Is it possible to lay a carpet on a warm floor

At first it was warm. Beauty came later. This is how you can briefly outline the history of the evolution of carpets - a coating designed to protect residents' feet from the coolness of the floor. Aesthetics comes to the fore only when the need for heat-insulating properties of a decorative element of the interior disappears. With this in mind, it would seem that the issue of carpet on the heated floor has been resolved. But alas, not everything is so simple.

Initial data

The evolution of heating devices has led to the fact that the variety of heating systems makes us seriously think about choosing one of them. This also affected the warm floors, among which there are:

  • stationary, mounted under a top coat with high thermal conductivity (special heat-resistant laminate, ceramic tile);
  • mobile, placed on top of the floor in any convenient place.

Among the first distinguish water and electric heating systems. A distinctive feature of the latter is uneven heating, smoother temperature control and compatibility with auto-control sensors. The range of mobile options comes down to cable, carbon or film models that require additional protection against mechanical stress.

Carpets, regardless of the material from which they are made, can also be divided into two large categories:

  • warm - characterized by low thermal conductivity, which is achieved due to the dense structure and long pile;
  • decorative - not protecting from the cold, thin or thick, but delicate, with large holes.

The answer to the question “is it possible” to lay a carpet on a warm floor depends on a combination of these two variables.

Under what circumstances

If stationary floor heating is mounted as the main heating system, then additional thermal insulation with a floor covering will reduce its effectiveness. Especially when it comes to large thick carpets or carpet. Moreover, such a serious obstacle will worsen the heat sink from the heating elements. And if water systems have a sufficient margin of safety in this case, then electrical systems can simply burn out.

The reverse side of the coin is the safety of the carpet. In winter, when the heating system is operating at full capacity, synthetics and carpeting simply can not withstand loads - the fabric is deformed and discolored. Natural materials also suffer from such treatment, but are quite capable of "living" longer than electric heating elements.

If it’s absolutely unbearable, you can lay a carpet, and under it connect a control temperature sensor to the heating. Thus, property damage will be avoided. But you will have to forget about home comfort in winter frosts - the furniture will not be covered with hoarfrost, but there will also be no heat in the house.

When can

Small decorative rugs near upholstered furniture are always allowed. Covering a large area of ​​the canvas on the heated floor are permissible only with their high thermal conductivity. And even then, it is better to choose durable mats or openwork fabrics made from natural materials - synthetics will not last long.

As for mobile underfloor heating, they need a carpet - this is the very protection against mechanical stress. True, you still should not use too dense and fleecy options - with such a coating, the effectiveness of the heaters decreases, and their circuit requires the connection of automatic temperature controllers. The best option is heat-resistant synthetics or natural fabrics of medium density. Let's say a short pile. But it is better to refuse bright colors and patterns - it is not known whether the dye will withstand the test of temperature.

Watch the video: How to Install DIY Radiant Floor Heating. This Old House (March 2024).

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