Warm skirting board
Most Russians continue to simply cover the joints of the surfaces with skirting boards, and in some European houses for more than 20 years skirting boards have been the main heating device. But the number of people who want to connect a warm baseboard is gradually growing in Russia. Therefore, today we’ll talk about how the warm skirting board system is arranged, the more preferable a water heating skirting board, who needs an electric skirting board, how to correctly calculate and install a warm skirting board.
The content of the article
- The system of warm skirting boards: what is it
- The device of the heating baseboard
- Advantages and disadvantages of baseboard heating
- Types of heating skirting boards
- Baseboard heating device
- Connection method
- Mounting Features
- Electric warm skirting board
- Installation of a water-based warm skirting system
- Baseboard heating calculation
- How to act
The system of warm skirting boards: what is it
How a warm skirting board works, explain the technical details of the device described in the following sections. The system got its name because it is mounted on the usual place for the baseboards around the perimeter of the room, and the masking strip resembles them externally and replaces itself. Behind the bar are hidden long thin heaters.
A decorative strip is a component of a metal box up to 15 centimeters high, in which heating elements are sewn. Specialists call extruded aluminum a traditional metal for the duct because of the heat transfer efficiency. Since the width of the structure is only 3 cm, such a heating system does not externally stand out, does not attract the attention of an uninitiated person. The heating modules are attached to the wall and can either independently heat the room, or act as an addition to the radiator heating or underfloor heating system when there is not enough heat.
The device of the heating baseboard
So, it's time to find out what is hidden inside the metal box. 2 copper tubes located at a short distance from each other, on which vertical metal plates are fixed. This is necessary to increase heat transfer. Brass and aluminum are considered a democratic option, copper are more expensive, but work more efficiently. Therefore, the heat comes from the heated lids, warming the air in the room.
Openings for air circulation are provided on both sides of the covers. Through the lower, cold air enters, and through the upper, warm air is removed. This is the second source of heating. The third are the walls heated by this system, and the heat radiated by them is transferred to furniture and textile surfaces. By heating in three ways, the heating modules located around the perimeter, the room becomes heated quickly and evenly. The warm skirting system leads in these parameters.
Advantages and disadvantages of baseboard heating
The usual radiator heating for Russians is inferior to 30% of the warm baseboard according to research. The first and main advantage that distinguishes the heat-transferring skirting board is intensive heating.
Due to the location of the modules around the perimeter in the lower part of the room, warmer air near the surfaces of the walls and floor. Accordingly, in the center of the room and above, the air is one or two degrees colder. A person feels more comfortable when his legs are slightly warmer than his head, let this difference not be felt clearly.
A big plus for the inhabitants of houses with panoramic glazing (and in other rooms this is a nice bonus) is the invisibility and the fact that the heating system does not take up too much space.It is easy to fit into the interior, regardless of the chosen style. If you choose an electric baseboard that emits heat (it is unlikely to work with water), it is easy to mount the heating system in a glazed conservatory, loggia or terrace.
Similar heating belongs to inertial types. A characteristic advantage of inertial heating is the use of walls as stabilizers that regulate the temperature regime, while maintaining a constant level. The heat accumulated in the walls will be given to the air even after the heating system is turned off. Therefore, when promptly troubleshooting and re-enabling the hosts will not have time to freeze. Another plus of inertia: economical methods of heating are appreciated, and a warm baseboard among the leaders in this indicator. When the walls warmed up and accumulated heat, which, as needed, will be transferred to the air, it remains only to maintain the temperature, for this the systems are equipped with regulators.
As noted in the previous section, the advantage of the heating baseboard is the uniformity of the heating of the room, even the corners. We add to the list the availability of devices, which is important for operational adjustment and repair. A warm floor, for example, does not differ in the same.
From the point of view of maintaining the health of the inhabitants, a warm baseboard also has an advantage. Moreover, due to a number of properties. Firstly, the barrier that protects from cold air from the outside makes the walls warmer and the outside too - which means the room gets rid of excess moisture. This is a reliable protection against mold and pathogenic fungus. Secondly, the reviews of the owners describing the electric warm skirting say that there is less dust in the rooms. This is due to a decrease in the speed of air movement.
The safety criterion also cannot be left aside when choosing a heating system (for wooden houses this criterion is in the first place at all). Warm baseboard refers to fire and electrical safety devices, so it is suitable for heating any home.
However, it is worth making a reservation, with which we turn to the shortcomings. We’ll clarify that this refers to any house where they live permanently, and not temporarily (as in a country house, for example). This is due to the fact that the room is cold until the walls reach the required level of heating. And if you come for a short time, this is a lost time of rest. Another minus applies only to the electric form: it is not universal. In the bathroom and in the kitchen, where the humidity is constantly increased, it is better to heat the air in another way because of the risk of a short circuit of the device.
And finally, a significant lack of heating for a house or an apartment with a warm baseboard for the owners - the cost of the device. But, taking into account these advantages, many still decide to pay more for an evenly heated house and further savings.
Types of heating skirting boards
There are water and electric skirting heating systems. Both are practical and reliable, but water is considered more economical. Electric heating is more expensive, but the owners' reviews of electric skirting boards are unanimous in the ease of installation. After fastening to the wall, the electric skirting board, the electric skirting board, immediately starts heating. But the installation of a water system involves a collector or beam connection.
Another difference between the two types of skirting boards: the devices from which the electric skirting board is assembled are autonomous and successfully work separately, if necessary. Whereas a water baseboard is a single connected system that is not partially included.
Baseboard heating device
As in the case of other types of heating using water, a heating water skirting board includes a boiler that heats the water, a distribution manifold and pipes that deliver water to the modules.On 2 copper tubes forming the heat transfer module inside the box in the room, lamels of suitable metal are inserted and the modules are connected together, soldering. Crimp nuts are also suitable for connection. For corners take special decorated swivel connectors.
The low-temperature mode of the system is considered suitable, therefore, the boiler is selected so that the water supply temperature is from 40 to 50 degrees, and upon return 35-45. If you want to supply a gas boiler, choose a condensing one. If you bought another, you will need to supplement the system with a mixing unit or a heat accumulator that stabilizes the temperature.
Connection method
Serial connection one after the other means cooling water when reaching the modules at the end of the bundle, so experts recommend equipping the radiation system. Then the devices are connected by pipes in parallel to the collector assembly. It will take many meters of pipes, which will increase costs. But the heat is distributed evenly and damage to the pipe does not disable the system, only the area.
Mounting Features
Decide on your preferred heating device during repairs, since laying a warm, water-based skirting board involves placing pipes in the floor screed. There is no way to run pipes along the walls, there are devices. If you are planning to equip a warm water baseboard in a repaired room, you will have to disassemble the floor.
As a rule, pipes made of polymers that are not afraid of corrosion are embedded in the floor structure. Such pipes do not give off heat along the way, so the water reaches the appliances un-cooled. But getting into the screed for troubleshooting is difficult, so the products are carefully selected. Reliable pipes produced by manufacturers with a reputation in the market are more expensive, but they neutralize risks.
Electric warm skirting board
Appearance of electrical devices is distinguished by the presence of terminals. Inside the same 2 tubes, but with a different filling. The bottom is filled with a heating element - this is a heater with a capacity of 200 watts per linear meter, and the top is designed for laying wires.
The wires stretched and connected to the terminals in pre-fixed pipes are the whole construction of the electric skirting board. To optimize the temperature in the room and save electricity, an electronic or electromechanical thermostat with a temperature sensor is used, which is responsible for the automatic switching on and off of the modules.
Mr.Tektum's relatively inexpensive warm skirting board, which uses brass heat exchangers and aluminum cases, is popular in Russia.
Installation of a water-based warm skirting system
The reviews written by the owners who installed the electrical skirting boards characterize the installation of the modules as simple and short. The only difficulty arises when connecting to a dedicated line, because you have to ditch the wall. For an inexperienced master, difficulty will cause the calculation of the cross section of the wire and checking the conformity of the rating of the circuit breakers.
Baseboard heating calculation
Perhaps the most difficult and responsible for the owners, who decided to install the baseboard that emits heat, will be the technical calculation for arranging the heating system. The required amount of heat is affected by the dimensions and shape of the room, from which the surfaces are made, what insulation layers are located under them, the installation features of windows and doors - the level of heat absorption depends on this.
The calculation is based on 100 watts of thermal energy per square meter. This is the average for a moderately insulated room. We get the power of the heating device by multiplying the area of the room with the required energy by each square.Builders advise adding another quarter to this figure to exclude the influence of calculation errors.
How to act
Prepare for installation before repair or at the beginning. To lay pipes in a coupler (for a water system) or to organize a connection to a dedicated line (for electric).
When the internal part of the heating system is done and tested, and the finishing work in the room comes to an end, a tape reflecting heat is glued to the walls, on which fasteners are fixed with screws or dowels. Next, the modules are mounted, fastening together. If you choose a water heating baseboard, we pay special attention to the tightness of the device, which crimping helps to check. After a test connection and verification, we install an external box and enjoy the heat in the house.
