cross-linked polyethylene pipe. However, it is better to limit yourself to a range of 80-100 m
With a 20 mm plastic pipe you can make a contour of 120-125 m

Thus, the maximum length of a pipe for a warm water floor depends on a number of parameters, the main of which is the diameter and material of the pipe.

Read on our website about which flooring is best to choose for a warm water floor:

And also find out more here about how to make a warm water floor with your own hands.

Are two identical ones necessary/possible?

Naturally, the ideal situation would be when the loops are the same length. In this case, no adjustments or searches for balance will be needed. But this is mostly in theory. If you look at practice, it turns out that it is not even advisable to achieve such an equilibrium in a warm water floor.

The fact is that it is often necessary to lay heated floors in a facility consisting of several rooms. One of them is emphatically small, for example, a bathroom. Its area is 4-5 m2. In this case, a reasonable question arises: is it worth adjusting the entire area for a bathroom, dividing it into tiny sections?

Since this is not advisable, we approach another question: how not to lose pressure. And for this purpose, elements such as balancing valves have been created, the use of which consists in equalizing pressure losses along the circuits.

Again, you can use calculations. But they are complex. From the practice of carrying out work on installing a warm water floor, we can safely say that the variation in the size of the contours is possible within 30-40%. In this case, we have every chance to get the maximum effect from using a warm water floor.

Quantity with one pump

Another frequently asked question: how many circuits can operate on one mixing unit and one pump?
The question, in fact, needs to be more specific. For example, to the level - how many loops can be connected to the collector? In this case, we take into account the diameter of the collector, the volume of coolant passing through the unit per unit of time (calculation is in m3 per hour).

We need to look at the technical data sheet of the unit, where the maximum coefficient is indicated bandwidth. If we carry out the calculations, we will get the maximum figure, but we cannot count on it.

One way or another, the device indicates the maximum number of circuit connections - usually 12. Although, according to calculations, we can get 15 or 17.

The maximum number of outputs in the collector does not exceed 12. Although there are exceptions.

We saw that installing a warm water floor is a very troublesome task. Especially in the part where we're talking about about the length of the contour. Therefore, it is better to contact specialists so as not to redo a not entirely successful installation, which will not bring the effectiveness that you expected.

Laying and calculating the maximum length of the water heated floor circuit
The article contains detailed information about the maximum length of the water heated floor circuit, the location of the pipes, optimal calculations, as well as the number of circuits with one pump and whether two identical ones are needed.

Laying heating pipes under the floor covering is considered one of the best options for heating a house or apartment. They consume fewer resources to maintain the specified temperature in the room, exceed standard wall-mounted radiators in terms of reliability, distribute heat evenly in the room, rather than creating separate “cold” and “hot” zones.

The length of the water heated floor contour is the most important parameter that must be determined before installation work begins. The future power of the system, the heating level, and the choice of components and structural units depend on it.

Laying options

Builders use four common pipe laying patterns, each of which is better suited for use in different room shapes. The maximum length of the heated floor contour largely depends on their “pattern”. This:

"Snake". Sequential laying, where the hot and cold lines follow each other. Suitable for elongated rooms divided into zones of different temperatures.
"Double Snake" Used in rectangular rooms, but without zoning. Provides uniform heating of the area.
"Corner Snake". A sequential system for a room with equal length walls and a low heating zone.
"Snail". Double laying system, suitable for close-to-square rooms without cold spots.

Length calculation

The maximum length of the underfloor heating pipe for each circuit is calculated separately. To get the required value you will need the following formula:

The values are indicated in meters and mean the following:

W is the width of the room.
D is the length of the room.
Shu - “laying step” (distance between loops).
K is the distance from the collector to the connection point with the circuits.

As an example of calculating the maximum length of a pipe for a heated floor for 1 circuit, let’s take a room of 18 m2 with sides of 6 and 3 m. The distance to the collector is 4 m, and the laying step is 20 cm, we get the following:

5% is added to the result, which is 4.94 m and the recommended length of the water heated floor circuit increases to 103.74 m, which is rounded up to 104 m.

Dependence on pipe diameter

To choose the optimal solution and take into account all the nuances, it is better to contact our specialist for advice.

Number of circuits and power

The installation of the heating system must comply with the following recommendations:

One loop per room of a small area or part of a large one; stretching the loop over several rooms is irrational.
One pump per collector, even if the declared power is enough to provide two “combs”.
With a maximum length of underfloor heating pipe of 16 mm per 100 m, the collector is installed on no more than 9 loops.

Room temperature

Also, the length of the heated floor contours for pipe 16 affects the heating level. To maintain a comfortable indoor environment, a certain temperature is required. To do this, the water pumped through the system is heated to 55-60 °C. Exceeding this indicator may have a detrimental effect on the integrity of the utility material. Depending on the purpose of the room, on average we get:

27-29 °C for living rooms,
34-35 °C in corridors, hallways and walk-through rooms,
32-33 °C in rooms with high humidity.

Maximum length of the water-heated floor circuit: laying and calculating the optimal value
Laying heating pipes under the floor covering is considered one of the best options for heating a house or apartment. They consume fewer resources to maintain the specified temperature in the room, exceed standard wall-mounted radiators in terms of reliability, and evenly distribute heat in the room rather than creating separate