Heating in Russia today is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. The central system is able to provide a temperature that varies within 20 ° C, however, the distribution of heat throughout the room is not always even. Hot air rises while cold air stays down. However, today there is an option that provides heating of the premises without the additional cost of installing underfloor heating. And this is baseboard heating.
Features of baseboard heating
Plinth heating cannot be called an innovative development, it was invented back in 1907, when it was patented by a heating engineer. The essence of the system was that steel pipes were installed at the floor along the perimeter of the walls. Communications were covered with concrete, wooden lining or plaster. This method became widespread in Western Europe, where it was called panel, or radiant heating. The benefits were clear, among them:
- operational safety;
- uniformity of space heating;
- cheap compared toelectric and water heating.
However, there are also disadvantages, which are expressed in the impossibility of repair without destroying the partitions, as well as the complexity of installation. Plinth heating today is a modified version of steam concrete. It is installed in the thickness of the wall instead of skirting boards.
What else you need to know
The principle of operation is similar to the underfloor heating system. Under the decorative body are copper tubes with fins. Heater - electric heating element or thermal fluid. The device looks attractive, has a compact size and fits into any interior. The systems are used in public and commercial buildings. These can be offices, train stations, airports, medical facilities and warehouses. These systems are not as common in residential buildings.
Disadvantages of liquid baseboard heating
Plinth heating can be liquid, while the system includes:
- radiator block;
- distribution manifold;
- polyethylene pipes.
The first component is a heat exchanger made of copper tubes, on top of which aluminum lamellas are fixed to ensure convection. The distribution manifold consists of two tubes through which the coolant is introduced and removed. Additionally, the collector is equipped with air vents, drain valves and fairings. Polyethylene pipes are corrugated, liquid is drained through them.
Installing these pipescarried out along the floor or wall. The maximum working pressure in this case is 3 atmospheres. Heating plinth liquid has some disadvantages. The system is sensitive to pressure increase and water hammer, therefore, instead of polyethylene hoses, copper communications or metal-plastic products are used to connect to the central system. Fasteners are made using soldering technology.
Experts recommend using an intermediate heat exchanger, which will take on all the excess. This type of heater is protected from stress and has a service life of 10 years.
Water baseboard heating comes with costs. To install the system in a private house, you will need to purchase a warm baseboard, the price of which is 4,000 rubles per linear meter. Manufacturers recommend installing a circuit whose length does not exceed 15 m. Otherwise, you may encounter low system efficiency. The standard surface temperature should be approximately +50 ° C, with each additional place this figure will decrease by an average of 3 ° C.
Advantages of liquid baseboard heating
Despite the fact that liquid heating installed in the form of pipes along walls or floors is expensive, its consumers find it effective. Some of them, who have already installed the system, note that after 20 minutes the room becomes warm and cozy. And in the future, for savings, you can use only half the productivity, so that onlymaintain the results achieved. But if your house is located on the shore near a reservoir, then on the territory of the site and inside the building you will always feel damp. At the same time, it is important to take the choice of heating system seriously. The advantages here are immediately noticeable: an even temperature is set in the room throughout the entire volume of the room, there is no effect of overheated air, as is the case with radiator heating.
Benefits of electric baseboard heating
Electric baseboard heating is also used today by some consumers. It refers to air systems, and the device of the unit is similar to liquid devices. At the top is the power cable. The maximum power level is quite high and is 280 watts per linear meter. The price of such heating can start from 2000 rubles. per running metre. Installation height and width are 16 and 4 cm, respectively. As for the length, it can vary from 1 to 2 m.
Another advantage is the choice of baseboard heating, which is adapted to any type of heat generator. For example, the THERMODUL heating system operates in conjunction with oil and gas boilers, as well as solar panels. The design provides for the possibility of adjusting the temperature by means of thermostats. On sale you can find options with an infrared system, this includes Russian heaters, the power of which reaches 200 W, as for the heating area, then one runningmeter will be sufficient for 8 m2.
The scope of use is not limited, it can be apartments, country houses, industrial and office premises, as well as greenhouses and garages. The warranty period is up to 10 years, and the cost will depend on the model, manufacturer and optional features.
Electric baseboard heating, reviews of which are quite often only positive, is great for areas where there is no gas supply and there is no way to equip an efficient heating system. In just 15 minutes, a room with an area of 18 m22 can be heated using such systems, while a person will not experience the effect of stuffiness and heavy air.
Cons of electric baseboards
The electric baseboard heating radiator has many advantages, but before purchasing such a device, you need to familiarize yourself with the disadvantages. According to buyers, this type of heating is not as economical as manufacturers say, and ease of installation does not always mean efficient operation.
If you decide to do the work yourself, you should try to eliminate the violation of the uniformity of heat transfer. If the appliances are installed close to vertical surfaces, this may lead to defects in the finish. Some electric skirting boards can be operated under conditions that do not differ in voltage drops and periodic power outages. Sometimes it becomes the reason for exitingbuilding aggregates.
Electric baseboard heating system may not always look aesthetically pleasing. Manufacturers offer decorative overlays, but they reduce the efficiency of appliances.
Plinth wiring
Plinth heating wiring is considered the simplest installation technology that can be used in rooms where finishing work has already been completed. For implementation, at the junction of the floor and the wall, the rear part of the skirting heating element should be mounted. In the same place there is a fastener on which the radiators will be fixed. Such devices can have different designs, mainly hooks. Heating devices are installed on the fasteners, which are pre-connected to the return and supply pipelines, if we are talking about liquid devices.
It is important to control the tightness of the joints. If leaks were found, they should be eliminated. At the final stage, skirting water heating radiators must be covered with decorative panels, but before that it is necessary to test the system.
Cost of liquid and electric baseboard heating systems by manufacturers
If you also decide to use the option that provides for the installation of a baseboard heating system, then you should familiarize yourself with the prices. The Austrian company Best Board offers liquid electrical appliances at a price of 4800 and 7700 rubles, respectively. If you prefer Italian products, then you shouldpay attention to THERMODUL products. Liquid and electrical appliances of this company will cost 5800 and 7200 rubles. respectively.
Conclusion
Domestic plinth systems of liquid and electric type from Mr. Tektum cost 5,000 and 7,000 rubles, respectively. The cheapest in the Russian market are electric plinth systems "Megador". For them, the consumer will have to pay 3,000 rubles.
