Thursday, 21 January 2010

Project - intermission

The thinnest floor heating systems are electrical: the wires that generate the heat are thin. Warm water systems have to be thicker because the pipes are thicker. Normally, you lay down the insulation, put the pipes on top, and cover the whole lot in a good thickness of concrete skim.

Here is a picture of the system planned for my room, that is a little different. The grey polystyrene provides the insulation, and offers channels for the heating pipes. However the pipes are cradled within steel heat conductors that wrap around the pipe and conduct the heat evenly across the surface. With this method you can use a thinner layer of concrete on top, and the whole thing only takes up a few centimetres.

The trailer? The fridge packed up, so it's carrying a new fridge.

at

3 comments:

  1. Jonathan21 January 2010 at 07:41

    Thinner layer on top sounds good. I've heard awful stories (well, only two) of leaks (sorry) but with a thin screed and the pipes cradled like this you are in a much better position from the outset.
    Keep us all posted on your progress.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mark In Mayenne21 January 2010 at 10:43

    Hi Jonathan, I've already had a leak. It was before the tiles were laid. The carpenter drilled into the floor and, you guessed it, through a pipe.

    The prospect of discovering a leak somewhere doesn't fill me with joy, but *touch wood* the system is supposed to be good for 50 years or so.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rosie23 January 2010 at 11:31

    you wont need a fridge with global cooling setting in...

    ReplyDelete