Attic heating
Attic - an attic-type room in residential buildings. Engineering communications and attic heating are necessary conditions for the comfortable use of the premises as a bedroom, playroom, nursery, study. The attic heating system solves a number of problems:
- maintains a stable positive temperature in the cold season,
- does not allow freezing of the room,
- prevents the formation of ice and reduce the performance of building and finishing materials.
Properly designed attic heating in the house consumes a minimum amount of energy, does not increase its consumption during the heating season, allows you to regulate the temperature in the room and is responsible for a healthy microclimate.
Attic heating: modern methods
There are several ways to heat the attic in a bathhouse and a country house. The first of them is the connection to the common boiler room of the cottage. A pipeline is laid in the attic, radiators are installed through which the coolant circulates - water heated in the boiler room. When choosing the optimal method of heating the room, it is recommended to take into account the following disadvantages of the attic water heating system:
- The load on the boiler increases: if it was not originally designed to heat the attic, then the temperature in other rooms will drop, and fuel consumption will increase.
- The attic is removed from the boiler: the coolant reaches the attic with a lower temperature, having already given off heat to other rooms. This reduces the efficiency of attic heating, or leads to the need to install a large number of radiators.
Benefits of using solar energy for attic heating
- Autonomy.Heating equipment powered by solar energy does not require an electrical connection or the use of other fuels.
- Ease of installation.Products are installed on the walls or on the roof. Installation is simple and fast, no complex project documentation is required.
- Effective work.Devices maintain a positive attic temperature throughout the autumn-winter period.
Attic heating using solar energy is used in residential buildings in the USA, Canada, Russia, Europe and the CIS.
Attic insulation with sawdust
Sawdust is finely chopped wood.
- naturalness;
- no toxic impurities;
- light weight;
- material availability.
Attic insulation technology with sawdust
before proceeding with the insulation with sawdust, they need to be prepared. Namely, mix cement and water with sawdust in a ratio of 10:1:1.
Pour the attic floor with the finished mixture and level it. It is worth noting that it is possible to use sawdust as a heater without using a frame only in a non-residential attic. Otherwise, when walking on the floor, sawdust will be compressed, and the concrete screed will collapse.
build a cellular structure from a bar. Pour a solution with sawdust into each cell. The advantage of this method is that a subfloor can be laid along the timber. And the attic will be usable
Attic insulation with sawdust
Installation of a heating boiler in the attic
- Is it possible to install heating boilers in the attic and the second floor of the house at all? According to experts, this is not the best option, but in extreme cases, if there is no other way out, you can go for it, observing certain conditions;
- Which boiler can be installed above the first floor of the house? With a closed combustion chamber! It is much safer than the traditional one, although it costs half as much. Condensing boilers are suitable, in which the combustion chamber is always closed. In this case, there will be no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the room will not cool down during the operation of the boiler;
- As for the closed combustion chamber, it is clear, but still, which boiler is ideal for installation in the attic? Wall gas, power up to 30 kW. Such boilers are compact, do not take up little space, they do not need a separate room. The specified power will be quite enough to provide heat in a cottage designed for one family, that is, relatively small. The main thing is that the wall can withstand the weight of the boiler. However, we solve this issue even in frame buildings;
- And if the boiler runs on solid or liquid fuel, not gas, can it be installed in the attic? Theoretically, yes. However, think about how you will maintain the solid fuel boiler on the top floor? You will have to constantly carry briquettes, coal and firewood up the stairs. Yes, and solid fuel boilers weigh a lot, it will be necessary to strengthen the floors. Liquid fuel boilers are noisy and emit an unpleasant odor, so they are absolutely not suitable for installation on upper floors;
- What should be the chimney if the boiler is installed in the attic or second floor? Here there can be problems. In general, the height of the chimney for a gas heating boiler should be at least four meters. Imagine if such a pipe rises above your roof. This can ruin the look of the house. You can get rid of the need to build such a high chimney if you choose a boiler with a closed combustion chamber, which has a coaxial pipe. For boilers with a power of up to 30 kW, which we recommend for installation in attics and second floors, it is possible to lead the chimney directly through the outer wall. The outlet of the pipe in this case should be located at a height of 2.5 meters from the ground, but in the case of an attic, this is not a problem. The nearest window from the chimney through the wall must be at least half a meter;
- What should be the heating system if the boiler is installed above the ground floor? Closed! This is a prerequisite. With an open heating system, when the circulation of fluid in the system occurs naturally, all heaters are located above the boiler itself. In the case of installation in the attic or second floor, this condition for the normal operation of the heating system cannot be sustained. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to install a circulation pump, which will become part of a closed heating system at home;
- Will natural ventilation be sufficient for an attic boiler? In general, yes. But for greater reliability and safety, experts advise making a non-closing hole 30 centimeters from the floor. An exhaust vent is made under the ceiling. The total area of such ventilation should be at least 200 square centimeters.
We state: a wall-mounted gas boiler with a closed combustion chamber and a circulation pump, in addition, can be safely installed and used in the attic or second floor of a private house. published by econet.ru
If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project here.
Attic life under the roof
Usually the attic becomes such a favorite place in the house that there is a desire to spend time in it not only in summer, but also when there is severe frost outside the windows. Therefore, often the owners of attic houses need to conduct heating in the upper part of the house. You can provide good heating in different ways, not forgetting that the attic should already be insulated.
Connection to the heating system of the lower floor
In this case, the whole house will be heated by one system. If before this the parameters of the pump and boiler were calculated only for their use on the same floor, the equipment should be replaced with a more powerful one. The necessary components are additionally brought to the attic from the basic heating system - pipes and radiators, and with air heating - air ducts.
Electrical devices
It is not economical to use old-style electrical appliances due to the high energy consumption, which is not cheap. Modern electric convectors allow you to reduce costs. Their installation is not difficult: you just need to choose a place for the device and connect it to the mains. Energy saving is carried out due to the fact that the convector does not work constantly.
Wall type electric convector for your attic
The owner sets the temperature indicator to which the air should heat up. When the device's sensors detect that the temperature has reached this level, the convector turns off until the indicators drop. However, it should be borne in mind that more than one such device may be needed to heat the attic, and this will create an additional load on the wiring and increase costs.
Fireplace heating
Deciding to use this heating option, you need to remember that the weight of the fireplace is not small. Therefore, the floor at its location will have to be strengthened. To reduce pressure on the ceiling, it is recommended to use a fireplace with light pipes in the attic.
The fireplace in the attic also performs a decorative function.
You also need to be prepared for the fact that using a fireplace as a heating agent in the attic, you will have to constantly bring heavy fuel to the attic floor and carry down its waste, making additional efforts.
Heating system
The method consists in creating a system designed only for heating the attic. This option is suitable for attic conditions, especially if a stove is used to heat the first floor, or it is not possible to connect to the main heating line of the house.
In a heating scheme of this type, the main place is occupied by a boiler that runs on any available fuel. Other elements of the system are pumping equipment, a complex that provides air intake and output of waste products, pipelines, necessary fittings.
The heating boiler in the attic looks very good
It is important to decide on the choice of the type of circulation. If it is natural, then it is assumed that there is no pump that consumes energy, which is an advantage.
But at the same time, this option has many disadvantages, including an increased diameter of pipelines, indispensable observance of slopes, and certain difficulties in management.
It is most convenient to use a two-pipe scheme in the attic with a pump that provides forced circulation - it will contribute to the optimal distribution of heat.
Warm floor
This system is based on the property of warm air to rise. Thus, you can make the floors in the attic truly functional! Heating is carried out due to the uniform distribution of heat transfer components in the floor space. They can be electrical cables or pipes containing heated water.
Cables are mounted with any type of coverage. If the floor is wooden, a layer of thermal insulation is placed between the lags, a grid with a laid cable is suspended above it. A coating is laid on top. Cable heating is a good option for use in the attic.
Installation of underfloor heating in the attic
The water method of heating the attic is used less frequently. This is due to the creation of a large load on the floor. To support the weight of the entire heating system, the floor must be concrete. A boiler is used as a source of water. Such a system is often used for autonomous heating.
Thus, the owners of the attic have the opportunity to choose the appropriate way to maintain heat, which will help create coziness and comfort.
We heat the attic or how to make heating in a house with an attic correctly
There are two ways to use a country house - to live in it periodically, for example, only in the summer, or permanently.Today we will analyze the second option, in particular, we will focus on projects with an attic floor. In this case, you will need efficient heating for the attic, which can be autonomous or connected to the general heating system of the house. Let's consider it in more detail.
In the photo - methods of heating the attic floor
Training
In any case, we will first need to properly insulate the attic, otherwise the cost of heating it will be very high. Since the floor is located in direct contact with the roof, it is necessary to carry out work on its thermal insulation.
- mineral wool,
- polyurethane foam,
- polystyrene class G1,
- foamed polymers.
Advice: treat the attic insulation with special attention, the better you do it, the more comfortable living conditions on it, and you will also have to spend less money on additional heating. High-quality heating is impossible without proper roof insulation
High-quality heating is impossible without proper roof insulation
Heating system selection
If the house is just being built, it is necessary to provide for the heating of the attic floor at the design stage. However, as construction practice shows, most often they turn the attic into an additional living area after the completion of all work.
In this case, you can not do without additional costs associated with wiring the necessary communications and choosing the best option for heating the room:
- underfloor heating system
- fireplace installation,
- autonomous heating system, the price of which may be different,
- connection of the floor to the finished heating system of the house.
Do-it-yourself attic heating using infrared panels
What to look out for
Whatever you choose, you must first develop a heating system project, in which you should try to take into account all the design features of the building, the need for materials, their cost and quantity.
The heating scheme of a cottage with an attic will allow you to understand:
- where to install the necessary equipment,
- how to arrange pipes so that you can get the maximum effect from the distribution,
- Where is the best place to ventilate?
The general scheme of heating a house with an attic
Feel free to seek help from experts to get a safe and efficient system. Although, if you have certain abilities and the necessary materials, you can do the heating of the attic floor with your own hands.
- boiler,
- circulation pump,
- pipelines,
- systems for supplying air and removing products of combustion of fuel.
The heating boiler should be selected depending on the availability and ease of use of certain types of fuel. Its power must correspond to the size of the room. You can calculate them yourself or get from experts.
Tip: the standard calculation of heating power is 1 kW per 10 m 2. In this case, the height of the ceilings is assumed to be 2.5-2.7 m.
Stove or fireplace
A great option for a heat source in the attic, which can also become an interior decoration. It remains to solve the main question before arranging the fireplace - whether the floors will withstand it, since the structure has a significant weight. It may be necessary to carry out work to strengthen them.
The use of a fireplace as a heat source
Tip: It is possible to reduce the load through the use of metal pipes and light refractory bricks.
You can also purchase ready-made structures made of cast iron or steel. Such stoves-fireplaces are able to make a comfortable room temperature up to 200m2.
- objects of increased fire risk,
- the arrangement requires the use of non-combustible materials in the interior, properly installed chimneys and high-quality ventilation.
Tip: to reduce the risk of fire, install the structures from the walls at some distance or place them in the middle of the room.
Using an electric fireplace does not require much maintenance and is safer, although electricity will increase heating costs. To reduce them, you can install convectors that will automatically turn off after reaching a certain temperature in the room.
Installation of a steel convector for water heating
A house with an attic floor has a great appearance and can be used year-round or occasionally. A properly executed heating system allows you to create a comfortable temperature in the room under the roof.
Features of the event
Usually in a cold attic only the ceiling is insulated. Then the roof truss system is left open so that it is possible to freely inspect it and correct the problems that have arisen. If you insulate the roof with mineral wool, then this already turns out to be an attic, which can be used for a different purpose than the attic.
It is very important that the insulation is done correctly, otherwise condensation will form. Accumulating on the ceiling, moisture will seep through the floors
Mold and fungus may appear. And the rafters will rot from the inside.
When using mineral wool as a heater, consider its weight. The ceiling, floors must withstand the expected load with a margin, the design must be reliable.
On the video insulation of the attic floor with mineral wool, instructions:
When planning work, make calculations: how much material do you need to purchase? Its quantity depends on the area on which the material will be laid and the number of layers. The thickness of the thermal insulation layer depends on the climate of the region.
Step by step instructions
First, prepare the "territory", clean the ceiling from possible debris, thyrses. The metal elements of the roof should be painted with oil paint so that condensation does not accumulate on them.
Then the lining material is laid on the floor, as a vapor barrier layer. If it is not there, the mineral wool will absorb all the moisture from the warm, moist air that rises from the living rooms.
Over time, it will lose its thermal insulation qualities. A budget option is to use glassine, a vapor barrier film will cost more. You need to lay it a little overlap, fix the joints (glue with tape or fix with wooden slats).
Lay mineral wool tightly between the logs, without gaps and cracks. The joints of the material also need to be glued with tape. 
Lay clean, dry, even boards on top of the logs. They will be the floor in the attic. And the mineral wool will be ventilated, "breathe" under them, dry out in case of moisture.
Such laying is sufficient if waterproofing material is laid under the roof and there are no gaps in the attic.
If there is no waterproofing material under the roof, then it is worth covering the heat-insulating mineral insulation with a vapor barrier. The easiest way is to attach a plastic film with thin transverse bars.
Mineral wool is ideal for warming wooden floors. You can use any type: in rolls or in slabs. Choose the material of the desired density, follow the installation instructions, then the room will be warm and comfortable for a long time.
Types and characteristics
The material is obtained from molten blast-furnace slag, stone (rocks) or glass. By structure, these fibers are thin, randomly arranged villi, from 2 to 60 mm long. This insulation is produced in the form of mats or plates. In order for the fibers to be better linked to each other, the plates are additionally impregnated with special oil (to repel moisture) and phenol alcohol.
Depending on the origin, they differ:
- Glass wool. It is made from a molten mixture of broken glass, sand, limestone, soda. The fibers are 15-50 mm long, and their thickness is 5-15 microns. The material is chemically resistant, difficult to ignite (withstands up to +500 ° C).
Stone wool.For its manufacture, gabbro-basalt rocks are melted. The thickness of the fibers is 4-12 microns, and they are up to 16 mm long. It heats up, without igniting, up to 300 o C.
Insulation of a cold attic with mineral wool
A vapor barrier is placed under the mineral wool.
To insulate the ceiling of a cold attic with mineral wool, you can take material of any density, from low to high. In this case, it is still preferable to dwell on lighter materials so as not to create additional loads on the beams. Some experts are inclined to believe that glass wool is better suited for attic insulation with mineral wool than stone wool. The latter is too brittle, and it has considerable weight. They also read: “Which insulation to choose for walls and ceilings“.
As you already understood, the insulation of the cold attic of a private house with mineral wool is carried out by laying thermal insulation between the supporting beams directly on the draft ceiling of the first floor. Due to the high hygroscopicity of mineral wool, a vapor barrier film must be used. In principle, even plain polyethylene can be used. There will be no special loads on the film and with careful installation it will not tear. To be completely sure of the reliability of the protective layer, you need to use a polypropylene vapor barrier reinforced with fiberglass mesh.
Attic insulation with mineral wool, technology:
- load-bearing beams are sewn up from below - this is the draft ceiling of the first floor;
- from the side of the attic, a vapor barrier is laid on the rough coating;
- mineral wool is placed on top of the film.
The vapor barrier tapes must overlap, the joints are glued with double-sided tape. Mineral wool is placed at random so that there are no cold bridges at the junction of the insulation to the beams.
Insulation of a cold attic with mineral wool is always preceded by a calculation of the thickness of the thermal insulation. In any case, the layer will be at least 10 cm. Mineral wool is produced with a thickness of 5 cm or more. It is better to lay the thermal insulation in two layers with offset joints. This will eliminate the possibility of heat loss through the joints of the mineral wool sheets.
After insulating the attic floor with mineral wool, you can immediately lay the floor on top of the beams. It is advisable to close the insulation with waterproofing before this - a material that does not allow water to pass through, while passing steam, but only in one direction
It is important not to confuse which side to lay the waterproofing, otherwise moisture will accumulate in the mineral wool, as a result of which the thermal conductivity of the material will increase significantly
It is quite possible to use a fireplace for heating a country house. To do this, a heat exchanger is built in above the furnace.
Read about how to choose the size of brackets for radiators here.
Insulation of heating pipes in the basement Pipes and plumbing
The cost of heating a house increases every year. Each owner is looking for ways to save money: the boiler turns on periodically, or it constantly works only at a minimum, and so on. The use of such methods leads to a significant decrease in the temperature in the house. But few people think about how efficiently the residential area is heated, because most of the heat is lost on the way to it.
If heat loss can be minimized, then the rooms will warm up better and faster, so the boiler will not need to work continuously, and it will be possible to resort to savings without compromising the temperature. Since boilers are often located in basements and other utility rooms, we will consider how to insulate heating pipes in the basement and other possible places for the system to pass through.
Is it necessary to insulate heating pipes and what does it give?
Thermal insulation for heating pipes allows you to:
reduce heat loss in places where pipes run along the ground, are installed by air (ground) or located in an unheated room;
prevent freezing of the liquid, which is the coolant (freezing is fraught with a pipe break);
reducing the likelihood of corrosion on the pipe surface (for metal pipelines);
saving money on home heating.
