Radiating floor

The use of traditional heating, which is based on heating the air, causes water retention and, consequently, higher humidity.

An example will help us understand it better.

If the air temperature in our house is 10°C and the relative humidity is 80%, then the amount of water per kilogram is 6 grams. If we heat the air to 20°C, and the relative humidity remains the same, we will now produce 12 grams of water per kilogram of dry air. This doubles the likelihood of experiencing humidity problems due to condensation.

Around a conventional heater, when the air quality in the room is the same, condensation problems occur around the heater. This appliance alters the properties of the air, except for the walls directly below the dew point. This is why condensation only occurs in that area.

Having reached this point, what can we do to combat the cold and prevent condensation?

The condensation humidity It's a recurring problem in many homes, especially those in cold or humid climates. This phenomenon occurs when warm, humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces, such as windows, walls, or ceilings, and condenses into water droplets. This accumulation of moisture not only affects the appearance of the spaces but can also lead to structural and health problems, such as mold growth.

Condensation results from an imbalance between air temperature and its capacity to hold water vapor. Warm air has a greater capacity to hold water vapor in gaseous form. However, when this humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces, such as a window or a poorly insulated wall, the air temperature drops until it reaches the dew point, at which point the water vapor transforms into liquid water. The warm, humid air tends to rise, and if the ceiling is cold, condensation will form. This situation favors the growth of mold, whose spores can affect the health of the occupants, causing respiratory problems and allergies.

Having reached this point, what can we do to combat the cold and prevent condensation?

Install underfloor heating.

And why?

For several reasons….

The uniformity with which the temperature is distributed In space, it will avoid cold and excessively hot environmental zones, emitting heat at low temperatures.

Thanks to its uniformity, as it is a low-temperature system, underfloor heating prevents the drafts. With hardly any air moving, it is more difficult for dust and microorganisms to remain suspended and be inhaled.

Furthermore, with this technology the heat comes from the ground and, so to speak, we "feel it from the bottom up." In contrast, with the others convection systems, The hot air rises from its emission points towards the ceiling and accumulates there until we begin to feel it from "top to bottom".

Finally, the influence of underfloor heating on ambient humidity is minimal; there is neither condensation nor drying of the air. Therefore, if the humidity is already within acceptable ranges, we can be sure that our radiant system will not affect it. And if it is not, we can bring it back to acceptable levels using independent methods (regular ventilation and improved insulation of the house…). 

In short, we could say that They not only influence our health not only the temperature and humidity but also the emitting system we use. And at this point, there's no doubt that there's no better option than a underfloor heating installation.

within the electric underfloor heating systems that are commercialized in the market, there are different technologies that differ from each other due to their technical characteristics and their operation. In this article we will explain what types of electric underfloor heating exist and we will focus on describing the operation and applications of the underfloor heating in particular.

Do you want to receive a personalized study or make a consultation about radiant foil for your project? Request more information from the experts in a single click.

There are several systems that we can consider as electric underfloor heating:

Cable and radiant mesh: It is a twisted cable in the form of a coil that is installed continuously in a room, so that any breaking point that occurs would affect the entire installation. In this type of system, the emitter has the diameter of a pen and it is a product that requires very high temperatures to heat the room.

He heating filmUnlike the cable and the radiant mesh, it is made up of a system of independent sheets that are distributed throughout the rooms and are numbered according to the distribution plan. Each sheet is installed independently from one another, so that, in the event of a specific failure of one of these sheets, the rest of the system does not stop working. 

The radiant foil has standard measurements with a width of 550 cm (or 445 cm, depending on facility), with a length according to needs, it is a heating system that works at low temperature. The advantages of operating at a low temperature compared to cable or radiant mesh are, on the one hand, that it is a low-consumption system and, on the other, that it can be used with wooden laminate floors since it emits a gentle heat that It does not affect the wood at all. For this reason, most of the laminate floors that are currently on the market are suitable for the installation of the radiant foil heating system. 

100-year functional guarantee: a fail-safe system

Due to its composition, the radiant foil has two conductors in parallel where the electricity is fed. The heating element consists of 8-millimeter-thick graphite rods. For safety, every 8 millimeters of heating have 3 mm neutral bands. and so on, not giving continuity between one band and another. This means that, if a point of the underfloor heating were perforated, only 8 millimeters of sheet would "die". Not only is each sheet independent, but, within the sheet itself, each circuit has independence.

On the other hand, the radiant folio has a Lifetime certified by Avis Technique -certification granted by the French institute CSTB and which measures the longevity of the products- of 850,000 hours of use, about 100 years. 

“Grupo Cecather guarantees the 100% of the installation, not only the replacement of the affected material”, assures José Luis García López Commercial Director of Cecather, a leading group in radiant foil. "In the 35 years that we have been installing radiant foil we have not had to build any installation, although they do consult us to carry out some repairs to deficient installations with radiant cable due to problems with cuts in the system itself."

Specifically, the guarantee of this system covers the repair, replacement and aesthetic damage that may occur in the laminate, because "it is a heating that does not affect the wood at all".  

Do you want to receive a personalized study or make a consultation about radiant foil for your project? Request more information from the experts in a single click.

Radiant foil applications. Comparison with underfloor heating by water

The radiant foil has different applications of use. One of the most used is as anti-fog for mirrors, in hotel chains, homes, gyms, etc. Also in seedbeds, greenhouses, where it is constantly watered, since the sheet is heat seal completely.

In the case of newly built buildings, today with the application of the new CTE and in passive houses, with low energy demand, the radiant foil heating system is gaining prominence among construction technicians due to its advantages, and can be complemented and supported by photovoltaic panels in projects with almost zero consumption.

In this type of buildings, the commitment to systems based on aerothermal energy with underfloor heating by water is the trend. However, generating domestic hot water through an air heater and installing a radiant foil becomes another recommended alternative in many cases.

One of the advantages provided by the underfloor heating with respect to underfloor heating by water is that it an aerothermal “boiler” is not required, with which we eliminate an important part in maintenance.

On the other hand, the radiant floor system using a reticular tube is designed for very cold climates in which the use of heating lasts for months and is constant, since these are systems that have great inertia, that is, They take a long time to both turn on and turn off. This, in certain areas of the Spanish geography where the use of heating is more punctual on days or even at specific hours of the day, represents an extra expense.

Finally, it is necessary to highlight the difference in the price of the installation between one system and another, resulting in the radiant sheet being cheaper than the aerothermal system with underfloor heating by water, which also requires more maintenance and has a longer useful life. between 10 and 15 years old.  

A portable system suitable for reforms

The radiant foil system is also ideal for home renovation. The complete set of electric underfloor heating plus the laminate floor is placed in less than two centimeters, with an insulation of only 5 millimeters.

How does the electric radiant foil system work?

The electric radiant foil emits heat by radiation, unlike other systems that do so by convection or that generate movement of air and, therefore, of particles. Besides, remain the levels humidity degree, important for people who have asthma problems or in museums or buildings with works to preserve. It provides comfortable warmth and keeps the air fully breathable.

This system can be installed divided into rooms, using a chronothermostatState-of-the-art that controls the room and floor temperature independently in each room and is also fully programmable via Wi-Fi. In this way, we can keep the living room at 20ºC and the bedrooms at 18 and turn them on an hour before going to bed. 

If you need information to install electric underfloor heating in your home, we will be happy to answer you. We are specialists.

Cecather Group has developed a new generation insulating material with greater tightness, flexibility and high density.

It is chemically inert, stable and safe, not losing properties over time.

Pure nitrogen is used in its manufacture, not containing any type of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon), HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon)* or plasticizers.

In summary, Cecather Heating Insulation® is a new generation insulating material that meets the highest standards of performance and sustainability. Whether you are looking to improve floor insulation in a radiant heating system or want a reliable underlay for laminate and vinyl flooring.

This material is an exceptional choice that guarantees comfort, durability and respect for the environment.

* CFCs and HCFCs are gases that are harmful to the ozone layer.

NOTE. The material is supplied in 25 ml rolls, with a width of 1 ml. and a thickness of 5 mm. (EN 823:2013)
www.cecather.com

If you are going to undertake a project new construction either reform, take advantage of the moment to install Cecather low-consumption electric underfloor heating by radiant foil.

We have a technical office to study any project according to the CTE, Passivhaus, etc.

✔️ Enjoy the heating of low consumption last generation.

✔️ Supplies and installations throughout Spain, France, Portugal and Morocco.

✔️ Does not dry out the air.

✔️ Temperatures of 27-29 ºC in soils controlled by electronic probes.

✔️ Healthy heating recommended for allergy sufferers

✔️ Compatible flooring, laminate, vinyl, tile, ceramic, etc.

✔️ Suitable for wet areas... bathrooms, kitchens, etc.

✔️ Control of each room with chronothermostats via wifi.

✔️ Heat rooms quickly and without long waits.

✔️ In renovations, our system + laminate flooring in less than 1.50 cm.

✔️ Forget about radiators and boilers

✔️ Total absence of maintenance.

✔️ Certified useful life of 850,000 hours of operation at full capacity.

✔️ 10-year personalized warranty.

✔️ Compatible with renewable energies… photovoltaic, wind, etc.

✔️ Cecather since 1985.

✔️ More information at cecather.com

In some cases, our future clients tell us their doubts (which are reasonable) that arise when they find out about the floors (whether laminate, hybrid or vinyl) that they plan to install in their homes above our heating system.

Their technical sheets indicate that these materials are suitable for underfloor heating.

They go on to specify that the pavement temperature should not exceed 29 to 30 ºC.

He Cecather electric radiant folio, consists of a low-temperature sheet (flat body) that is integrated into the ground practically in contact with the pavement.

From there, each room is provided with a digital thermostat for temperature control. This device has a built-in electronic probe to regulate the temperature below the floor. The probe is regulated between 23 ºC -24ºC so that the pavement surface reaches the 29 ºC of Regulations and which is required by the technical sheets of the pavement manufacturers (between 29 - 30 ºC).

The low temperature electric radiant film has nothing to do with others electric underfloor heating (radiant thread or radiant mesh).

Cecather Group, collaborates closely with manufacturers in R&D installing in the same factories testing rooms for our product in order to provide the highest degree of quality possible.

We make available to our clients who require it, reliable reports and tests of the response that the radiant sheet has, thermally, when in contact with the described floors.

Cecather, radiant heating since 1985.

www.cecather.com

Sometimes, the incorrect use of traditional heating brings with it a considerable increase in the energy consumption, which leads to unnecessary expense.

The installation of a system based on a electric underfloor heating sheet Cecather avoids these errors, offering advantages that other common heating systems do not have.

MISTAKE. Turn the heating on and off constantly.

One of the first mistakes is to tend to turn the heating on and off when we think we will reach the temperature. More than possible, after a while, we turn it back on. This gesture will increase our energy consumption considerably, with all that this entails.

Cecather solution. Through the thermal control system based on the installation of chronothermostats, these detect when the chosen temperature is reached, disconnecting the energy flow at that moment. The next “startup” of the system will occur when the temperature drop is perceived in the environment. That is, the system will not operate continuously with the resulting savings that it entails.

MISTAKE. Abuse too high a temperature.

There is a tendency to think that the hotter the heat, the better my heating is. That's not true. The consequence of this practice is a waste of energy resources and a higher bill.

Cecather solution. Each degree of temperature in heating represents 8% of additional energy consumption. A seasonal regime of 20-21ºC is recommended and this can be carried out using the digital control offered by Cecather.

MISTAKE. TURN ON THE HEATING IN ALL ROOMS.

Is it necessary to have the heating on in bathrooms, hallways and, in general, in those areas with less daily use? Absolutely, it is not necessary... your pocketbook will thank you.

Cecather solution. We reiterate the function of Cecather thermal control. The installation of a regulating device in each room of the home gives us the opportunity to have the desired environment in each area. Other systems “force” the entire home to be at full capacity.

MISTAKE. VENTILATE THE HOUSE AT OFF HOURS.

There is a widespread practice of ventilating rooms first thing in the morning, a necessary habit to renew stale air but which entails the loss of accumulated heat.

Cecather solution. The radiant heating hardly heats the air (there is no convection). Consequently, ventilating our home does not involve any loss of hot air.

MISTAKE. DO NOT PURGE THE RADIATORS

Yes or yes we must purge our radiators before the arrival of the cold to remove the accumulated air.

Cecather solution. Radiators? Our radiant system does not use radiators. It is completely invisible.

Choose a heating system low consumption, reliable, safe, clean and respectful with the environment… Choose Cecather