The construction expert gave advice on installing underfloor heating in the apartment

Underfloor heating will help save energy with a competent approach to design and installation. On September 18, Fyodor Vasiliev, a construction expert, founder and CEO of GLAVSNAB, shared professional recommendations on the selection and installation of underfloor heating with Izvestia.

"For urban apartments, electrical systems are most optimal, in particular heating mats and infrared film. Heating mats based on a self-regulating cable are easy to install and do not require screed filling. The infrared film provides instant heating, does not dry the air and is mounted under laminate or linoleum without wet processes," he explained.

In private houses with autonomous heating, water-based underfloor heating integrated into the foundation using USP technology (insulated Swedish stove) or UFF (insulated Finnish foundation) is most effective. These systems are installed in the foundation in a complex manner, together with thermal insulation and other communications. The service life of such a floor is comparable to the service life of the foundation itself, and the principle of operation is similar to a thermal accumulator. For wooden houses, Vasiliev recommended core infrared systems that do not overload structures and ensure safe operation.

The expert noted: the process of laying underfloor heating is usually accompanied by a lot of annoying mistakes. For example, when installing water floors, high-quality thermal insulation is often neglected, which increases heating costs by 25-30%.

"Be sure to use extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of at least 3-5 cm. It is also important to take into account thermal expansion: due to the lack of a damping tape, it can lead to the destruction of the screed. I advise you to make short circuits of no more than 80 m, otherwise you will need a more powerful pump, which will significantly increase the hydraulic resistance. Electrical systems should never be placed under furniture, as this can cause overheating and failure," the specialist advised.

Demand test: sales of new buildings in some regions have halved

Developers hope for a reduction in the key interest rate and targeted expansion of preferential mortgage programs.

He added that it is better to plan the placement of dimensional furniture in advance. Incorrect calculation of power is fraught with the "zebra effect", when warm and cold zones alternate. A 10 cm step should be used for the edge zones, and 15 cm for the main ones.

To get the most savings when using underfloor heating, you should consider buying a programmable thermostat. It will allow you to set the temperature depending on the time of day. Vasiliev said that if you set the temperature 5-6 degrees lower at night, you can save up to 30% of energy.

Modern regulators can adjust the temperature for different coatings: for tiles 28-30 degrees, for laminate up to 27 degrees, for carpet 24-26 degrees. Such a system can be controlled remotely through a special application. For water floors, it is mandatory to install a collector group with servos and balancing valves for precise temperature control along individual circuits. This will ensure uniform heating of all rooms and eliminate energy overruns.

"If we talk about economic efficiency in the long term, then these indicators will differ for different types of underfloor heating. Water floors are more expensive to install, especially when integrated into the foundation, but they are much cheaper to operate in private homes with autonomous heating. The payback period of such systems is about 3-5 years. Electrical systems are cheaper to install, but more expensive to operate," the expert concluded.

On August 13, Alexey Orekhov, an interior decoration expert and CEO of NATEK, spoke about common repair mistakes that can cause significant inconvenience in everyday life. According to him, tinted mirrors make it difficult to fix your hair or check your appearance before leaving home.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.