Which coolant to choose for floor heating: which coolant is better

• Which coolant is better?
• Water and distilled water
• Distilled water: the best option in a green card home
• Antifreeze
• Crystallization temperature of ethylene glycol-based antifreeze
• Ethylene glycol antifreeze is often pink

Hydronic heating systems—both radiators and underfloor heating—use fluids to transfer heat. And this is not only water, but in most cases (68% of the total system) is used. Antifreeze is also used, as opposed to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol based antifreeze. They have also added additives that reduce reactivity to improve other properties of these fluids. You can get acquainted with the production of coolants on the company’s website https://teplonositeli-pro.ru

Which coolant to choose for floor heating.

For heated floors, you can use the same configuration that is poured into the radiator system, but check compatibility with heated floors before purchasing. The properties of antifreeze depend on additives, which can be completely different, if you are interested in a complete list of antifreeze properties.

It is even pleasant to relax on a warm floor, no matter what is filled with it.

Before making advance calculations, you need to decide what type of coolant will fill the floor with hot water. In general, all calculations are carried out on water, and when using antifreeze, all properties must be calculated according to their characteristics. For example, the overall pump output should increase by 10-15%, usually the pressure by 60-65%. Low heat transfer of antifreeze, change in circuit length or pipe diameter. In addition, the length of the system must be large in order to transfer the required amount of heat. The type of coolant is also important when choosing equipment and pipes. Not all are compatible with antifreeze, some can be used with antifreeze.

Water and distilled water

If you use regular untreated water, this is, of course, the cheapest and sometimes free option. And it has other advantages.

• Environmentally safe and absolutely harmless to humans. Regular water does not harm people or the environment.
• High heat capacity. This is the only liquid that can carry too much heat, and just as importantly, it can work well.
• It is easy to replenish lost volumes. Once any water has leaked or evaporated, you can simply add more.
• Possibility of use in all types of systems. With open open expansion tank.

There is nothing greener and safer than water

However, using water as a coolant has its drawbacks. Some of them are somewhat related to the underfloor heating system, they are harmful but not significant:

• Since salts are present in moisture, they are deposited on system components. Even a small amount of precipitation reduces the heat transfer of the heating unit. But underfloor heating is a closed system. That is, the same liquid circulates through a closed pipeline. And since there is not a large amount of salt in the limited amount, there can be no question of serious deposits.
• Due to the presence of oxygen in the water, metal parts of the system may be subject to corrosion. However, oxygen content may be limited. This is done at the pipe selection stage. The product is selected as a low oxygen permeability material or as an additional layer to prevent oxygen penetration. In this case, a small amount of water contains a small amount of oxygen, which quickly binds and does not harm the system components.
• If the system is stopped, the amount of water increases and can damage the pipeline. This is a physical property of water and cannot be obtained anywhere else. But the situation may be critical. Select a plastic pipe. If the volume increases, it will not crash. For example, polypropylene and polyethylene have these properties.
• The water in the underfloor heating system should be changed at least once a year. Antifreeze is changed every 3-5 years. But water is free and antifreeze is ok.

Characteristics of "XL Pipe"

The XL Pipe electric-water floor system is installed both in large cottages and in country houses with a small heated area. It consists of the following elements:

• a pipe made of heat-resistant polymer, inside of which there is a heating element;
• the coolant in it is heated by an eight-core cable; it connects to the network;
• the liquid for heated floors is introduced manually; use propylene glycol or antifreeze;
• when heated, the coolant expands, so the tube is equipped with a pressure absorption chamber;
• the inlet end is covered with a silicone cap; it has holes for the electrical cable;
• the ends of the cable are placed in a chamber with insulating material;
• The main line is laid under a screed 4-5 cm deep.

We recommend: How to calculate the distance between underfloor heating pipes?

Before installing the main, preparatory work is carried out: leveling the floor surface, laying waterproofing and insulation. A damper tape is reinforced along the lower perimeter of the wall. If mats for “warm floors” are not used, then a reflective screen and reinforced mesh are laid on the insulation. The liquid circuit is attached to it.

All preparatory work is carried out with your own hands. To connect the liquid line, it is recommended to contact specialists.

Pipes are laid in a “snail” or “snake” pattern. The end of the pipe is not returned to the connection point. It is placed in any convenient place on the floor.

When forming a screed, the mesh provides additional reinforcement. Copper wire is attached to the fittings; grounding is carried out.

A temperature sensor is placed between the turns of the cable. It is placed in a protective case. All wires are checked for resistance, connected to the network, and placed in a junction box located on the floor. It is closed with a screed.

The cable to the thermostat comes out of the box. It is installed at a distance of 70 cm from the floor. The end of the temperature sensor and the heating system are connected to it. The thermostat controls and operates the heating system.

Distilled water: the best option in a green card home

As you can see, it is better to use water as the coolant in your underfloor heating system, and it is a very inexpensive option. To make the system more attractive and almost completely safe, you can pre-treat the coolant. Soften the water The easiest way is to open the lid, put it in a metal pan and cook. In this case, part of the salt precipitates (unstable compounds of potassium and magnesium). But it is impossible to boil and remove stable compounds. It can be removed by adding a little lime, sodium orthophosphate or soda ash. But you can make it easier: use distilled water. If you use this liquid on warm soil, you will automatically eliminate the risk of salt deposits. This is a good choice because there is very little distilled water.

Requirements for installing heated floors with an electric boiler

Installing “warm floor” systems for electric boilers is not as difficult as for gas equipment.

Advantages of choosing an electric boiler:

• During installation there is no need to arrange a place for the equipment. The boiler has compact dimensions, thanks to which it can be installed almost anywhere, and a wide selection of models will suit any interior design solution. If necessary, the equipment can be installed in a niche or hidden behind a hanging cabinet;
• electric boilers, unlike gas boilers, do not require additional ventilation or a chimney, they are safe for health;
• if installed by a professional, he will install an electric boiler faster than a gas one;
• When installing an electric boiler, permission from special services (boiler inspection) is not required. The user will not be bothered by constant checks on compliance with safety regulations, so there is no reason for conflicts and inconvenient situations.

In order for the device to operate optimally, you need to connect a heat storage tank. This is necessary to heat an additional water tank at night, because the cost of electricity is lower - the water is heated, and the heat is used during the day.

Gradually, the coolant in the main tank loses temperature, and with the help of a circulation pump, heated liquid is supplied from an additional container, so the set temperature is maintained in the room.

Such containers, depending on their size, are capable of independently providing heat to a room for 3-4 hours, sometimes this is possible for up to two days. It is important to install this device where there are frequent power outages. Installing a heated floor from an electric boiler, as mentioned earlier, is quite simple, but you need to approach the process carefully and carefully.

Installation diagram. Photo source: soleopv.pl

If the owner wants to install this equipment at home, but is not well versed in electrical engineering, then it is worth turning to professionals for help and not installing the equipment yourself.

How is the equipment installed?

1. Add antifreeze. This will reduce electricity costs by about 5-10 percent. Less commonly, salt water (distilled) is used instead of antifreeze fluid.
2. Connect the boiler to the electrical network according to the connection diagram specified in the instructions, and the connection between the equipment should be routed to the distribution panel.
3. Additional equipment is installed: a tank and a residual current device (RCD). These devices protect against burnout during a strong power surge.
4. For boilers with high power, it is necessary to install a three-phase network. This should be done by a competent professional electrician.
5. Install thermal sensors. The presence of these devices reduces energy consumption by 5-15%. The thermostat is needed to ensure that the boiler does not work uselessly when the room is heated to the desired temperature.

When installing electric boilers, as well as for installations of this type, it is necessary to comply with the following safety requirements:

• cables must be insulated with the required cross-section;
• The cable should be laid in a channel special for it;
• mandatory grounding.

It is worth noting that the installation and connection of all devices must be done carefully; there should be no open sections of cable or exposed wires. It is necessary to monitor the appearance of the heat exchanger body using a phase sample for the coolant. Of course, it is possible that such protection is already in the boiler design, but it is better to play it safe and protect yourself.

Bottom line With proper installation, careful use and installation of additional equipment, the life of the heated floor system will be extended. The design of water heated floors is made in such a way that heating is distributed comfortably and evenly, in contrast to the use of radiators.

The use of an electric boiler system for warm water floors is economical and practical. The unit will operate regardless of the presence of general heating in the house, which is very convenient between seasons.

When choosing electrical equipment, you must rely on basic criteria and use the help of qualified employees; if necessary, they will help you choose the right electric boiler, taking into account the power and country of the manufacturer. You can install the equipment yourself or turn to professionals, they will do everything quickly and efficiently.

Antifreeze

The heating system uses ethylene glycol and propylene glycol antifreeze. They are typically aqueous solutions of these polyhydric alcohols, and additives are added to improve their properties.

Heating system.

Only special compounds are used in the heating system. Universal antifreeze or a car should not be poured into a warm layer of water.

When choosing antifreeze, remember that ethylene glycol is a strong poison. In drug addiction, 60% of deaths occur, and in the remaining 40%, the kidneys are seriously damaged. The lethal dose for adults is 100-300 ml. Apart from ingestion, contact with skin or mucous membranes has serious consequences. Although toxic, vapor levels are low, but chronic inhalation has irreversible effects. However, antifreeze based on this ethylene glycol is used. They sell 5 times more than the safer and more expensive propylene glycol.

What do we end up with?

Low temperatures and periodic placement in the house make the use of antifreeze indispensable. In such a case, it is best to use propylene glycol-based

. Although their price is much higher, they are safer and therefore cannot pose any harm to human health or to the surrounding components.

When using water, even in regions with moderate temperatures, it is better to play it safe and purchase polyethylene components as the main components. This will make it possible to eliminate defrosting.

Crystallization temperature of ethylene glycol-based antifreeze

Ethylene glycol is not ideal as a coolant due to all its risks.

• Highly corrosive (much higher than water). Suitable inhibitors are used to reduce corrosiveness.
• It has the ability to foam, which is again compensated for by appropriate additives.
• More liquid than water causes leakage problems. Due to the toxicity of ethylene glycol, this can be a problem. It is necessary to work with liquids, paying attention to protective gloves and goggles. In addition, all objects and substances that absorbed the solution are toxic. They are subject to replacement and destruction.
• Ethylene glycol does not react well to overheating. When the temperature rises to 70°C, active precipitation occurs, which significantly reduces the heat transfer of the thermal device. And this again leads to overheating. After overheating, the properties of the liquid change dramatically, which makes the antifreeze impossible to continue working. According to this criterion, it should be noted that in systems with solid fuel boilers, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze cannot be used: without 95 ° C more regularly than without, and without automation to control the position of the heat exchanger, it inevitably overheats.