Disadvantages and advantages of Unimat underfloor heating

Today, underfloor heating has become the most relevant option for space heating. Innovative solutions - thermomats - have a particularly favorable effect on the microclimate of the house: heated floors based on carbon fiber heating rods emitting infrared waves. They are extremely easy to install.

Infrared underfloor heating Unimat from this series is installed on glue or leveler, mainly under tiles or porcelain stoneware. IR radiation does not transfer heat to the air in the room, but directly to the people who are there. At the same time, the humidity is favorable for living quarters.

Infrared floor heating - what is it?

I remind you that I already have an article on the site dedicated to electric floor heating. There is about the same principle, but the difference is that the floor is heated with a cable that has a certain resistance, which does not depend on anything. That is, the floor is cable.

And in this case, our gender is self-regulating. Of course, this is said loudly, and the heating temperature can still and should be changed using a thermostat. Self-regulation means that when heated, the floor increases its electrical resistance, thereby reducing the current. It turns out negative feedback on temperature - the more, the less.

Floor heating can take place not only due to the flowing current. It can be heated, for example, with the help of an industrial hair dryer (he will still participate in the article) - the effect will be the same, the resistance will decrease.

This floor is also called a rod floor, it is made in the form of a mat in which several carbon heating rods are arranged in series, electrically connected in parallel.

Unimat heating mat - rolled

Such floors also come in the form of films, where the principle of operation is the same, only the design is different.

Marketers classify electric floors as infrared and convection. I don’t understand at all. Infrared means they radiate heat. Convection means the air heats up from the floor and rises up. What is there to share?

How to make a choice?

You can carefully and in detail study all the offers on the website and place an order through the convenient form of our online store. You can also consult with specialists before purchasing by calling 8 (499) 391-11-20.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with our offers in the "Prices / Buy" section, and with the terms of delivery and the possibility of ordering the installation service - in the corresponding sections.

If you want to get to know us personally, then our address: Moscow, metro Zhulebino, Lyubertsy, Novoryazanskoe shosse, 3, TC "Grant", ground floor. Opening hours: Mon - Fri from 9 am to 8 pm, Sat - Sun from 10 am to 6 pm.

What else can help you make a choice? A little background information, which is presented below and which will be useful to familiarize yourself with right now.

Warm electric infrared film floors Caleo (Caleo) are called useful and economical, because they:

do not dry the air;
ionize the room;
neutralize odors and make life easier for allergy sufferers.

Due to this therapeutic effect, infrared systems are used in maternity hospitals, other medical institutions and infrared saunas. Also, the installation of infrared floors can save up to 20% of electricity.

Advantages of core underfloor heating over cable

Rod floor heating has two significant advantages over cable.

The core floor is self-adjusting. I have already spoken about this, and I will say it again and again throughout the article.
The core floor can be cut into rods and laid at least one or two at a time.Unlike cable, which can not be cut at all. For example, you can put 1 or 2 strips (rods) on the floor at the exit from the shower stall, near the sink, and near the toilet. And this will be enough for the floor to be warm.

From these two advantages, the third follows - the floor can be turned on without any thermostat, for example, how we turn on the light or the fan. I went into the shower in the winter season - I turned on the light, hood, floor. While you are splashing, the floor at the exit from the shower is warming up. At the same time, overheating is excluded, and consumption is the same as that of an average LED light bulb (we will count below).
While writing, I realized that there is a fourth advantage - a variable heating rate. With a core floor, due to automatic adjustment, the heating speed (and power consumption) is initially maximized. Then, as the temperature approaches the maximum, the power is supplied, the heating rate too. This property is especially valuable for those who swim quickly.

Rates

Rod IR underfloor heating Unimat Rail has several modifications. Each of them has distinctive features, which mainly consist in power and heated area. Several models are shown below:

Unimat HR-S-100 - power 0.13-0.12 kW (m 2 / linear meter). Heated area 1 m 2 - the average price is 2600 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-200 - power 0.26-0.23 kW (m 2 / running meter). Heated area 2 m 2 - the average price is 5270 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-300 - power 0.39-0.35 kW (m 2 / running meter). The heated area is 3 m 2 - the average price is 7900 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-400 - power 0.52-0.46 kW (m 2 / running meter). Heated area 4 m 2 - the average price is 10,500 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-500 - power 0.65-0.58 kW (m 2 / running meter). The heated area is 5 m 2 - the average price is 13,200 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-600 - power 0.78-0.7 kW (m 2 / running meter). The heated area is 6 m 2 - the average price is 15800 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-700 - power 0.91-0.81 kW (m 2 / running meter). The heated area is 7 m 2 - the average price is 18,400 rubles.
Unimat HR-S-2500 - power 3.25-2.9 kW (m 2 / running meter). The heated area is 25 m 2 - the average price is 66,000 rubles.

So, we made a brief overview of the Unimat Rail underfloor heating system. Leave your comments at the end of the article if this heating is already used in your home.

Unimat characteristics

Let's take a quick look at the characteristics of the Unimat infrared rebar floor. Here is a photo from the instruction:

Unimat infrared core heat-insulated floor. Specifications

The peak (maximum) power consumption is 116 W per linear meter if the regulator is turned on to the maximum. Well, or just plug the heating mat directly into an outlet. As you can see, when heated, the power consumption will decrease. I suspect that if you leave the floor on, it will heat up to 70 or 80 degrees, the power consumption will drop to 60-70 W, and it will stop heating up further. That is, unlike a cable floor, this floor independently excludes overheating.
Consumption per linear meter - 24 watts. Here, apparently, we are talking about the optimal average temperature. If the pitch between the rods is 0.1 m, then 10 rods per 1 meter. This means that each rod consumes an average of 2.4 watts. Not to be confused with peak consumption! The peak will be 116/10 = 11.6 watts.
The width of the thermomat (that is, the length of the rods) is fixed at 0.83 m.
The maximum length of mats connected in series is 25 m. Let's count. 1 meter consumes 116 W at its peak, which means that 25 meters - 2900 W, this is a current of more than 13 A. Considering that the minimum cable cross-section for connection is 1.5 mm2, it is clear why the manufacturer was reinsured.
The proportion of IR rays in the spectrum is 90%. Apparently, the rest of the components lie in the electromagnetic spectrum.
The IR wavelength is average, good for the body I don't understand this. And I have no idea how to measure and check it.

Further - the completeness of the self-leveling floor:

Warm floor Unimat. Completeness

As you can see, you can buy different lengths of the mat at different prices, the difference will also be in the length of the wire for connection and the number of bells and whistles. By the way, here they are:

Unimat connection and insulation kits

More details on how this is applied can be found in the section on installation.

Power consumption table:

Power consumption versus length

It can be seen that (except for the first value), the powers coincide with the peak power consumption indicated in the technical specifications.

Power consumption depending on the length and cross-section of the wire

The last table for choosing a wire cross-section is generally not clear for what it is given. After all, the maximum power is 2900 W, the current is 13 A. Therefore, a wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm2 is used with this floor, thicker does not make sense.

Features of the

Unimat Rail has its own unique features, which are as follows:

Saving money and energy saving during operation. Unlike cable systems for underfloor heating, it is more economical by 60%.
The system is not afraid of overheating and "locking" by furniture. If furniture is installed on the heated area, then thanks to the self-regulating function, the heating system will exclude overheating. This allows you not to worry about the arrangement of furniture, even after years. In any season of the year, you can reach the desired temperature both in the country and in your apartment.
Usefulness and environmental friendliness for humans. IR heat has an anti-allergenic effect. The Unimat Rail system consists exclusively of quality materials. Radiation is accompanied by ionization of the air, which will have a positive effect on the health of your children. In addition, the Unimat Rail provides uniform heating of the entire living area.
Can be laid in a screed and in a layer of tile adhesive. Thanks to the special design of the mat, the heating can be laid in the base of the screed. This is especially useful in cases where thick screeds have to be poured.
High reliability. The connection of the heating rods of the mats is made in parallel, so that the heating will not fail soon. Even if one rod is damaged, heating will be carried out by the other rod. The manufacturer's warranty is up to 20 years.
Simple and easy installation. If you are a non-professional, you can still install the Unimat Rail heating system. This is due to the simple design of the rod infrared heating floor.

It is recommended to entrust the connection of Unimat Rail to the electrical network by qualified specialists. Especially if you have no experience with electricity.

When purchasing a Unimat Rail heating system, the following set of parts is included in the package:

VVGng connecting wires.
Carbon mat in a roll.
End kit UKK.
UKC connector kit.
Corrugated tube equipped with a plug and a metal probe.

It is worth highlighting the main technical characteristics of Unimat Rail IR heating:

The maximum power consumption of heating at a rod temperature of 20 ° C is equal to 116 W / running meter.
The maximum power consumption of heating at a rod temperature of 60 ° C is 77 W / running meter.
The basic width of the mat is 0.83 m.
The maximum allowable serial connection length is 25 running meters.
It has a step of 0.10 m between each rod.
Power supply is carried out at 220/50 V / Hz.
In the total spectrum, the proportion of IR rays is 90.60%.
The IR wavelength ranges from 8 to 14 microns.

As for the installation of the Unimat Rail system, it can be installed under ceramic tiles, carpet, linoleum and laminate. In each individual case, it is important to observe the technology of installation work.

Due to the fact that recently there have been a lot of fakes of Unimat Rail underfloor heating, it is worth paying attention to the distinctive features of this heating. This will allow you to purchase original products.

Due to the wrong choice, you will lose a large amount of money, moreover, cause harm to your health. You should not buy a warm floor of unknown origin.

Below is the difference between reality and fake. Be careful, because your life and money are at stake, of course:

If you bought a fake, then when the heating system heats up to a temperature of 60 ° C, you will feel an unpleasant smell of plastic, which is caused by overheating of the mat and its melting.This means that the heating mat will fail at any time.
The counterfeit will never be marked or marked, for example, the abbreviation RHE.
Fake Unimat Rail uses simple self-tapping screws in the connections of the rods and the power cable, and not brackets made of copper, as in the original products. After a short time, the screws will oxidize and rust. As a consequence, this will cause sparking.
The fake has a mat width of 80 cm, while the original Unimat Rail has 83 cm. This small difference greatly affects the technical characteristics of the entire system. For example, a width of 80 cm increases the starting currents in a self-regulating system. This negatively affects the reliability of the heating system.

So, if you do not want to fall into the trap of deception and into the hands of unscrupulous dealers, then you should simply adhere to a few rules:

Original Unimat Rail products are sold only as a set. It has everything you need for installation. The set also includes a video instruction on a DVD disc, as well as a color paper instruction.
The connection points of the rods are marked with Unimat Rail.
When the rod is heated to 70 ° C, the original products work without failures.
The product passport must indicate a 20-year warranty.

Unimat floor connection diagram and subtleties

Scheme

The connection diagram is simple:

Wiring diagram of Unimat underfloor heating

The main principle is that all rods are located as you like, but are connected in parallel, and the voltage across them during operation is 220V. Let the pluses on the thermostat not be confused - this is not a positive pole, but just a terminal.

Electrical insulation

The manufacturer suggests insulating the wire joints inside the floor with heat shrinkage. It is convenient, beautiful and compact. But only if you have a hair dryer or a good burner. You can also insulate with simple duct tape. In any case, it will not hit - the concrete becomes an insulator when it dries. Although, when using an RCD, unpleasant incidents will be possible.

Thermal insulation

The manufacturer recommends a heat-reflecting material. This is to increase the efficiency of the system, so as not to heat the ceiling of the neighbors from below. However, all the same, the heat tends upward, and it will not get worse. Is the heating rate slower? In addition, the tilers really like the idea of installing a warm floor without insulation (Seryoga, hello!)).

Thermostat

can be any, not only intended for a warm floor. For example, this, or even that. There are programmable, with timers, LCD screens, etc.

Sensor

must be exactly the one that comes with the thermostat. At least of the same type. For the feedback to be correct, the sensor must be correctly positioned, see the instructions and my photos.

Instead of a thermostat

It should be remembered that such a regulator is based on an ordinary relay. And it can be replaced with an ordinary switch, and even a plug, periodically turning on and off the warm floor. Also, a regular dimmer (dimmer) may be suitable for adjustment. The disadvantages of such solutions are the lack of electrical feedback, and in the case of a dimmer, interference to other equipment is possible.

Heating

Some people think that such a floor can be used for heating. Yes, you can. But only where the temperature in winter does not drop below zero - in Sochi and Gelendzhik. And you will have to lay the infrared floor everywhere, and constantly fry to the fullest. In all other cases, as in mine, ordinary batteries are used for heating, and an electric underfloor heating is used for the comfort of the lower extremities.

Installation of rod underfloor heating in the kitchen

The main thing to remember when installing and connecting an electric underfloor heating is the quality of the connection! So that later it would not be excruciatingly cold and annoying, you need to pay close attention to the connection points, which will be under the tiles.

You can read the installation details in the instructions and watch the video at the end of the article, and I will only show some points.

We spread the floor along the screed.

We fix it with dowel clamps.If the floor is clean, then you can use good scotch tape.

Warm floor laid out on the screed

We connect the joints with sleeves that come with the kit. Process:

Compound. Cooking connecting sleeves

Compound. We insert the wires into the sleeve

Don't forget about heat shrinkage

We compress the sleeves with a special tool

The most important point here is the connection of stranded and solid wires! The life of the floor mainly depends on the quality of the crimp. If there is no tool, or you are not sure of something, then the best tool is soldering! The sleeves that came with the kit seemed flimsy to me, so I used more powerful ones, and in the most critical places I soldered the twist.

Now we put on the heat shrink and work with a hairdryer:

Heat shrinkage at the junction, work with a hairdryer

There I am, fenyu:

Underfloor heating installation - wire connection

It should look something like this:

Working with a hairdryer when connecting a warm floor Unimat

We close the ends that do not connect anywhere:

Sealing the ends of the wires with heat shrink

Fenim, and while the heat shrinkage is hot, we clamp it with pliers:

Termination of the ends of the wires of the electric core floor Unimat

Ideally.

But here it turned out not perfect:

Connections for underfloor heating and temperature sensor

Temperature sensor:

Laying the temperature sensor in the warm floor (protected by yellow-green heat shrinkage)

As a result, the Unimat floor was installed in the kitchen as follows:

Unimat heating rod mats are laid and connected

Unimat infrared rod underfloor heating installed on the screed

Types of products

Today the model range of warm floors includes:

Unimat Aqua - capillary floor;
Unimat Boost / Unimat Rail - energy-efficient core floors;
Unimat Cord - cable floor.

The principle of operation of the Unimat Aqua is based on the circulation of liquid over the entire surface of the mats. It is mounted under porcelain stoneware, tiles and other coatings. Its installation in an apartment does not require connection to hot water supply or heating system.

Heating occurs due to the presence of a special electronic control unit (its power is 100-2400 W).

compactness;
innovativeness;
reliability and safety;
programmable power;
autonomy of work;
not afraid of overheating;
can be installed in rooms with high humidity.

The youngest representative of underfloor heating in tile adhesive or screed is Unimat Cord. It is a conventional heating mat based on a two-core thin resistive screened cable that is glued to a backing.

This line includes two modifications:

Unimat Cord T. For standard triple-insulated rooms with a power of 130 W / m², and for cold rooms - 200 W / m².
Unimat Cord P. Designed for standard rooms with double insulation and 140 W / m².

By purchasing Unimat CORD underfloor heating, the owner chooses the classic version of the cable type in a more convenient and reliable design. The thermomat is provided with high reliability, which is achieved thanks to high-quality insulation.

This floor is easy to use, as the included adhesive mesh allows you to easily fix the mat during installation.

Differences:

three-layer teflon insulation;
adhesive mesh;
mats of minimum thickness;
long operating time.

Rod underfloor heating Unimat Boost, Unimat Rail are made of thin carbon rods, which are arranged in parallel and connected to each other using a copper cable. In terms of efficiency, these floors are one of the best options for heating your home.

As a rule, they are chosen for the bedroom, kitchen, bathroom.

practicality, comfort, reliability;
low power consumption;
environmental friendliness, which is achieved thanks to the infrared heating principle;
ease of installation.

Laying system (video)

Prices and reviews

The constant striving of a person for comfortable conditions makes him equip his home with more modern, perfect devices. These include underfloor heating systems. However, if the choice fell on a specific manufacturer, then the reviews on the Unimat rod heat field should be evaluated first.

When the choice is finally made and all the advantages and disadvantages are taken into account, the potential buyer proceeds to the necessary calculations.

Before you buy Unimat underfloor heating, you need to calculate the area of the room in which it will be installed. Depending on the specific heating area, the manufacturer offers ready-made kits with a meter step.

Accordingly, the buyer will easily select the optimal solution and he will not have to overpay. For large rooms, the manufacturer has provided an option of 25 running meters.

The price of Unimat underfloor heating depends on the configuration. One running meter of fully-equipped underfloor heating will cost around 25,000 rubles. The above option for large premises will cost the buyer at least 60,000 rubles.

The complete set includes:

Video instruction on disk;
Carbon mat for carpets;
Warranty card;
Connecting wires.
Corrugated tube.
Passport products.
Additionally, the user can purchase a thermostat and heat-reflecting material.

Now, here are some reviews.

Nadezhda, 43 years old, Lobnya:

Three years ago, we installed Unimat core underfloor heating. At first, we could not get enough of it. Heats up quickly and well, while the electricity costs were minimal.
However, two years later, they noticed a significant consumption of electricity, which went off scale for all conceivable and inconceivable parameters. Six months later, in two rooms, he was completely out of order. The quality is poor. I would also argue about the savings.

Oleg, 38 years old, Krasnodar:

I bought an infrared heat-insulated floor Unimat for the bathroom. Three running meters was enough for me. Everything is included in the package, but in addition I had to purchase a thermostat. We put Unimat on a screed without heat-insulating material.
The floor heats up very quickly, but electricity consumption is off the charts. For one room, a very necessary thing, but if you heat the whole house, you will have to spend well.

Olesya, 36 years old, Moscow:

The balcony was insulated and the choice fell on the Unimat rod infrared floor. Initially, my husband and I reviewed many other options from different manufacturers. Reviews of the Unimat warm field testified to the fact that it is of high quality, economical and reliable.
Based on this, we bought four running meters and a thermostat. It worked well for two years, but then several rods had to be replaced. The rest of the details work like a clock.

Choosing a model of a warm floor, it's time to get confused: so many different firms and models appear on the market today. There is only one way out: to consider in more detail the leaders in the production of warm floors. For example, the Unimat brand, which appeared relatively recently on the market, and has already caused mixed user reviews.