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The water floor heating system has long ceased to be a curiosity, but unlike the radiator version, it requires fine tuning, and the manifold for the heated floor is responsible for this tuning. Let's take a look at the main functions of this unit together, plus you will learn how to assemble the system, and for those who are already selecting a manifold, I will tell you about the 7 best-selling models.
Many people believe that the collector unit is just combs and install models according to the principle “why pay more”. But do not forget that most heated floors are installed in a concrete screed and in case of an error, correcting the situation will be quite problematic.
First, a small educational program: the maximum coolant temperature of a water heated floor is 40ºC; if it rises, it will be uncomfortable to walk on such a floor. The average boiler produces coolant with a temperature of 70–90ºС, and to lower it, and at the same time distribute it along the circuits, a collector unit is used.
The simplest manifold is a distribution unit of two combs with a pump, one at a time supplies hot water to the circuit, and the second is placed on the return line. But with this approach, you will constantly have to regulate the water temperature using the boiler.
It’s good if it’s a condensing gas boiler, where this process is automated, but not every owner can afford such expenses, since this equipment is expensive.
Plus, there is no point in spending a lot of money if you can install a manifold with a built-in mixing unit, and then decide whether you can connect a thermostat and automate the process, or you can regulate the system yourself. But in any case, installing and tuning a collector is several times cheaper than an “advanced” boiler.
As for the material, manifold combs are now made of polypropylene, stainless steel, brass and copper. Stainless steel and brass are considered the best; the budget polypropylene option is relevant for small systems with 2-3 short circuits without high pressure.
Craftsmen familiar with the installation of plastic pipes solder combs from polypropylene fittings. A homemade manifold is relatively inexpensive, but there are a lot of solder joints that very often begin to leak, so I advise you to buy solid-cast factory models, even if they are plastic.
The simplest connection diagram is direct, that is, directly from the boiler to the combs with a pair of intermediate valves and a circulation pump. But from experience, everyone who installed it, after a year, converted everything to an adjustable design with a two-way or three-way mixing valve.
A two-way scheme in a standard private house is considered the most optimal option. It is easy to set up and works flawlessly.
The three-way mixing valve is only used in heated floors with a coverage area of at least 200 m². If it is connected in small areas, interruptions in operation and uneven heat distribution are possible.
Usually, owners try to install the distribution block with all the accompanying equipment in a special cabinet, it’s more convenient, but you can do without it:
Remember - first the system must be completely assembled, launched and driven for at least 1 day. Only after this can the underfloor heating pipes be filled with concrete screed.
| Illustrations | Recommendations |
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Model No. 1: LUXOR.
The Italian brand LUXOR produces reliable brass equipment.
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Model No. 2: GIACOMINI.
Another bright representative of Italian quality.
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Model No. 3: ARS.
These Turkish-Italian manifolds are of excellent quality at a reasonable price; such equipment can be called the golden mean.
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Model No. 4: FADO.
The company itself is Italian, but now they have begun cooperation with APC and the products can be declared as joint production.
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Model No. 5: BIANCHI.
The technical characteristics of the Italian collector BIANCHI are similar to its Italian counterpart from GIACOMINI. The only difference is the number of circuits and price. |
Water heated floors are a popular heating system that can be implemented in various ways. In this material we will analyze 4 main schemes for connecting a water heated floor.
A water heated floor is a low-temperature heating system, where the coolant is supplied at a temperature of 35-45 o C, according to standards not higher than 55 o C. In addition, a heated floor is a separate circulation circuit, which requires a separate circulation pump.
Heated floors have restrictions on the temperature of the floor surface - 26-31 o C. The maximum temperature difference between the supply and return lines of a warm water floor is allowed no more than 10 o C. The maximum flow rate of the coolant is 0.6 m/s.
This connection diagram for a water heated floor has a heat generator, safety fittings with a pump. The coolant directly from the boiler enters the distribution manifold of the heated floor and then diverges through the loops and is reversed back to the boiler. The boiler must be set to the temperature of the warm floor.
This raises two nuances:
three way thermostatic valve diagram
In most cases, with such a scheme for installing and connecting a water heated floor, we have a combined heating system, there are heating radiators with a temperature of 70-80 o C and a heated floor circuit with a temperature of 40 o C. The question arises, how to make forty out of these eighty.
For this purpose it is used. The valve is installed on the supply side, after which a circulation pump must be installed. From the return of the heated floor, the cooled coolant is mixed with the coolant that is obtained from the boiler circuit and which is subsequently reduced to operating temperature using a three-way valve.
The disadvantage of this scheme for laying out a heated floor is that it is impossible to control the proportionality of mixing the cooled coolant with the hot one, and underheated or overheated coolant can flow into the heated floor. This reduces the comfort and efficiency of the system.
The advantage of this scheme is ease of installation and low cost of equipment.
This scheme is more suitable for heating small areas and where there are no high customer requirements for comfort and efficiency, where there is a desire to save money.
In real life, the circuit is extremely rare due to the instability of radiators connected to a single pipe. When the three-way valve is opened slightly, the heating circuit is energized, and the pump pressure is transferred to the main line.
Example implementation:
This is a mixed scheme for connecting a water heated floor, where there is a radiator heating zone, a heated floor and a pumping and mixing unit is used. The cooled coolant is mixed from the heated floor return to the boiler.
All mixing units have a balancing valve, with which you can dose the amount of cooled coolant when mixing it with the hot one. This allows you to achieve a clearly defined temperature of the coolant at the outlet of the unit, i.e. at the entrance to the heated floor loops. This significantly increases consumer comfort and efficiency of the system as a whole.
Depending on the model of the unit, it may include other useful elements: a bypass with a bypass valve, a balancing valve of the primary boiler circuit, or ball valves on both sides of the circulation pump.
These are special kits designed to connect one underfloor heating loop to an area of 15-20 sq.m. They look like a plastic box, inside of which, depending on the manufacturer and configuration, there may be coolant temperature limiters, room air temperature limiters and an air vent.
The coolant enters the loop of the connected water heated floor directly from the high-temperature circuit, i.e. with a temperature of 70-80 o C, cools down in the loop to a given value and a new batch of hot coolant enters. An additional pump is not required here; the boiler must cope.
The disadvantage is low comfort. Overheated zones will be present.
The advantage of this scheme for connecting a water heated floor is that it is easy to install. Such kits are used when there is a small area of heated floors, a small room with infrequent occupants. Not recommended for installation in bedrooms. Suitable for heating bathrooms, corridors, loggias, etc.
Let's summarize and put it in a table:
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Connection type |
Comfort |
Efficiency |
Installation and configuration |
Reliability |
Price |
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Regular gas, TT or diesel |
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Condensing boiler or heat pump |
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Three way thermostatic valve |
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Pumping and mixing unit |
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Thermal mounting kit |
Master plumbers and heat and gas supply experts recommend avoiding schemes for connecting water heated floors to working heating branches. It is better to power the heating circuits of the underfloor heating directly to the boiler so that the floor heating can function independently of the radiators, especially in the summer.
Methods for laying out floor heating pipes
There are three main ones: snake, spiral (snail) and a combination of these options. Most often, heated floors are installed with a snail; in some places a snake is used.
Laying a warm snail allows you to distribute heat more evenly throughout the room. With this layout, the pipe is mounted in a circle towards the center, then from the center it is “unfolded” in a circle in the opposite direction.
When laying out a heated floor with a snail, you need to provide an indent for laying out the pipe in the opposite direction.
With this installation, the underfloor heating pipe is mounted in one direction and, when the circuit is laid out, it simply returns to the collector return. With this device, at the beginning of the circuit the coolant temperature is hotter, at the end it is colder. Therefore, the snake layout is used quite rarely.
Before connecting the heated floor according to the developed scheme, it is necessary to make a preliminary calculation. You can do a rough calculation yourself using the following steps:
Also, do not forget to do thermal calculations of the building. There are many ready-made calculators on the Internet. If the heat loss in the room does not exceed 100 W per square meter, then your heated floor will not require additional heating devices.
Once you have decided on the layout and connection of the water floor, you need to start installation.
Installation of a warm water floor (the process of installing a warm water floor with your own hands) is not limited to laying the pipes themselves (more about pipes for a warm water floor), thermal insulation and finishing coating (choosing the best coating for a warm water floor). For the system to work, it must be connected to a heating boiler.
The connection of the warm water floor collector is carried out immediately after laying the pipes: before installing the finishing coating or screed, the system must undergo pressure testing and testing to detect leaks.
Let's consider the design of a water heated floor collector. The main element is the collector itself (comb). This is a thick piece of pipe with a large number of pipes for connecting forward and return pipes from the underfloor heating circuits and from the boiler.
Monitoring and control devices are also connected here: pressure gauge, air valve, distribution valves, tap for draining coolant from the circuits (selection of components for a heated water floor). Complete drainage of water may be required to repair a water-heated floor collector, boiler or other significant element of the system.
Pipes from the circuits are connected to the combs through valves designed to regulate the water supply. The system consists of two combs: for hot coolant and for return. They are placed in a manifold cabinet or in a specially designated niche. The hot comb is installed above the return one.
The collector unit may have several combs connected in series or parallel. A parallel connection is used when installing two or more circuits (about the layout of a heated water floor). The coolant distribution is controlled by two-way valves.
The materials used to make the combs are polypropylene, stainless steel, and brass. The most economical option is a manifold for a warm water floor made of polypropylene: it is easiest to make it yourself.
The working unit of the collector group is the circulation pump.
In underfloor heating systems, natural coolant circulation is impossible for two reasons:
The pumping unit is equipped with a three-way valve, which is installed at the outlet of the manifold unit.
The fundamental operating principle of a water heated floor collector: when installing (water heated floor installation technology) a large number of circuits, they try to ensure that their lengths are as proportionate as possible. In this case, the coolant flow in circuits operating from the same comb is approximately the same.
But this is not always achieved: the heated area of the bathroom (how to make a warm floor in the bathroom) and the fireplace room is obviously different. In addition, in short circuits there is less hydraulic resistance of the pipes, which means more intense circulation.
To balance the heating of various circuits and ensure optimal heat transfer from each, a manifold for a warm water floor with flow meters is installed. Those. install a thermostat, balancing valve or rotameter on the comb at the outlet of each circuit.
The optimal layout of a warm water floor collector is that two regulators are installed on each circuit, on the supply pipe and on the return pipe. In this case, the input device doses the supply of heated water to this section of the floor, and the return device opens/closes the circuit as the liquid in the pipe cools.
To avoid airing, it is recommended to install an automatic air vent in the system, and the supply and return combs must be connected by a bypass to a bypass valve. When the circuits are closed, the bypass valve, together with the air valve, normalizes the pressure in the system.
When installing a simple measuring device, it is combined with a conventional valve. In this case, the water heated floor manifold is adjusted manually in accordance with the scale readings.
A servo drive for a heated water floor collector is an automatic system for controlling the flow and distribution of coolant along the circuits.
There are several control options:
Servos function in different ways. The design of the thermal actuator includes a spring mechanism and a container with toluene (a substance sensitive to increased temperature). The toluene is heated by applying current to the bellows using a nichrome heating element.
As the temperature rises, the sensitive substance expands and presses on a special rod. The rod, in turn, acts on the thermal valve, the valve closes. Warm-up time before closing the valve is 1-3 minutes. After the power is turned off, the liquid cools down and the valve returns to its original state.
Depending on this, the valve switches to the on/off state.
Both types of servos are equipped with overheating and emergency power shutdown protection functions.
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There are many circuits in a heated floor system. To create a comfortable floor temperature, the coolant heats up to 35-40 degrees. Typically gas boilers operate in this mode. Other heating devices heat water to high temperatures. However, if the coolant is very hot, moving on the floor will be uncomfortable. Collectors are used for this purpose.
They are special mixers. They supply hot and cold water. They are mixed, which makes it possible to obtain water at the optimum temperature at the entrance to the circuits. Mixing water is carried out in the required proportions.
Water flows evenly into all circuits. A comb is used for this. It has only 1 input and several output channels. Such a device is capable of collecting cooled water that has passed through the circuits. Then the cooled coolant is sent to the boiler. There are 2 types of combs - return and feed. The device can also be equipped with a mixing unit.
Collectors for water heated floors are made using different materials. The main ones are:
During installation, the inputs of the underfloor heating circuits are connected to the manifold supply comb. The loop outputs are connected to the return comb. They are connected in pairs.
When installing a water heating system, all circuits should be of the same size. This is done to ensure that each loop has the same heat transfer. However, this option is quite rare. Often the loops have significant differences in length.
To equalize the heat transfer of the circuits, you will need to install flow meters on the comb that supplies the coolant. Valves are installed on the return line. Flow meters are devices that have a cover with divisions. They contain a float that marks the speed at which water moves in a certain loop.
The smaller the volume of coolant passed through a certain circuit, the lower the temperature in the room will be. To adjust the temperature regime, it is necessary to change the flow rates of each circuit. This work is done manually. Special valves are designed for this.
The flow rate changes when you turn the regulator knob. For easier orientation during installation of the mixer assembly, the contours should be labeled.
This option is optimal, but you can adjust the flow and temperature yourself. This option is not always convenient. To automate the adjustment, servo drives are installed at the inputs. Such devices operate in conjunction with thermostats installed in the room.
The mixer system is designed as a three-way and two-way valve. If the heating system is mixed, it has heated floors and a heating device (for example, a radiator). With this device, the unit has a circulation pump. To properly circulate coolant through all loops of the system, you will need to install 2 pumps. With this structure, the group is called a pumping and mixing unit.
A three-way valve is a device that ensures mixing of hot and cooled water. It is supplied with cooled coolant from the pipeline and heated coolant from the boiler.
A movable sector is placed inside such a valve, with the help of which water flows of different temperatures are regulated. The sector is controlled using a thermal relay. The signal to it can also come from the thermostat.
The mixing unit, which has a three-way valve, has a rather simple design. Return and hot water are connected to the valve outputs. In addition, the output of the feed comb is connected to them. After the valve, a pump is installed that forces water onto the supply comb.
The device operates as follows:
This operating algorithm is quite simple. However, such a scheme has one serious drawback. There is a possibility that in case of failure there will be no water mixing. This threatens to destroy the pipes.
A two-way valve is installed on the supply from the boiler equipment. The balancing valve is mounted on a jumper, which is located between the return line and the water supply pipeline. This device is adjustable. It can be adjusted to lower or increase the temperature of the water in the system. The balancing valve determines how much cooled coolant is supplied to the system.
The two-way valve must be installed with a temperature sensor. It is placed in the field of a pump, which “presses” the water towards the comb. Only with this design of the device can the intensity of supply of heated coolant be changed.
If there is a device of this type, the cooled coolant is always mixed with water. Therefore, the hot water coming from the boiler will not be able to enter the circuits. This scheme ensures greater reliability of the water floor system. However, such groups of mixers can only heat 150-200 square meters. m. area. There are no valves with greater performance.
Each collector, regardless of its type, has certain indicators. Among them, it is worth highlighting throughput and performance. Thanks to such values, it is possible to determine the amount of water that the valve is capable of passing through itself in a certain period of time. Typically, productivity is expressed in cubic meters per hour or liters per minute.
Also, when planning the system, it is necessary to calculate the throughput of the pipes. In addition, hydraulic resistance and other parameters are taken into account. When assembling the collector with your own hands, you should rely on the following data:
The materials from which the collectors are made are brass and stainless steel. It is better to choose products only from trusted manufacturers.
It is also worth paying attention to one more characteristic - the limit for adjusting the water temperature. Typically, the characteristics of various devices contain minimum and maximum temperature indicators.
It is better to mount the collector in closed metal cabinets. The location for such structures is chosen in accordance with the location of the elements of the water floor. If the heating system has several branches, it is better to install the cabinet at the same distance from each circuit. This arrangement of the mixer ensures high performance of the system as a whole.
Ideally, the collector will be placed in a thick wall to which pipes can be laid. In the case of laying warm water floors throughout the apartment, it must be distributed into separate units and installed in cabinets.
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Water floors are laid in various ways, for example, concrete or flooring, but regardless of the technology chosen, it is necessary to purchase and install a manifold cabinet.
In the future, two pipes will be inserted into it:
The cyclical nature of the process is ensured by another built-in component of the system - a circulation pump. One way or another, during the operation of a heated floor, say during repair work, the system has to be turned off. To do this, each of the pipes is equipped with shut-off valves. A plastic pipe and a metal shut-off valve are connected to each other through a compression fitting. Then a comb is connected to the valve, mounting an air vent on one end and a drain valve on the other. After assembling the cabinet, they proceed directly to installation. And only with a comb already installed on the wall can you cut the circuit pipes to length.
The simplest comb circuit consists of two circuits. For the manufacture of the distribution system, brass or stainless steel is used - two materials with high resistance to the aggressive effects of hot water. The comb must be positioned strictly vertically on the wall to ensure the efficiency of all components and allow the coolant to be evenly distributed.
The shut-off valves installed in each circuit may have a manual or automatic opening system using electromechanical actuators. In the system we are considering, as a rule, manual ones are used. 
With the help of these valves, one of which is installed at the inlet and the other at the outlet, the supply of hot water is controlled. To regulate the fluid flow between circuits located, say, in adjacent rooms, so-called balancing valves are installed in the return ridge.
Often the locking mechanism is supplemented with flow meters, which serve as an indicator of coolant flow. Thanks to them, it is possible to adjust each circuit of the system, since flow meters configure and measure the volume of coolant for each of them separately. This is especially important for circuits with different pipe lengths. Thermal sensors are installed on the return ridge, which are necessary to completely or partially shut off the system. This is done automatically using electric servos or manually.
As a rule, there are no problems when installing a simplified system yourself. When installing double-circuit heating, say, to heat a bathroom and toilet, there is no need for expensive equipment. Depending on which mixing valves are used, the ridge patterns become more complex.
When connecting the manifold, two types of mixing valves are used: two-way and three-way. They are designed for mixing liquids: hot, which comes from the boiler, and cooled, respectively, from the heating circuit. They are controlled manually or automatically - requiring additional installation of a servo drive or control device.
Three-way ones are used, as a rule, for collectors intended for heating large rooms with an area of more than 200 square meters. m. Such schemes also include weather-dependent sensors, which are programmed to determine the required floor temperature based on external conditions.
Two-way ones are used for rooms with a smaller area - less than 200 m2. In such a scheme, the floor temperature is controlled by a valve. If necessary, he himself adds hot liquid coming from the boiler or, conversely, water from processing. If the collector is configured correctly, overheating of the floor is completely eliminated. Two-way valve circuits provide smooth and stable adjustment.
There are many other collector schemes and installation types.
Setting up a heated floor collector is impossible without special devices. With their help, the optimal heating mode of the system is established and water flows in the pipelines are regulated. Each of them performs a specific function.
Installed on the inlet and outlet pipes of the device. These devices do not affect the operation of the system, but indicate the current heating rate. The difference in values can be useful in calculating operating efficiency. They also serve as an indicator of heating mode violations.
It is mounted on the inlet pipe of the inlet manifold and connected to the return pipe with cooled coolant. The temperature sensor is placed in the comb body. There is a rotary knob on the body of the thermostat with which you can set the required temperature level. The device receives readings from the sensor about the degree of water heating. Depending on this, the flow of cold and hot coolant is regulated.
According to the principle of operation, they are completely similar to a thermostat, but with minor additions. With their help, the volume of water flow for each circuit of the water floor is regulated. Depending on the model, this can be done in manual or automatic modes. For the latter, servos with built-in temperature sensors are used, which can be connected to a common remote thermostat.
Devices that are optional for installation, but which, however, can become effective elements for manually controlling the operation of a water heated floor. They are installed on the return manifold pipes and are locking mechanisms with a glass bulb.
When the head on the body is turned, the rod in the device changes its position. This affects the volume of liquid passing through it. For clarity, a measurement scale is printed on the surface of the flowmeter, indicating the flow rate of water l/min.
In most cases, a ready-made manifold is purchased, in which all elements are selected according to technical characteristics. If you have experience in assembling such structures, you can assemble the device yourself. How to properly connect a heated floor, take into account the parameters of the overall heating system and the technical properties of the combs? To do this, you must follow certain installation rules.
The location of the device is selected based on the following rules:
A security system must be installed. It consists of an air valve and a bypass. When the temperature of water rises sharply, it expands. The air valve releases excess air, normalizing the pressure in the pipes. A bypass is necessary to quickly shut off water in case of emergency situations.
Once the installation of the collector is complete, the underfloor heating pipelines are connected to it. The quality of the joints, their tightness and reliability must be checked. The system is started before the main covering is installed. By changing the temperature conditions using the control device, the heating quality of each line is checked, and the pipes are inspected for leaks. After this, you can begin installing the flooring.
As a rule, a special balancing table is attached to the diagram, on the basis of which the comb can be adjusted according to two parameters: circuit length and heating load.
The table relates the circuit number and the number of revolutions from the position of the balancing valve - “closed”. Set up the comb like this:
Correct configuration and connection of the collector are necessary for long-term operation and efficient operation of the system.
The layout of a heated floor collector is relatively simple. But during its operation, it is necessary to periodically check the performance of individual elements and the entire system as a whole. To do this, it is recommended to draw up a schedule for checking equipment and carrying out preventive maintenance of the following nature:
By carrying out these simple procedures, you can maintain the uninterrupted operation of the entire system and its individual parts. But the main condition is the professional connection of the heated floor collector. The functionality of the device and its performance depend on the correctness of this installation stage.
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To save on the price of heating equipment and make a collector unit yourself, you need to understand what factory-made products are made of. The kit includes the following parts:
For reference. On sale there are manifold units with rotameters on the return line, thermostat valves that regulate the flow. Changing the layout does not affect the operation of the heating circuits.
When purchasing a comb, you can change the complete set depending on your budget and connection diagram to the boiler. For example, buy a distributor without rotameters, install 1 thermometer instead of two, or place the unit in a control cabinet.
Factory kits are manufactured in such a way that the manifold for heated floors can be easily and quickly assembled with your own hands. Judge for yourself: the distribution elements are already assembled, you just need to connect them to the heating circuits and install the auxiliary parts according to the diagram. How to do this correctly, see the following video:
In addition to brass and steel products, there are varieties of combs made from plastic sections, as shown in the photo. Their installation is carried out in the same way, except with more caution when tightening. Please note that the main threaded connections on the groups for draining water and connecting pipes do not need to be packed with flax or FUM tape; rubber seals are provided almost everywhere.
Plastic distributors with installation kit Many master plumbers consider it an integral part of the underfloor heating manifold, although these are 2 different elements that perform separate functions. The task of the comb is to distribute the coolant along the circuits, and the mixing unit is to limit its temperature to 35-45 °C, maximum 55 °C. The collector connection diagram shown below works according to the following algorithm:
Note. If the manifold thermostats are controlled by servos, a bypass and bypass valve is added to the mixing assembly. The goal is to organize circulation in a small circle when the servos, for some reason, suddenly block all the circuits.
Good news for those who are very limited in funds, but want to heat themselves with heated floors: installing a two- or three-way valve with a pump is not always necessary. There are two ways to reduce the cost of the system by avoiding the purchase of a mixer:
The manifold assembly, assembled from brass tees, provides regulation by automatically limiting the return flow with RTL heads Let us immediately note that the first option contradicts all the canons and cannot be considered correct, although it is applied quite successfully. The bottom line is this: high-tech wall-mounted gas boilers can maintain the temperature of the supplied water at 40-50 °C, which is acceptable for heated floors. But there are 3 negative points:
Advice. To avoid discomfort from the heat during transitional periods, you need to install traditional heating radiators in the rooms of a private house, and connect underfloor heating when it gets very cold.
Thermostatic heads of the RTL type operate on the principle of a two-way valve, only they are located on each circuit and are not equipped with remote sensors. A thermoelement that reacts to changes in water temperature is located inside the head and blocks the flow along the circuit when it has heated up above 45-55 ° C (depending on the adjustment). In this case, the comb is connected directly to a heat source running on any type of fuel - wood, diesel or pellets.
Important condition. For normal operation of heated floors controlled by RTL thermal heads, the length of each circuit should not exceed 60 m. More details about the design of such heating and the correct collector assembly diagrams are described in a separate instruction and in the next video:
A distributor welded from polypropylene fittings is the cheapest manifold for a warm water floor that you can think of. It has several disadvantages:
Conclusion. It makes sense to make a PPR comb when it is planned to be installed in a boiler room, and the number of outlets is designed for 3-5 circuits, otherwise the design will be too cumbersome. The dimensions can be judged from the photo, which shows a manifold with only 2 connections, the third outlet is for connecting the main line from the boiler.
To work, you will need no more than 2 m of PPR pipes with a diameter of 32 mm and the same tees according to the number of bends. In addition, polypropylene-metal threaded adapters, ball valves and straight radiator valves used for balancing are needed. Make a manifold for heating circuits of underfloor heating according to the instructions:
Examples of PPR collectors - for 3 and 9 branches Advice. Weld the fittings close to each other, otherwise the structure will grow to unimaginable sizes and will look unsightly.
When the main welding work is done, all that remains is to screw the taps and radiator valves to the couplings, and put the automatic air vent in place. Details of the assembly of the unit are clearly demonstrated in the video:
If you use metal fittings instead of polypropylene, you will be able to slightly reduce the size of the structure and do without a soldering iron. But here another pitfall awaits you in the form of cheap thin-walled tees, which are scary to handle with a pipe wrench - low-quality material can crack. If you buy high-quality fittings, then the total price of the product will be closer to the factory manifold, although the savings will still remain.
For manufacturing, you need to select internal/external thread tees made of good brass, shown in the photo, and ball valves with a low stem and a butterfly handle. The same radiator valves will go to the second part of the comb. The assembly technology is simple: pack the threads with flax or thread and twist the fittings together, and then install the taps and other parts.
Advice. When assembling, try to direct all the side bends in one direction, as well as the valve stems, so that the homemade manifold looks presentable. When screwing on pipeline fittings, remove the handles and adjusting caps so that they do not cling to adjacent taps.
Installing flow meters on a comb of brass fittings is a difficult issue. Then the supply line will have to be assembled from crosspieces and special adapters for rotameters will be installed. Some of them are also made for Eurocone, so the adapter will have to be machined. It is easier to balance the system without flow meters.
As you can see in the photo, there is nowhere to put the rotameter here If you want to connect 3-4 floor circuits on a budget basis, then it’s definitely worth the hassle with polypropylene. Provided that the comb is planned to be placed in the boiler room, and not inside a beautiful cabinet somewhere in the corridor. Soldering must be done very carefully so that after 1-2 years your product does not leak.
When it is necessary to assemble a manifold for 8-10 underfloor heating circuits, use fittings made of high-quality brass. Of course, in terms of dimensions, such a product will be larger than the factory one, but it will allow you to save on the number of parts.
To regulate the circulation of the coolant and the degree of its heating, a manifold for water heated floors is installed in the heating system. The mixing unit also performs other functions: it measures the pressure in the heating system, ensures a uniform supply of coolant, and helps remove air from the heating circuit.
The collector uses a simple operating principle, but without its help, a heating system using more than one water circuit will not be able to operate efficiently and heat the room.
A legitimate question, especially considering the decent cost of the collector. It should be recognized that water heated floors without a mixing unit can work normally, but only if they have one heating circuit. What does this mean in practice? According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the length of the pipe to be laid in heated floors should not exceed 70 m. Considering that with a maximum gap in the pitch between the pipes, this amount will only be enough for 7 m², it is not difficult to calculate; to heat a medium-sized room, three circuits will need to be laid at once.
In most cases, heated floors are installed for several rooms at once: hallway, bathroom, kitchen, etc. It is unrealistic to ensure a uniform supply of coolant without connecting to the boiler room manifold. But if you need to heat only one small room, then you can do without a mixing unit.
Installation without a collector has several disadvantages, including: the supply of coolant with a temperature identical to that in the general heating system, the impossibility of automatically removing air pockets and controlling pressure.
The operating principle and design of the water heated floor collector is somewhat different from the type of valve used that regulates the coolant flow.
At first glance, installing the collector yourself seems quite simple. But as practice shows, it is better not to start installation without the necessary tools and special skills.
In conventional boilers, water is heated in the range from 60 to 85°C. The temperature of the heated floor, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, should not exceed 30°C.
Adjustment by the collector group is performed as follows:
Components for the collector should be selected exclusively from one manufacturer. It’s even better to purchase a ready-made mixing unit. As practice shows, only in this case will the connection diagram of the collector group be 100% efficient.
A homemade distribution manifold can be assembled at your own discretion with any number of pipes. Professionals advise leaving several outlets for a possible increase in heating circuits in the future.
The calculation of the parameters of the mixing unit must be entrusted to professionals. It is quite difficult to perform all the necessary calculations on your own. Specialists will select the most suitable materials for assembling the unit.
The installation of a water heated floor is impossible without installing a special device - a collector. You can build it yourself using improvised means. But it is more efficient to install a ready-made collector group, which is sold fully assembled with all components.
The collector unit is an important element of a water heated floor, which is designed to distribute coolant in the heating system. Thanks to the special design, hot and cold liquids are mixed inside this unit. This feature allows you to adjust the temperature of the heated floor and control its operation.
The collector unit operates thanks to the circulation of the coolant. The heated liquid enters the heated floor, where it cools and returns back to be heated.
During operation of the device, circulating substances at different temperatures are mixed to achieve optimal characteristics. This process is controlled using several additional elements - various sensors, valves and others.
A manifold group with a pump is the most efficient. The coolant circulates through the water circuit using a forced method.
This allows you to obtain productive floor-type heating, which is installed in rooms with a large area. To install a heated floor with natural circulation, it is necessary to ensure that there is an optimal slope, which can be quite difficult.
The collector unit for installing a heated floor consists of a large number of elements that ensure its efficient operation. Their list includes:
The manifold group for underfloor heating can be equipped with two or three way mixing valves. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Manifold group of heating systems and underfloor heating Luxor
The two-valve manifold assembly has the following features:
The three-valve manifold assembly is a design with the following characteristics:
Devices that are installed assembled with all additional elements provide the following advantages:
The manifold for a warm water floor is mounted according to the following scheme:
Dimensions of a wall-mounted cabinet for a manifold unit
If you use a ready-made collector group, you can significantly simplify the installation of this device. It is very easy to install it yourself without the help of specialists.
