Warm infrared floors and familiar radiators have long been the main heating elements that are most popular among residents of city apartments and private houses, but recently a curious alternative has appeared - a warm baseboard. Due to the short trial period, there is not so much objective data on operational subtleties that does not prevent the novelty from confidently moving into the market. The main feature of the plinth heating system is the absence of signs of its presence, that is, it is absolutely invisible and does not betray itself in the interior.
The innovative heater has a small size and is located, like a regular skirting board with a thickness of 2.5-3 cm along the floor covering around the perimeter of the room, which is why it got its name. The height of such a heating device is 12-15 cm, and this is an indisputable advantage, since today wide skirting boards are in special demand. It is also important that the floor wall heater allows you to furnish the room at your discretion, since in this case we are not dealing with convection, but with thermal radiation, therefore bulky objects do not impede the spread of heat in the room.
Operating principle
According to experts, plinth heating is almost a third more economical than other heating methods, and all because the creation of a comfortable microclimate in the case of thermal radiation requires lower temperature indicators, which means that this system will consume a small amount of energy. Unfortunately, none of the existing solutions for space heating today guarantees an optimal result. Due to its physical properties, warm air rises, while in the lower part of the room it remains cold. This phenomenon is not particularly critical in a room with low ceilings, but where they have a significant height, the situation is not the best.
To solve this problem, they resort to forced convection, supplementing the system with a fan, mixing the air flow and thereby equalizing the temperature regime in the house. Unfortunately, this system is also not without drawbacks, since the convector provokes the spread of dust and germs by raising them from surfaces to the air, and for allergy sufferers this causes negative consequences. In addition, stagnant unheated zones are formed in the corners. The skirting board does not create a pillow with heated air in the upper part of the room, and this is one of the main advantages of the system.
The use of traditional convectors provokes the appearance of dampness on the walls and, as a consequence, the development of fungal and mold organisms, because convection is aimed at heating the air, not the surfaces. When warm air masses come into contact with cold walls, condensation appears, which is the cause of the above problems, and it does not matter how well the country house or apartment is insulated from the outside or inside.
Heating with a special baseboard has a different mechanism of action, and the first difference of the system is the ability to heat the lower layers of air. When lifted up, heated air gives off heat to the walls, and we observe its uniform distribution over their entire surface. In this case, the space warms up only by 30%, and the rest of the thermal energy goes to the walls, which is very important. As experts note, here a rising warm stream cuts off the cold from the walls, while warming them. Of course, during this the energy consumption increases, but in the future the fuel consumption in the system decreases, and the surface radiates heat.
At this stage, the main advantage begins to manifest itself - energy is saved, because a comfortable microclimate is created for a person at a wall temperature in the range of 35–37 ° С, while the air can have 16 ° С. This happens because the heat radiated by the walls we feel with the whole body. This explains the possibility of arranging large furniture along the walls, because even if, for example, the cabinet consumes heat, then it will be given up immediately.
Types of heating skirting boards
Such a heating system includes in its design a heating module that closes the baseboard. The module itself is nothing more than a pipe, or rather, a pair of copper pipes supplemented with aluminum plates. As you know, the copper profile gives off heat very well, and is not afraid of corrosion and does not oxidize, however, the cost of such products is traditionally high. Aluminum is famous for its good thermal conductivity, and its price is much lower, so this combination is often found in the heating system, and the same bimetallic radiator can serve as an example here. There are two types of module heating, which distinguish the baseboard heating system:
- coolant (water or antifreeze);
- electricity (TEN).
Electric heating method
Such heating implies that the baseboard is equipped with a low-temperature heating element, the maximum heating of which is 60 ° C, while the power of such an element is quite high (180–280 W). The heater is integrated into the lower tube, and the upper one is equipped with an insulated cable that transfers voltage to the entire area of the heater. The constituent elements of the heating are enclosed in a special channel with which the baseboard is equipped. Heaters with a length of 70 to 250 cm are available on the market, which allows the consumer to select the required power for rooms of various sizes.
Water heating
In the case of these skirting boards, the coolant circulates in a closed loop and transfers heat from the heating point throughout the system. Here, the length of one circuit is limited, which, for the purpose of efficient operation, is a maximum of 15 m, while each manufacturer issues its own standard for length. In the event that several circuits are installed within the same room, it is convenient to install a collector similar to the comb for the “warm floor” system. The comb can be either ordinary or equipped with flow meters, it all depends on the wishes of the owners of the premises.
Connecting elements
When the required length of the modules is dialed, they are distributed around the perimeter of the room, forming a closed loop. The wiring of the system, consisting of individual elements, needs to be connected, for which the following devices are used:
- steel tubes with nuts or under the press;
- copper tubes with solder fittings;
- threaded fittings based on copper or steel material.
As a reliable option for connecting the system, copper pipes for soldering have proved themselves, since they withstand up to 30 Bar and are often used in central heating systems. The most difficult situation is with threaded elements, which are inconvenient to fail due to being too close to the wall. For flexible tubes, quality is important, as unreliable fasteners are destroyed by the action of hot water. The connection from the heat generator is carried out exclusively with materials compatible with copper. These include polymers, metal-plastic or the same copper. A water skirting board is able to work together with all types of boilers, however, for efficient heating of the room, a high coolant circulation rate is required, which is a good way to provide a good pump.
Scope of application
Plinth heaters are mounted in rooms of any functional purpose, the size of which also does not matter. It doesn’t matter what you plan to heat - a wooden house or a concrete building, in any case, the experiment will be successful. The stores offer system samples specifically designed for use in rooms with a high level of humidity. Such an innovative battery is considered an ideal design solution, as it fits into each interior, while at the same time it is able to heat the room and be an integral element of the floor covering.
During operation, the baseboard does not emit any odors, and the air in the room always remains fresh, but there is one thing. Such a system is effective in permanent homes or where its continuous operation is ensured at a minimum mode, which, if necessary, will change in the direction of increasing temperature. Unfortunately, such a skirting board is not suitable for practitioners with a quick heating mode, since the system does not have enough power for this.
Advantages and disadvantages
If we talk about the pros, then they are obvious here:
- uniform heat distribution without stagnation zones and airbags with different temperatures;
- reduction of electricity costs by lowering degrees by several marks;
- the perfect combination with all the stylistic directions used in the decoration of the room;
- installation is easier than with underfloor heating.
The disadvantage is the high price, and the fact that the water baseboard contains a lot of components, which means that it requires appropriate skills in design and installation. An electric skirting board consists of a simpler system, but here it is advisable to turn to professionals for help. After reading the description of this new heating system, the detailed characteristics of which are presented in our article, you make a decision for yourself regarding the use of such a heater for personal experience.