Electric boiler for heated floors: choice, connecting to an electric boiler with your own hands

A heated floor will help ensure adequate heating of rooms, especially in a private home. However, it is not always possible to install electric heating, and people often opt for a water heating system. At the same time, if there is no option to connect it to a centralized heating system, it is necessary to install an electric boiler for heated floors . How to choose an electric boiler? How to install it yourself? We will talk about this in our article.

Electric boiler for heated floors

Scheme of proper installation of a warm water floor

There is one rule for all pipe laying schemes - installation of pipes must begin from the walls and move towards the center of the room, and then lead the pipes to the exit of the room. The layout of heating pipes is very important for saving heat.

The advantage of a snake is its ease of installation. The pipe is laid, sequentially moving in a zigzag from one wall to the opposite

Laying schemes:

• Snake;
• Snail;
• Combined installation.

It is necessary to consider all 3 heating installation schemes. Snake - pipes run along the perimeter of the room near the walls, and then from one of the walls (this will most likely be an internal, warmer wall) returns back in a wave.

Snail - pipes follow the perimeter of the room and each circle narrows, approaching the center. This scheme will be especially applicable for rooms with 2 external walls (corner room) or a room located on the north or east side. The combined scheme combines both the first and second schemes. But in any case, it is necessary to make a detailed drawing of the layout of the pipes in the room.

Making a homemade heating boiler

Let's consider two options for making a homemade electric boiler for 220V - heating element and electrode. This design can be used to heat a private house, garage, sauna, or to implement the concept of a heated floor. Let's start with an electrode boiler, which is simpler; its drawing is shown in the figure.

Drawing: economical electrode-type water electric boiler, drawing for DIY production

Designations:

• A – end caps (made of metal);
• B – electrode, can be made from a metal rod Ø25mm;
• C – rubber or paronite gaskets;
• D – pipes for supplying and discharging coolant;
• E – terminals for connecting grounding and neutral wire (M6 thread is cut for convenience);
• F – any type of coating that can withstand high temperatures, for example, heat-resistant paint;
• G – metal pipe (seamless) Ø57mm and about 250-300mm long.

As you can see, the design is really quite simple; if you know how to handle electric welding, installation of the device will not cause problems.

Please note that the electrode located inside the pipe must be insulated from the body; for this purpose, it is necessary to use a sleeve made of dielectric material, for example, fluoroplastic. As an alternative, you can install a plug “A” based on fiberglass

It is not recommended to use metals of various types for the above design, since they can form a galvanic couple, which will lead to the appearance of scale on the electrodes.

Device with heating element.

An installation with heating elements can also be made by hand; the characteristics of a home-made device will be somewhat inferior to serial equipment, for example, the Scorpion model range.

Electric boilers Scorpio

Before buying heating elements for a homemade electric boiler, you must first calculate its power. It makes no sense to tell how this is done, since information is easy to find on thematic forums.

Let's consider the simplest design made of a steel pipe; a schematic representation of the device is shown in the figure.

Simplified image of the design of an electric boiler with a heating element

Notations:

• A – automatic air vent;
• B – pipes for coolant inlet and outlet;
• C – heating elements;
• D – body (made of pipe Ø150mm);
• E – pipe with a ball valve for draining the coolant.

It is necessary to pay attention to the choice of installation option for heating elements, there are two of them - top and bottom. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. With the heating elements located at the top, there is no need to drain the water from the tank when replacing them.

But the upper location leads to air accumulating under the cover, as a result of which the heating elements overheat and fail. Installing an automatic air vent allows you to solve this problem.

When installing heating elements in the lower part of the boiler, you must be prepared for the fact that when replacing them you will need to drain water from the heating system.

As for induction devices, it is much more difficult to make such an electric boiler with your own hands, so most home-made designs are PETN or electrode.

Prefabricated manifold systems

A complete manifold system, along with shut-off valves and temperature regulators, includes:

• mixing unit;
• drain tap;
• air exhaust;
• a pump that circulates liquid in pipes.

An analogue to a shut-off valve at the inputs/outputs can easily be a valve with a control thermostat. The main advantage of these devices is their ability to contract and expand depending on the set optimal temperature, setting the intensity of the flow of heated liquid.

The mixer pump must be installed between the supply clamp and the supply pipe, while the third outlet goes to the return and is located in front of the return clamp. The resulting connection will allow the pump to take cooled liquid from the system and transfer it directly to the supply.

Homemade on heating elements or factory

If desired, purchase a factory-made electric boiler. However, it is worth understanding that a homemade design will be cheaper with the same efficiency; various control variations can be connected to a homemade boiler, and the piping can be supplemented with new components. This feature will not be available in a finished factory product.

Photo 1. Single-circuit electric wall-mounted boiler, model EVPM-Next, , Russia.

A properly functioning electric boiler optimally copes with heating the house and prevents power failures on the batteries.

The design and implementation of complex and obscure connection schemes is carried out under the supervision of experienced specialists.

The liquid in the boiler does not boil, heating is uniform and constant. Preference is given to low-temperature systems - they are safer and more controllable. If there are temperature fluctuations, replace the heater and regulator.

Which boilers can be combined with heated floors?

The best boiler option for heating floors is an electric boiler. Moreover, regardless of whether it is a heating element, induction or electrode. It has optimal efficiency even when operating at low power. In a small house, such equipment can be connected directly to the floor heating system. In large rooms it is better to make the connection using a special distribution and mixing unit.

The boiler operates automatically and requires virtually no human control. It is easy to install and easy to maintain.

Autonomous circulation group Isoterm Watts 44.02.070

You can also use condensing gas boilers, which can operate efficiently with a slight heating of the coolant. But conventional gas units require the installation of a mixing unit, which will have control elements. This is an excellent option for combining radiator heating and a heated floor system.

Solid fuel and liquid fuel boilers are not the best option, although they can also be used to organize a floor heating system. They require the installation of a mixing unit with thermometers, controllers and other additional equipment. Yes, and it is very difficult to adjust the desired temperature with their help - sometimes they produce too hot a coolant, sometimes too cold.

Principles of technology for connecting a heated floor to a heating system

Rating of popular manufacturers

PhotoNameRatingPrice

Buderus Logamax, E series

Country of origin: Germany. These are new heating element wall-mounted boilers of various capacities. Eco-friendly heat sources that are used to heat premises for various purposes, including residential ones.

Buderus Logamax, E series

pros

• it is possible to connect to any heating system;
• mounted in closed systems;
• high efficiency;
• The models are easy to install and require a minimum number of additional elements.

Minuses

• high price.

System and stages of installation of a warm water floor

The technology for concrete screed is the simplest. The first thing to do is to clean the floor of old floor coverings and cement all cracks and potholes.

Any work begins with drawing up a plan and preparing the workplace

Thermal water floor installation system:

• Cleaning and leveling the subfloor;
• Waterproofing;
• Installation of edge insulation around the perimeter of the room;
• Thermal insulation;
• Reinforcement;
• Installation of heating pipes;
• Connecting heating pipes to the boiler;
• Trial;
• Pouring the floor with concrete or cement screed;
• Break – 1 month;
• Sound insulation device;
• Decorative flooring.

It is also necessary to check the floor level; if the difference is up to 1 cm, then you can ignore it, but if the difference is more than 2 cm, then you need to level the floor with a cement screed and allow the surface to dry for at least 2 weeks. Next, you need to waterproof the floor in case of hot water leakage from the pipes

Along the perimeter of the room, apply edge insulation with damper tape to the height of the proposed floor. Thermal insulation is the next stage of action. The insulation must be laid throughout the room; the minimum thickness of the insulation is about 2–5 cm. Next, reinforcement should be carried out over the entire surface of the room. To do this, you need a purchased reinforcing mesh with cells of 16–21 cm. It is to this mesh that the heating pipes will be attached, because they bend perfectly. The pipe routing is secured using special plastic ties or clips (track).

The procedure for assembling a boiler with heating elements with its own rivers

Before you make an electric boiler with your own hands, you should make sure that you have a reliable power supply line. Only equipment with a power of no more than 6 kW can be connected to ordinary networks with a voltage of 220 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. If a more powerful boiler is required, it needs a three-phase wiring and a separate input.

So, we begin assembling a homemade electric heating boiler from a pipe with a cross-section of 159 mm and a wall thickness of 10 mm. This pipe will serve as the boiler body. It will require either a factory-made hemisphere with a cross-section of 159 mm and a thickness of 10 mm, or sheet metal with a thickness of 8 mm or more of a similar section.

The boiler roof, into which the heating elements will subsequently be embedded, can be made from an 8 mm thick channel.

We cut a ¾-inch coupling into the boiler dome. We will screw the drain valve into this coupling. In addition, you will need 2 pipes with a cross-section of 1 inch for inflow and return. The threads on the pipes can be made both internal and external. It all depends on which one you are more comfortable working with.

To relieve excess pressure, you need to prepare a pipe for inserting the bypass channel. You will also need 3 adapters, each of which will have a heating element for the electric boiler screwed into it. Another adapter will be needed for the temperature sensor. In addition, you will need holders for automation.

Please note that it is advisable to cut the threads on the pipes and adapters immediately. Prepared pipes with threads, the same as on heating elements, must be immediately screwed into the adapters. This is necessary so that the thread is not damaged during welding to the arch.

To mark the insertion points of the heating elements, the outer diameter of the pipe must be divided into 6 equal sectors according to the radius size. Then we draw three identical sectors strictly at an angle of 120°

This is necessary so that the threads are not damaged during welding to the arch. To mark the insertion points of the heating elements, the outer diameter of the pipe must be divided into 6 equal sectors according to the radius size. Then we draw three identical sectors strictly at an angle of 120°

Prepared pipes with threads, the same as on heating elements, must be immediately screwed into the adapters. This is necessary so that the threads are not damaged during welding to the arch. To mark the insertion points of the heating elements, the outer diameter of the pipe must be divided into 6 equal sectors according to the radius size. Then we draw three identical sectors strictly at an angle of 120°.

The next step is to start cutting. Having finished with the markings, using a plasma cutter we cut out holes for the pipes for the heating elements. They should be cut only along the outer contour. With all other pipes this is not of fundamental importance.

Let's start welding work. First we intercept the pipes at several points so that they do not lead. Then we check the accuracy of the location, if necessary, lightly tap with a hammer, and then make a continuous seam

It is important that the adapters for heating elements in an electric boiler for heating with your own hands protrude 1 cm above the surface of the boiler roof

Next, you need to make sure that the heating elements fit completely inside the body of the electric boiler. Therefore, after applying a continuous seam, it is necessary to screw the heating elements into the adapters.

Let's start cutting out the vault from the channel. In its center we make a hole for the air valve pipe, after which we weld the pipe itself. We make a hole on the side for the temperature sensor and also weld a pipe under it.

All protrusions, burrs and welding residues must be thoroughly cleaned using a grinder.

Emergency strapping options

Whichever heating system option you choose, dual-circuit heating systems must have an emergency circuit that will act as protection in the event of various unusual situations, for example, if the electricity is suddenly cut off. There are several ways to cope with this problem.

Boiler emergency piping diagram

The supply of water from the water supply system to the system is used quite rarely, as it is ineffective. The whole point is that the plumbing system stops working when the power goes out. A certain amount of water is stored in hydraulic accumulators, however, this amount will simply not be enough to prevent overheating of the equipment. If antifreeze is used as a coolant, then approximately 150 liters of this expensive substance will simply be drained into the sewer system.

If you connect the circulation pump to an uninterrupted power source, you can be safe from a power outage in the network. However, this solution also has its drawbacks. This power supply may not work due to some unexpected situations. In addition, boilers with a double-circuit system require constant maintenance and preventive maintenance. It is constantly necessary to monitor the health of the batteries and check for serviceability by charging and testing their performance.

The circuit protects the heating system from overheating

The concept of gravitational circulation refers to a special circuit, which is characterized by small dimensions and serves to remove excess thermal energy in the heating system. This circuit must be turned on only after the pump is turned off, which will lead to the fact that not the entire building, but some part of it, will be heated.

One of the most effective methods is to create an emergency circuit. It is an indispensable component of any good heating system. Thanks to this circuit, the gravity and forced circuits can function in different parts of the system as usual. However, when the pump is turned off, only the gravity circuit will work.

So, we have discussed the main functions and technical characteristics of existing electrical boiler piping schemes. You only need to make your choice, relying on your technical knowledge, family budget and the general design of the heating system in your home. Having weighed all the nuances and settled on the scheme that is ideal for your home, you should proceed directly to installation.

No. 2. Types of electric boilers by type of heating element

Depending on how the water is heated, all boilers are divided into heating elements, electrode and induction.

Heating elements new boilers

This is the most popular design option, and so popular that when talking about electric boilers, as a rule, they mean designs with heating elements. This unit works on the principle of a boiler. Electricity is supplied to a tubular electric heater (TEH), it heats up and transfers heat to water, which is used as a coolant. The heating element consists of a nichrome spiral and a durable shell made of steel, aluminum or titanium. The space between the spiral and the shell is filled with quartz sand or other dielectric filler.

The rated power in such boilers is achieved abruptly, approximately 10-15 minutes after switching on. Heating element boilers operate in flow mode and can be single-circuit or double-circuit. As a rule, several heating elements are placed in the boiler tank.

Since there is no direct contact of the heating coil with water (the dielectric plays the role of a separator), there is no need to be afraid of a short circuit. The main problem of such boilers is different. The surface of the heating element comes into contact with water; scale appears on it relatively quickly, which can gradually damage the boiler. To slow down this process or even avoid it completely, it is better to use distilled water in the system. Special liquids are also sometimes used. The boilers are protected from overheating of the coolant by a thermal regulator, but if a leak occurs, the unit risks overheating and failure.

Electrode (ion) boilers

The design of this boiler involves the presence of two electrodes immersed in a heat exchanger. Electrical energy is supplied to them, due to which a potential difference is created. Due to the presence of salts in the coolant, it turns into a current conductor. Electricity passing through the high resistance electrolyte causes it to heat up. Just a couple of minutes is enough for the boiler to reach its rated power. Specially prepared water or ethylene glycol-based liquid is used as an electrolyte (coolant).

Boilers of this type are quite economical in operation, and to provide the same thermal power as a heating element boiler, they consume almost half as much electricity. Such units, as a rule, have reliable, well-thought-out automation and rarely fail, since, in fact, there is nothing to break here. If a leak occurs in the system, overheating will not occur - there is no electrolyte. Electrode boilers also perform well under unstable voltage conditions. If it drops down to 180 V, the unit will continue to operate and generate heat.

The only downsides are the cost of the equipment and the need to use specially prepared coolant. Its composition will determine how much energy the boiler will spend on heating. Another nuance is the need for reliable grounding. The electrodes will have to be changed periodically.

Induction boiler

Boilers of this type began to be used back in the 80s of the last century, but at first they were installed only in production. The production of household models began only towards the end of the 90s. Their operating principle is quite complex and resembles a transformer. The heart of the unit is an induction coil, which converts electrical energy into a magnetic field, directing it to the core. The latter is a system of steel pipes with coolant inside.

The system performed well. Induction boilers are economical and very compact, durable (service life 30 years or more) and fireproof, and the problem of scale is not a problem with them. There are no strict requirements for the coolant, as in the two previous types of boilers - even purified petroleum products can be filled.

The main disadvantage is the high price. In addition, induction boilers weigh decently, despite their miniature dimensions. You won’t be able to find a model lighter than 20 kg.

Which boiler is better to choose depends on your budget and your requirements - all three types can be found on sale.

Electric and solid fuel

There are several types of boiler equipment, differing primarily in the type of fuel used. The most popular are:

• Electric.
• Solid fuel (pellet) boiler.
• Gas equipment.

Pellet

Despite the fact that in recent years there has been almost universal gasification, gas-powered equipment is still rarely installed in rural areas. Its main area of ​​application is city apartments and country cottages, which are close in terms of living comfort to the conditions of a metropolis. In villages, solid fuel equipment is more often installed - a wood, pellet or coal boiler.

The most important advantage that distinguishes a solid fuel (pellet or wood) heating boiler is its low cost and ease of operation. In rural areas, firewood remains the cheapest fuel to this day, and the likelihood of supplying gas to remote corners of the country is still almost a fantasy.

Electric

An electric heating boiler has a lot of advantages, but all of them are covered by one significant disadvantage - high operating cost. In some ways, the following can also be considered disadvantages of the equipment:

• Volatility of the system. A power outage will have negative consequences for the entire heating network, and not just for the device itself. To minimize the risk of the system defrosting in the event of a power outage, an additional emergency generator will be required.
• The electrical network must be able to withstand significantly increased load. An additional line may be required. You will definitely need to install a separate machine.
• The device must be connected by a qualified electrician. Unprofessional installation is life-threatening.

According to the principle of operation, electrode and heating element electric boilers are distinguished. We will not dwell on the former, since it is extremely difficult to design and install such a device. Let's take a closer look at heating elements devices.

Heating cost

For now, the cheapest type of heating is gas.
But the situation may soon change: it is rapidly becoming more expensive. In the meantime, when installing a gas boiler for a warm water floor, you will pay the least for the energy used monthly. Second place goes to fuels that are unusual for our country - pellets and fuel briquettes. If we compare the cost of a ton of firewood and pellets, then pellets are more expensive, but in terms of the cost of a kilowatt of heat, the use of pellets/briquettes is cheaper. These small granules are produced from waste from the wood processing industry or crop production. At the same time, their calorific value is higher than that of the best firewood, and for the highest quality pellets it is even comparable to the amount of heat generated by some brands of coal. And at the same time there is ten times less waste (ash). Fuel briquettes can also be included in this category. It’s just that pellets are usually used in special installations, and briquettes can be used to heat ordinary solid fuel boilers.

Pellets and fuel briquettes are not yet widely used in our country, but heating with them is economical. We are also pleased with the high degree of autonomy of operation of units using this fuel.

The third and fourth places are contested by firewood and coal. In some regions it is more profitable to heat with wood, in others - with coal.

Fifth place for liquid fuel - it's not cheap. Operating costs also include the need to heat the fuel tank, or install the tank in a heated room. In addition, installations using diesel fuel require a boiler room. Moreover, it is better to build a boiler room at a decent distance from the house: the noise during operation of the burner is decent, and the smell is strong, and it penetrates everywhere.

It is generally accepted that the most expensive heating is electricity. But when using automated modern devices you have to pay only a little more than when using coal or firewood. So don’t discount electric boilers for heated floors. It’s just that for more economical heating, it is advisable for you to take a heating unit with the ability to adjust the power. In some traditional electric boilers, heating elements are assembled in groups, and automation, turning the groups on/off, regulates the operating power and saves energy. For heated floors, it is advisable to take a three-stage, or, in extreme cases, a two-stage unit. Induction and electrode boilers themselves are economical (if controlled electronically) and have low inertia, that is, they do not waste energy.

Heating cost depending on the type of fuel used

Induction electric boiler

Having appeared relatively recently, boilers of this type have already gained enormous popularity. The principle of their operation is quite simple: a functioning device generates electromagnetic waves that interact only with metal. They do not affect other materials in any way, therefore, even with direct contact with the boiler, it is impossible to get burned.

An induction boiler consists of two main elements:

Emitter

• emitter;
• a pipeline with circulating liquid that receives radiation.

The pipeline (another name is the receiver) has quite large dimensions, therefore, if plaque forms on its internal walls, this will not affect the efficiency of work soon.

Pipeline (another name is receiver)

Advantages of induction boilers

Among the positive qualities of this device it is worth highlighting:

• reliability;
• safety;
• possibility of using any type of coolant;
• protection against plaque;
• Constantly high efficiency;
• quick access to working mode;
• no detachable connections.

Making an induction boiler

Induction heating boilers

The design of these boilers, just like heating elements, is quite simple, so if you wish, you can do it yourself. You just need to prepare:

• welding inverter;
• wire cutters;
• grinder;
• steel wire;
• stainless steel wire rod;
• plastic pipe with thick walls;
• adapters;
• metal mesh;
• enameled copper wire.

Stage 1. The material that will be irradiated with electromagnetic waves will be small pieces of wire rod or steel wire ø7 mm. The maximum length of the segments is 5 cm.

Stage 2. You need to make the case. It will simultaneously:

• the basis for creating an induction coil;
• part of the heating main.

To make the body, a plastic pipe with an internal diameter of slightly less than 5 cm is used.

Stage 3. Adapters are used to connect the boiler to the water supply. Through these adapters, cooled coolant will flow into the boiler, and heated coolant will go back into the pipeline. At this stage, the first adapter is attached to the base.

Stage 4. An iron mesh is laid at the bottom of the structure. It will prevent pieces of wire from getting into the line.

Stage 5. After this, the wire itself is filled in. There should be just enough to completely fill all the free space of the container. The upper part of the housing is closed with a second adapter.

Stage 6. After creation, you can proceed to the main thing - the induction coil. Enameled copper wire is taken and wound around the body in ninety turns. They should be placed approximately in the center of the structure.

Step 7. Then the electric heating boiler should be connected to the heating system. To do this, a small section is cut out of the pipeline, and a structure is attached in its place.

Stage 8. The coil is connected to the inverter, the system is filled with water.

Design and operating principle

Electric boilers have a fairly simple design. All devices are equipped with a heating element and a container for heat conduction. According to the type of heating element, electric boilers are divided into:

• devices with heating elements (tubular heaters);
• induction boilers;
• devices with electrode heaters.

Electric boilers are classified into 3 types Read more: DIY induction heating boiler.

The coolant can be forced to move through the system by installing additional equipment (pumps). Also for this purpose, the elementary laws of physics and the force of earth's gravity can be used. With automatic circulation, the pump is installed at the return inlet.

Device with thermal electric heater

Such devices are considered the most popular due to their simple design and low cost. The heating element (heating element) is installed in a container, where the heat conductor is heated to the desired temperature. When current passes through the heating element’s spiral, it heats up to a high temperature, due to which the liquid is heated.

The heating element is protected from overheating, as water constantly circulates and cools it. To maintain a constant temperature level of the heat conductor, a thermostat is installed that turns off the heating element if the set temperature is exceeded. The device turns on again when the indicators are reduced to the minimum.

It is not difficult to make an electric boiler for heating with your own hands, if you compare its production with other types of heating equipment. It will not have the advantages of purchased analogues, but it will still perform the function assigned to it.

To make your own device, you only need heating tubular elements and a container. But such a boiler should not be considered ideal, since its efficiency will be below 80%. Much also depends on the quality of heating elements, on which scale forms due to salts dissolved in water. It often leads to equipment failure due to overheating. As practice shows, scale with a layer of 1 mm reduces efficiency by 10-15%. But even taking this into account, electrical designs for heating rooms are very popular.

The efficiency of such a device will be far from 100%

Induction devices

Such devices, unlike heating element models, have an efficiency close to 100%. Plus they are durable. Their service life is about 25-35 years, and in addition they can serve as a boiler, heating water. Thanks to energy conversion with virtually no losses, induction boilers have the highest energy efficiency.

However, this type of equipment has not become popular among home craftsmen, since it is very difficult to make a homemade induction electric boiler for heating a home. This is due to the need to use electronic voltage converters.

The design of such a device consists of a coil (inductor) that is mounted on a metal core. The latter is a coil of pipes through which the coolant moves.

An induction boiler differs from heating element devices in that the area of ​​contact of water or antifreeze with the heating element is several times higher. Therefore, the efficiency of induction units is 99-100%. There is several times less scale formation in them, since microvibrations are created that prevent such a process. Electric boilers also have protection against overheating of the electrical element, since water is constantly circulating.

Electrode unit

The electrode-based design is somewhat reminiscent of an “army” boiler. It consists of two blades, between which there is a gap of 1-2 mm. Water with dissolved salt is used as a coolant.

The electrode boiler includes a piece of metal pipe. There is an electrode inside, which is closed with bushings. There must be a good grounding to the pipe, which is connected to the boiler body.

This boiler has a simple design

When preparing a heat conductor, it is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of salt, since the current strength in the circuit, that is, the power of the device, will depend on this indicator. A thermostat is used to adjust the temperature. The device is also equipped with an automatic shut-off system.

Consultation on choosing an electric boiler for heated floors

Heating systems based on warm water floors are used in homes, offices, and commercial real estate. For heating, electric boilers are often used, which are characterized by their compact size, affordable price, and high degree of automation. By installing a GSM thermostat for a boiler of this type, you can control the heating system using a smartphone. All this, along with a wide range of equipment, attracts potential customers. Many domestic and foreign manufacturers produce electric boilers. Are there any particularities in choosing equipment for a heated floor system and which model should you choose?

Basic requirements for boilers

The water temperature in heating radiators can exceed +70ºС; such parameters are not relevant for heated floors. If you heat the heated floor to such parameters, then it will be impossible to walk on it barefoot, and the living room will turn into a sauna. The maximum temperature of the water leaving the electric boiler should not exceed +55ºС. In this case, the floor temperature will be slightly below +30ºС, which will ensure the maximum level of comfort in the house. Accordingly, electric boilers that are planned to be used in a heated floor system must be equipped with temperature control systems in the region of the specified limit. For most models with heating elements, this possibility exists, but for electrode-type boilers, the minimum coolant temperature does not fall below +60ºС. If such equipment has already been purchased, then you need to take care of the cold water mixing unit.

Additional criteria for choosing a boiler for heated floors

Other parameters for choosing heating equipment are similar to those that have to be analyzed for equipment used in a traditional heating system. This does not make them any less important; they must be taken into account. The property owner will need to decide on the following characteristics:

• power;
• type of installation;
• number of circuits;
• availability of automated security systems;
• functionality.

The boiler power must be sufficient to heat a room of a certain area. For a cottage of 300 sq.m. Heating equipment with a power of at least 30 kW is required. It can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted - the type is selected based on the available space in the house and the weight of the equipment. Powerful boilers are heavy and mounting them on the wall is not advisable.

You can use both a double-circuit and a single-circuit boiler for a heated floor system. The presence of automatic systems that monitor safety is mandatory. You can neglect the automation of the control system, since the GSM thermostat is in some cases more functional. It allows you to control heating via your phone, which saves energy as much as possible and provides a high level of comfort.

Some manufacturers offer electric boilers that are functionally designed for heated floors. Such models do not require additional equipment for connection, which makes installation less expensive. If the boilers are not functionally designed for heated floors, then most likely you will need a comb, temperature sensors and a mixing unit. This equipment will allow you to supply coolant with an optimal heating temperature to the system.

One of the main problems of owners of electric boilers is reducing energy costs. They can be minimized by installing automation that operates through sensors installed at a height of 15-20 cm from the floor.

They reduce the heating level and maintain a comfortable temperature. An alternative to them would be a GSM thermometer, which allows you to control the temperature of the coolant and maintain it at a minimum when there are no inhabitants in the house. You can ensure a comfortable temperature with one SMS message shortly before returning to the owners’ home.

Operating principle

The operating principle of different types of electric boilers has the main similarity - it increases the temperature of water or other liquid. The differences in the types of equipment lie only in the method of converting electricity into heat.

Boiler with heating element

For boiler equipment with heating elements, an electric current passes through a high resistance wire (tungsten), causing it to heat up.

The resulting heat passes through the quartz sand backfill and the heater body to the water moving inside the boiler tank, then reaching the radiators of the heating systems or the “warm” floor coil.

Electrode boiler

With electrode boilers, everything happens a little differently. A “zero” wire is connected to its cylindrical steel body, and a metal electrode with a connected “phase” is installed inside along the axis.

Inside, with the help of a pump, undistilled water from the heating is forced to move, which is a conductor with a certain electrical resistance. That. When electricity is passed through this liquid, it will heat up. The degree of temperature increase depends only on the duration of exposure to electric current and its strength.

Induction

In an induction boiler, water is heated due to the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. Electricity is passed through a coil wrapped in wire. At the same time, a metal core is placed inside it. Around the coil so-called eddy currents heating the core array, which in turn is washed by water. This is how the coolant absorbs heat.

Advantages and scope of electric boilers

Most often, electric boilers are used in dachas and private homes. This is due to the fact that this equipment has a low cost and at the same time you can install it yourself, without calling a specialist.

Among the main advantages of electric boilers are:

• the equipment is safe (the design does not include open flames or the presence of flammable fuel sources);
• water heaters can be switched off for up to six months, without harm to their performance (relevant for dachas and country houses that are rarely visited);
• the dimensions are relatively small, so it can be placed in any room;
• Today there is a huge variety of electric boilers, varying in power, installation method and principle of operation;
• When water is heated, soot does not appear, which is dangerous for both humans and the environment.

Safety requirements

The safety requirements for electric boilers are general and apply to installations of this type.
Required :

• the presence of insulated supply cables having the required cross-section;
• The cable is laid in the appropriate cable channel;
• Protective grounding is required.

Important! Installation and connection of the device must be carried out carefully, without any exposed cable sections or exposed wires. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the heat exchanger body to prevent phase breakdown to the coolant (usually such protection is provided for by the boiler design, but safety is paramount).

Types of equipment

The larger the area of ​​the water circuit, the more powerful the heating unit should be

When choosing heating equipment, first of all you need to pay attention to such characteristics as:

• number of circuits;
• heating features;
• installation method.

Electric boilers for heated water floors can be installed on the floor or fixed to the wall. The floor-standing heating element device is distinguished by its significant weight. It is equipped with a boiler, the internal structure of which includes not only an insulated container, but also a tubular heater.

Dual-circuit appliances allow you to separately heat water for domestic needs

Among the boiler equipment models on the market, the most popular are two types of devices:

• single-circuit;
• double-circuit.

Both heating elements and electrode electric boilers can be single-circuit. Both of them carry out activities aimed at heating the liquid, which acts as a heat carrier. Double-circuit heaters also heat the coolant - water for hot water supply. For this purpose, exclusively heating elements are used.

The installation of this equipment is justified by the fact that it is possible to use a two-tariff meter.

This means that the liquid is heated at night, and heated floors are heated during the day.

Speaking about the heating principle, it is worth mentioning the convenience of electric heating elements. Their main distinguishing feature is a wide power range, which is easy to adjust.

How to make a heating element boiler with your own hands?

This type is the most common. Heating elements are used to heat the coolant. They are located in a heat exchanger, which, in essence, is a sealed, heat-insulated container equipped with pipes for coolant input and output.

A heating element is a thin-walled tube made of aluminum, steel or titanium, inside of which there is a nichrome spiral. The walls of the tube and the spiral are separated by a dielectric storage device, usually quartz sand plays its role.

The principle of operation of such equipment is as follows: the spiral heats up because an electric current passes through it, the heat from it is transferred to the sand and the tube, and the tube heats the coolant. The water heats up approximately 15-20 minutes after the equipment starts operating.

To save money and free space, you can make a similar electric boiler yourself. To do this you need to have on hand:

• grinder;
• welding equipment;
• grinding unit;
• thermostat;
• multimeter;
• steel sheet;
• adapters for connecting to the pipeline;
• pipe ø12 cm, and 3-5 tubes of smaller diameter;
• 2 heating elements.

After all the necessary tools and materials are prepared, you can begin work:

1. Metal pipes are prepared: three tubes with a diameter of 12.5 mm and two with a diameter of 30 mm. These parts are cut from pre-prepared pipes.
2. A piece of large pipe about 65 cm long is needed; it will act as a heating tank. In places that are pre-marked, holes are made by welding for the pipes - supply, return, drain, expansion tank, heaters. Using a grinder, the edges of the holes are polished.
3. The pipes are welded to the corresponding holes.
4. A circle of sheet steel of the required size is cut out and welded to the bottom of the heating tank. The protrusions are cut off and the connecting seams are sanded.
5. A long pipe with a diameter of 12.5 mm is welded to the upper part - a second electric heating element is screwed to it.
6. Several holes are made in the bottom for mounting a heating element with a power of 1.5 kW. After the heating element is fixed, the boiler is screwed to the heating system using pipes and the wires are connected.
7. Afterwards, a less powerful heating element (about 0.9 kW), which is equipped with a thermostat, is connected to the upper pipe.
8. After everything is connected, water is poured into the system. After several hours of operation, the system is checked with a multimeter. In the case when everything is done according to the instructions, the instrument readings will be 70 ° C - this temperature is optimal.

The finishing touches are sanding and painting the boiler.

The disadvantage of such equipment is the likelihood of scale deposits on the heating elements. Which leads to a decrease in operating efficiency or breakdown of the device. When using special liquids or distilled water as a coolant, this problem is prevented.

Types of boilers for water floor heating

There are several types of boilers for heating the coolant, that is, water. They differ in the features of operation, installation and operation, as well as the type of fuel on which they operate.

Heating boilers

Table. Types of heating boilers.

Boilers can also be divided into two categories based on their installation location. They are wall-mounted and floor-mounted. Floor-standing ones, as a rule, have more power than suspended ones. But the latter are much more convenient to install and less expensive to maintain.

Installation of a BAXI gas boiler + Protherm electric boiler

Diesel boilers

In this case, the fuel is ordinary diesel fuel. These units are productive and very efficient, they are completely autonomous, that is, they do not depend on whether they are connected to any communications (gas, electric networks, etc.). They are easy to install, easy to operate and have high efficiency rates with low fuel consumption.

Diesel boiler design

diesel heating boilers

Solid fuel boilers

The fuel for these units is firewood and fuel pellets. The operating principle is similar to burning wood in a conventional stove. But in this case, combustion occurs at high temperatures (from +250 degrees) and without air access. Heating of the coolant occurs due to the release of hot smoke during fuel combustion.

Solid fuel boiler for heated floors

Such boilers are rarely used in residential premises; their usual areas of use are manufacturing and agriculture. These units in the house require constant attention, as well as fuel loading, which complicates operation.

Solid fuel boiler diagram

solid fuel heating boilers

Gas boilers

It is not difficult to guess that this type of boiler runs on gas. The body of these devices is usually made of cast iron or steel, which will determine the service life and ease of installation. Steel boilers are much lighter than cast iron, they are small in size and easy to repair. However, their service life is shorter. This is why cast iron units are more expensive, as they are characterized by increased reliability. The devices can operate on both main gas and liquefied gas from cylinders. They are quite economical, and for heating only floors you can use a low-power unit.

Gas boiler for heated floors

These boilers are not recommended for connection to a heated floor system. The reason is simple - they, of course, are able to maintain the water temperature at low levels (about +45 degrees), but in fact they are designed to heat the coolant at least +80 degrees. Because of this, the efficiency of the boiler will drop greatly (up to 15%).

But there is still the option of using a gas boiler to work with a heated floor system. To do this, you will have to use a mixing unit equipped with a special distributor and a circulation pump. However, this will also increase the costs of purchasing equipment and its installation.

Gas floor-mounted double-circuit boiler

gas heating boilers

Electric boilers

These electrically powered units can be used in any application and are best suited for connection to an underfloor heating system. Connecting this boiler is simple, despite its apparent complexity. Such units will allow you to organize low-temperature heating - the kind that is needed for heated floors - due to the ability to adjust the temperature of the outgoing coolant flow.

Diagram of an electric boiler for a warm water floor

In the photo - an electric heating boiler

electric heating boilers

Boiler selection criteria

Unfortunately, there are no specially designed boilers to which a heated floor system can be connected. There are, of course, models whose technical data sheets indicate that they can operate in this mode, but in general this is only one of the functions of the equipment.

Choosing an electric boiler

The choice of floor heating equipment should be made according to several criteria:

• the ability to adjust the heating of the coolant and floors;
• unit power;
• Type of fuel;
• compatible with floor heating system;
• high efficiency;
• ease of use, repair, maintenance;
• safety system;
• manufacturer;
• ease of installation.

How to choose an electric boiler

Everyone should choose the fuel that will be most profitable. In some regions it is cheaper to heat with electricity, in others - with gas.

Recommendations for selecting a boiler

One of the most important parameters when choosing a heating boiler is the possibility of connecting it to a floor heating system. This is necessary in order to be able to set the temperature of the coolant that will circulate without damage to the equipment and budget. On the supply side, the heating system should produce only +35-45 degrees, and on the return side – about +25.

If you plan to connect an electric boiler in close proximity to the living room, it is advisable to pay attention to imported devices

On a note! If the house is heated by radiators connected to a boiler, from which the heated floor heating system also extends, then choosing a unit will be easier. If the heating of the premises will not be carried out by the boiler, then it is important to choose a model that will allow you to set a low floor heating temperature.

It is also important to evaluate the area of ​​the room in which the heated floor system will be installed, the materials from which its finishing is made, as well as the parameters of the screed.

Installation of water heated floor

Installing the unit

First you need to install an electric boiler indoors. As we have already said, the unit can be floor-mounted or wall-mounted. In the first case, the kit includes a special stand, on which the “landing” is performed.

In order to hang the boiler on the wall, you need to prepare anchors with dowels and a drill with a suitable drill bit. First, mark the wall using a tape measure and a marker.

The holes must be placed perfectly level in a horizontal plane. Next, we drill out the marked places, drive dowels into them and screw in the anchors. After the anchor is firmly seated inside the wall, you can hang the electric boiler.

We draw your attention to the fact that the installation of the electric boiler must be carried out perfectly level in both horizontal and vertical planes. Any misalignment can affect the performance and service life of the equipment

Any misalignment can affect the performance and service life of the equipment.

The main stages of work on creating a boiler

There is a certain sequence of work that is recommended to be followed when manufacturing an electric boiler:

1. Create a diagram of the general operation of the system. Here a special single-circuit heating circuit can be used, or in extreme cases a double-circuit one.

1 - heated water outlet pipe; 2 - reservoir; 3 - heating element; 4 - cold water inlet pipe; 5 - upper flange with sealing gasket; 6 - pallet; 7 - bottom flange; 8 — pan cover; 9 — bottom of the tank (base of the heating element); 10 - hole for power cord; 11 - gasket

It is important to ground and subsequently install the boiler to eliminate static electricity. It is necessary to ensure the circulation of the liquid by means of its heating temperature. It is necessary to prepare effective materials for radiators that interact ideally with water.

After this, you can proceed to the technological process. Using a conventional welding machine, a small container is attached to one end of the pipe. An electrode is built into the back side, which must reach the bottom. After this, the pipe is welded on both sides.

Important! Before welding, it is recommended to pour approximately 0.7 liters of water, only then mount the electrode. . The pipe is fixed in the wall surface with a slight slope, after which grounding is done

After this, a phase is supplied to the housing. The next step is to turn on the normal voltage of 220 W. The power of this device will be regulated using a pressure gauge, which must be connected through a special three-way valve.

The pipe is fixed in the wall surface with a slight slope, after which grounding is done. After this, a phase is supplied to the housing. The next step is to turn on the normal voltage of 220 W. The power of this device will be regulated using a pressure gauge, which must be connected through a special three-way valve.

The resulting boiler will heat up to a temperature of 120 degrees. At the same time, the level of closedness of the system completely eliminates the formation of corrosion in the internal part of the pipe. This significantly increases the total operating time of the device; moreover, you may not be able to control the overall composition of the liquid.

Installation and Installation

Before connecting an electric boiler to a warm water floor, you must read the instructions supplied by the manufacturer and carry out all work in strict accordance with the instructions received. For more information about connecting a heated floor to a boiler, watch this video:

Collector unit

Required devices include:

• underfloor heating manifold unit;
• expansion tank;
• circulation pump installed on the return line.

As the installation diagram shows, the floor heating boiler is connected to the expansion tank, then you need to install a pressure gauge that controls the pressure in the system, then connect the manifold assembly. It is required to clearly distribute the coolant throughout all installed pipe circuits and regulate the temperature of the liquid in the system.

Now you can connect the heated floor directly, and on the return line you need to install a circular pump, which will ensure rapid and continuous movement of the liquid heat carrier through all pipes.

A prerequisite for efficient and safe operation of the equipment is the presence of its own electrical system output to the switchboard, separate from other devices. Electric boilers are installed to heat country cottages and small private houses, garages and private workshops. They are simple and easy to use, reliable and economical. Such equipment does not require the construction of chimneys and does not pose a fire risk. For details on installing heated floors in an apartment, see this video:

You can connect such a device yourself by choosing the most convenient model. Wall-mounted units take up minimal space and do not attract attention. Modern devices provide a smooth start of the system, are designed with the ability to connect a programmer and are equipped with an LCD display that displays the current state of the system. Electric boilers connected to a warm water floor help create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort in your home, avoiding unnecessary material costs.

Connection diagram

Connecting the boiler to a water heated floor system is quite simple - you need to connect the corresponding direct and reverse flow pipes from the system to the flow and outlet of the electric boiler. For this purpose, the corresponding fittings of the boiler and the mixing unit of the heated floor are used.

If any malfunctions are found, repairs may be required.

Features of electric heating equipment

There is a widespread belief that all types of electric heaters provide savings of about 30-40%, and installation of an electric heating boiler will be as profitable as possible. The values ​​described are large, and in theory they allow you to save a significant amount on heating.

As a rule, the reason for such efficiency is given as reduced power - that is, when calculating the heating system, it must be assumed that heating one square meter of room requires about 60 W of energy instead of the required 100 W.

Everything said in the previous paragraph is the erroneous opinion of most users. It is not advisable to compare direct heating devices in terms of efficiency, since they will all be equal. This statement is based on the law of conservation of energy, according to which energy cannot appear out of the blue and disappear into nowhere.

In relation to electric heating devices, this means that all generated energy will be converted into heat.

Of course, this phenomenon will be accompanied by certain losses - nevertheless, part of the heat will certainly dissipate in the air and will not be transferred to the coolant. But the volume of losses directly depends on the insulation of the device body, and not on the type of heating equipment. In addition, the heat released outside will directly warm the room where the boiler is installed.

If we look at the problem from the other side, then heating is designed to compensate for heat losses, the amount of which is determined by:

To summarize, we can definitely say that the type of heat source has no relationship with the thermal power required to heat the building - which means that the vaunted efficiency of electrical devices is simply absent.

However, this only applies to efficiency - each electrical device has special performance qualities:

Electric radiators.

Such devices load the electrical network evenly, so there are no wiring requirements.

Induction boilers. Such heating equipment is compact and reliable. The latter quality is due to the fact that there is no heating element in the heat exchanger, and the power controller and coil are located outside, so water does not have any effect on them.

In addition, induction boilers can work with any coolant.

Electrode boilers. Differ in smallest sizes. Such boilers require constant replacement of electrodes, since they dissolve in water over time.

Only water containing a certain amount of salts can be used as a coolant.

Heating element boilers. The main problem of boilers with heating elements is the constant deposition of scale on the heating elements (this factor is irrelevant for closed heating circuits, in which the amount of salts is initially limited). In addition, these devices are quite large in size.

Device

The design of electric boilers largely depends on the type of construction, so you should consider them in order:

1. Boilers with heating elements as a heater . The heat exchanger, inside of which there is a heating element, when turned on, it begins to heat the water. In essence, the principle of a conventional boiler is used. The system is simple and most vulnerable from the point of view of many processes that destroy and weaken the functionality. With a high efficiency of the heating element, equal to almost 100%, over time, scale will inevitably form on it, which significantly reduces heat transfer. The service life of the heating element, declared by the manufacturers, is 10 thousand hours, which in itself is not very long, but in practice, not every heater reaches this value - the coil burns out. Heating elements cannot be repaired.
2. An electrode boiler works on the principle of heating water between two electrodes under voltage. There is a container - a heat exchanger, inside which an electric current is passed through the water column from one contact to another. There is a saving of about 40% of energy, since there is no need to heat anything - the temperature of the water changes depending on the course of the physical process. The inconvenience is that only special compounds can be used as a coolant, which eliminates the possibility of heating household water.
3. The induction type of heater is the most advanced and economical of all currently used types of electric boilers. There is an inductor. It plays the role of the primary winding. Secondary (like a short-circuited turn) - heat exchanger housing. When current is passed through the primary winding, the secondary winding is inducted, causing it to heat up and give off heat to the water inside. Since the heating area is maximum, the boiler’s operating efficiency is very high.

Choosing a place and rules

Installing an electric boiler is only possible on a wall lined with non-flammable material and preferably in a non-residential area, although a kitchen would also work well. It is also necessary to provide for the possibility of water leakage: if such a place is located next to the boiler, this creates a danger of short circuit and fire.

Know for safety

According to established standards, there must be a distance of at least 5 cm from the electric boiler to the walls, the free space in front of it is provided at 70 cm, at the top - at least 80 cm, at the bottom - at least 50 cm.

If the boiler consumes no more than 3.5 kW, it can be connected to a regular electrical outlet. Boilers with a power of 3.5-7 kW are connected directly to the panel with a dedicated cable. They can be powered by 220 V.

A separate cable is not a whim of the manufacturer: safety instructions limit the maximum current at the socket to 16 A. But boilers with an electrical power of 7 kW or more are powered only by 380 V.

Let's start installation

At the initial stage, you should determine the floor area,

where the heating circuit will be located.
It is absolutely not necessary to install underfloor heating in every room if you simply want to increase the comfort of your home.
You also need to decide what size floor requires heating. Specialists use the entire area, but this approach is not necessary.

The areas where furniture is planned to be placed can be left without heating.

Of course, this only applies when using underfloor heating as an additional heating system.
When planning, it is necessary to take into account that the effective size of one circuit is 50-60 meters.
The maximum length is
up to 100 meters.
The laying step is from 30 to 50 cm. If the floor is used as the only heat source, the step will be
15−20 cm.
The area heated by one circuit usually does not exceed 40 square meters.

The surface is cleared of debris; it should be flat, without significant slopes.

If necessary, perform alignment.
A damper tape 12-18 cm wide is glued around the perimeter; it smoothes out the thermal expansion of concrete.
It also insulates the concrete screed from the walls to prevent heat loss. After all work is completed, the excess tape is cut off.

Next, the materials that make up the bottom layer

warm floor.
In the basement floors it is necessary to use a waterproofing film. For these purposes, ordinary polyethylene film
with a thickness of 0.5-1 mm is quite suitable.
Next, insulation is laid, the main purpose of which is to facilitate the transfer of heat upward into the heated room.
This may be one of the following materials:

1. Foamed polyethylene
   with a reflective layer. There must be a marking on it stating that it can be combined with heated floors. Suitable when a thin floor thickness is required.
2. Expanded polystyrene boards
   . There are special offers with projections for laying the heating pipe. Can also be used in damp areas.
3. Mineral wool
   . It is not advisable to use it in damp rooms, since with increasing humidity, its heat conductivity increases.
4. Izover
   .

Laying pipes for water heated floors

The next stage of installation will be laying the water circuit pipes. Mostly polypropylene, polyethylene or metal-plastic pipes are used. Pipe diameter 20 mm. The distances from the walls are at least 70 mm.

They try to lay each pipe in one piece, thereby
reducing the risk of water leakage
at the joint.
To make it easier to fasten the pipe, you can put a reinforcing mesh under it with a mesh size of 10x10 cm. The pipe is attached to it using wire, the distance between the fasteners is 1 meter. Leave a small gap
to compensate for the difference in thermal expansion.

Before pouring the screed, it is necessary to perform a pressure test of the system.

The water supply is opened, the pressure is set to 1.5 times higher than the working one, but not less than 0.6 MPa.
After half an hour of system operation, the pressure should decrease
by no more than 0.06 MPa;
after two hours - no more than 0.08 MPa from the initial value. The water temperature should not drop.
If the system is installed correctly, begin pouring concrete.

The thickness of the screed is determined by various reasons and should be within 3-7 cm. It is necessary to use special plasticizers that will increase the plasticity of the mixture and the heat transfer of the screed as a whole.
For large premises , expansion joints are provided;
in residential buildings they are usually made in door openings.
To create a seam, damper tape is used. be under pressure
during filling The complete drying time for the screed is 28 days.
When the heating circuit is running, the drying time is reduced. The temperature of the water carrier is maintained at 30 °C.
In the case of arranging a wooden option, the procedure is as follows. First, the edged board

25 mm thick.
These will be guides for the pipe and at the same time subfloor joists. We lay the heat-insulating material
directly on the subfloor or on the joists.
Metal heat-distributing plates with grooves for the heating pipe are placed on one of these bases. There is also an option for heated floors laid in polystyrene slabs. Next, we install the pipes using one of the above methods, a snake or a snail, depending on the guides. also check
the finished heating system, and only after that we lay the finished floor.
For it, you can use boards no more than 45 mm thick, chipboard or plywood, followed by laying laminate, linoleum without a heat-insulating backing, or
thin parquet.