How to actually calculate the number of pipes for underfloor heating?
Having calculated the listed parameters, the calculator to calculate the length of the pipe of a warm water floor is no longer needed. All we have to do is to substitute the data in a simple mathematical formula:
L required pipe length =S usable area⁄N pipe stacking step 1.1
In this formula the coefficient is 1.1 compensate for the consumption of pipes at the turns. For example, the area to be heated is 24 m2, and the step is 15 cm. We calculate the consumption of pipes for underfloor heating at a pitch of 15 cm, as follows:
L required length of the pipe =S usable area⁄N step of laying pipes 1,1=24m²⁄0,15m1,1=176m
Make sure to convert the 15 cm step into meters. 0.15 м. The obtained result will not be final in the calculation of the length of the pipe for the floor heating, because the formula does not take into account the value of the consumables length from the collector to the circuit (return and supply). To correctly calculate the last parameter on the diagram indicate the location of the functional units of the system. Then measure the distance with a tape measure. It is not difficult to calculate and the number of pipes for underfloor heating per 1m2 without a calculator, using the same formula.

If you have standard pitch values, there is no need to apply the formula. You can quickly see what would be the consumption of a floor heating pipe per 1 m2 using the table above.
How to make calculations on the length of the pipe for underfloor heating
Today, it is difficult to imagine a country house without underfloor heating. Before you start installing heating, you need to make a pipe length calculation (calculator), which is used for underfloor heating. Almost every country house has its own heat supply system, the owners of such houses independently establish a water floor if this is provided by the layout of the premises. Of course, it is possible to install such a floor heating in apartments, but such a process can bring a lot of trouble for both the owners of the apartment and the workers. This is because it is not possible to connect the floor heating to the heating system, and installing an additional boiler is problematic.
The size and shape of the pipe for a warm floor can be different, therefore, in order to understand how to calculate a warm floor, it is necessary to understand in detail the system and the structure of such a system.
The first parameter to consider before calculations is the choice of the heating system: whether it will be the main or auxiliary. In the first case, it must have a higher capacity to independently heat the whole house. The second option is applicable for rooms with low heat output of radiators.
The temperature of the floor is selected according to the building regulations:
- The surface of the floor of the living room should be heated to 29 degrees.
- On the edges of the room, the floor can be heated up to 35 degrees to compensate for heat loss through the cold walls and from the breeze coming through the opening doors.
- In bathrooms and zones with high humidity the optimum temperature is 33 degrees.
The auxiliary parameters used are:
- The total length of the pipes and their pitch (installation distance between pipes). Calculated due to the auxiliary parameter in the form of configuration and area of the room.
- Heat loss. This parameter takes into account the thermal conductivity of the material of which the house is built, as well as its degree of wear and tear.
- Flooring. The choice of floor covering influences the thermal conductivity of the floor. It is optimal to use tiles and porcelain stoneware, because they have high thermal conductivity and warm up quickly. When choosing linoleum or laminate, it is worth buying a material that has no thermal insulation layer. It is worth to refuse from a wooden covering as such a floor will practically not heat up.
- The climate of the area in which the building stands with a floor heating system. You need to take into account the seasonal temperature changes in this region and the lowest temperature in the winter period.
How to calculate the capacity of the water floor online
Underfloor heating. an additional system to maintain a constant temperature. It can be used as the main source of heat in the house (usually for relatively small areas). The advantage of this technological solution is its ability to achieve a more uniform temperature and reduce its fluctuations.
Power water floor heating requires careful prior calculation of the parameters of all necessary components. In this article we will consider the factors that affect energy consumption and point out possible areas to optimize the design of your home system.
How many meters is the optimal loop length
Often there is information that the maximum length of one circuit. 120 m. This is not quite true, as the parameter is directly dependent on the diameter of the pipe:
Accordingly, the larger the diameter of the pipeline, the less hydraulic resistance and pressure. Which means the longer the circuit. However, experienced craftsmen recommend not “chasing” the maximum length and choose pipes D 16 mm.
Also note that the thick pipes D 20 mm is problematic to bend, respectively laying loops will be larger than the recommended parameter. This means a low efficiency of the system, i.e.к. the distance between the coils will be large, in any case, you will have to make a square snail contour.
If one circuit is not enough to heat a large room, it is better to mount your own hands two-circuit floor. It is strongly advised to equalize the length of the contours so that the surface area warms up evenly. But if a difference in size is still unavoidable. an error of 10 meters is allowed. The distance between the circuits equals the recommended pipe pitch.
How to calculate the water and electric underfloor heating yourself
The device floor heating of an apartment or a private home begins with calculations. Pipes or heating cables need to be chosen correctly for specific heat output and laid with a certain pitch. Practice shows: rely entirely on the experience of hired builders can not, the scheme of laying is better to develop their own. How to calculate the electric and water underfloor heating with the available methods, tells in the further instruction.
Calculation calculator for water underfloor heating
On line calculator water floor heating is designed to calculate the basic thermal and hydraulic parameters of the system, calculate the diameter and length of the pipe. The calculator provides an opportunity to calculate the floor heating, which is realized by “wet” method with the arrangement of the monolithic floor made of cement-sand mortar or concrete, and also with the realization of the “dry” method, using the heat spreading plates. The device system TP “dry” method is preferred for wooden floors and floors.
T he bottom-up thermal flows are the most preferable and comfortable for human perception. That is why underfloor heating is becoming the most popular solution compared to wall heat sources. Heating elements of such a system do not take up additional space, unlike wall radiators.
Properly designed and implemented underfloor heating systems are a modern and comfortable source of space heating. The use of modern and quality materials, as well as the correct calculations, allows you to create an efficient and reliable heating system with a lifetime of not less than 50 years.
Underfloor heating can only be the sole source of space heating in regions with a warm climate and the use of energy efficient materials. If the heat flow is insufficient, it is necessary to use additional heat sources.
These calculations will be especially useful for those who are planning to build a floor heating system with their own hands in a detached house.
Optimum length = easy set-up
Now come to the actual design of the floor heating. Its circuits are recommended to make in the form of a snail. If possible keep the lengths as short as possible to approx. 80 m. Maximum pipe lengths up to 120 m. This is because this configuration makes commissioning easier.
ProWarm Warm water underfloor heating kit installation. Levelling compound to solid floor panel
Fig 1. Laying pipes for underfloor heating in the snail pattern
First of all it is a question of bleeding the floor heating system. First, fill the system with water, preferably softened. Then close all circuits except one, using valves on the supply and return pipe. Then turn on the floor heating circulation pump and let it run for 2-3 minutes. Often, if the length of the circuit is less than 80 m, this operation is successful.
If the air could not be evacuated in this way the flow meter shows 0 l/min., it must be squeezed with the pressure of the water supply network or by means of a pumping station with a reservoir for the coolant.
Calculation of water underfloor heating
Outwardly, the underfloor heating seems to be a fairly simple design, but nevertheless, without the correct calculation it is impossible to assemble it. During the calculations, it will become clear how much coolant will be needed and how many pipes are needed. Let’s find out how to calculate a water heated floor and what you need to know.
Pipe calculation
Practice shows that the maximum hose length required to form the lines of the floor heating should not be more than 110. 120 p.м.
The amount of material is directly related to the method of assembly will be used in the installation of the heating system.
In rooms with a large area, which have a square or rectangular shape, it makes sense to apply such a method of laying as “snail. It will provide uniform heating, the room will become warm and comfortable. If the room is characterized by a large length, it is acceptable to apply “serpentine”.
In order that the occupant does not feel the difference between the areas of flooring, it is required to lay pipes with a certain distance between them. At the edge of the room, it can be 100 mm. Further the distance can be increased in increments of 50 mm. But it should be noted that the distance between the pipes should not be more than 300 mm. Otherwise, such a coating will be unpleasant to walk on.
In order to know how to calculate a water heated floor, you do not need any diagrams or tables, everything is quite simple.
Theoretically per square meter of floor area. m of floor need to lay 5 n.м. pipes. This method of calculation can be attributed to the simplest. In this algorithm, the step is taken to 200 mm. The size of the cross-section of the pipe can be determined using the following expression L = S / N 1,1 it takes into account S. the area of the room, N. step between the hoses, 1.1. reserve of the hose to make the bends. Let’s look at a simple example.
When calculating the size of the pipeline, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the sleeve and the raw material from which they are made. For hoses made of metal plastic and size 16 mm, the limit length of the circuit is not more than 100 p.м. Some masters believe that a reasonable length lies in the range of 75. 80.
Pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene used to form a heating system, and with a section size of 18 mm should have a length of not more than 120 p. м.
Selection of material is performed, taking into account the area of the room. It must be remembered that the quality of manufacture affects the duration of operation. As many years of experience in the installation of the heating complex shows, the best solution will be the use of metal-plastic.
Power calculation
Before starting to calculate the characteristics of the water floor heating, you need to prepare a scheme of the room. To do this, draw on paper with millimeter dimensions on a scale of 500 mm in 1 cm. On the plan must specify the location of openings and their size.
On the following you need to calculate the location of pipes and their diameters. For this reception the following conditions limit heating surface can’t be more than 20 sq. м. If the area of the room exceeds these parameters, it is necessary to install two heating circuits. Thus it is necessary to remember that in one contour can not be laid more than 100 p. м. Each of them must be connected to a separate outlet.
During the calculation of such a heating system is required to take into account the main heat losses. As a rule, “cold bridges”, that is places where heat leaves the room, are located next to windows and doors. And that means that the distance from the pipe to the wall must not be more than 250 mm.
One element of the contour can be placed no further than 500 mm. This is determined by the diameter of the pipe. To calculate the number of pipes you need to measure their length and increase by the factor. To the data obtained, it makes sense to add 2 meters needed to bring the circuit to the riser.
To calculate the number of hoses, measure their length and multiply the result by the index that allows you to convert the drawing dimensions into actual. To the obtained result add 2 meters, which are needed to bring the loop to the riser.
At the second step you can calculate the volume of the substrate. To do this you need to calculate the area of the room to be heated, i.e. е. Multiply length by width.
In case of a complex foundation configuration, you may get an inaccurate total. For the calculation it will be necessary to divide the room into squares and then start the calculations.
Calculation of all necessary parameters to perform the installation can not be called complicated. However, the uninitiated person better not to tempt fate and carefully follow all the requirements of the instruction manual, supplied with each set.
But if based on the area of the floor in the room, you want to change the pitch in order to achieve a slightly better temperature conditions, this will not be enough. There is a setting of parameters that are responsible for the optimal microclimate.
Calculation of heat losses
After determining this characteristic, it will be possible to know how much heat the water floor will have to generate in order to have a normal temperature in the room. After that selects the required equipment boiler, pump and fittings.
You can also say so to find out how much heat is needed, you can from the compensation of the heat loss of the building.
The relationship between these characteristics is determined by the formula for calculating the warm water floor:
To calculate the losses, it is necessary to do the following manipulations perform measurements and find out the dimensions of openings, ceiling slabs and walls from the outside of the building. The floor does not need to be included in the calculation, as it will be heated.
To make the calculations it is necessary to determine the thermal conductivity index of the materials of which the building structures are made. For information about these coefficients you will need to use the following references.
The calculation must be done for each component of the structure separately. The following expression will do here:
- R is the thermal resistance of the material for the structure;
- S its area;
- The values of the thermal resistances can be calculated for each component of the building;
- b. heat loss due to location as a building in space.
the thermal resistance characteristic can be calculated by yourself. to do so, divide the thickness of the structure by the thermal conductivity coefficient of the fabrication material. The value of b is related to how exactly the house is located 0.1. north, northwest or northeast; 0.05. west, southeast; 0. south, southwest.
Calculation example
Suppose that the walls are assembled from foam blocks, the thickness of which is 200 mm. Total floor area of the structure is 60 sq. м. Temperature outside is 25, inside is 20, orientation of the building is to the south-east.
Knowing the heat transfer coefficient of foamed concrete 0.3 W/(mS), we can now calculate the heat losses through the wall structure R=0.2/0.3= 0.67 m2S/W.
It should also be remembered that there are heat losses through the external finish of the building, such as plaster. If it is 20 mm, then the Rst. = 0.02/0.3 = 0.07 m2S/W. To get the total heat loss of a single wall, add R and Rsh. We end up with 0.670.07 = 0.74 m2C/W. Use this algorithm to calculate the heat losses through the remaining building elements. The sum of the results will show the heat loss of the whole house. Using formula (1) we obtain the required capacity of the hot water floor.
A manual calculation can be done when planning a renovation, but the dimensions must be taken seriously.