10 best manufacturers of warm water floors

According to many reputable experts, objectively the best floor heating was and remains water. Let it be the most difficult to install, but in terms of reliability, durability and economy it has no equal. Does this mean that any kit purchased from the first available company will faithfully serve 50 or more years? Judging by the reviews, not at all. Leaks, flooding, damage to the finish, new repairs - this is far from an exhaustive list of the problems that hapless customers face. To protect yourself from the negligence of the manufacturer, check out the rating of those who diligently earned a good reputation and is ready to provide a guarantee for their products.

Top 10 best brands of warm water floors from different materials

10 Valtec

The range of the Russian company, the production of which, judging by the information on the site, is located in Italy, includes all the necessary components for the arrangement of the heated floor. Under the brand name “Valtek”, pipes from metal-polymer (on professional slang - metapol), cross-linked polyethylene, coated with EVOH, and heat-resistant polyethylene PE-RT, as well as mixing equipment, fittings, distribution and control modules are supplied to Russia. The brand favorably differs from the “thoroughbred” foreign competitors by the cost of the products offered, the provision of ready-made standard solutions, the development of the distribution network (goods are offered in more than 10 thousand retail stores).

It should be noted, and a high level of technical support for the company. Valuable educational materials in the form of technical literature, articles and videos have been provided to the attention of customers, partners and employees. Regularly (in 2018 only, we have counted more than 20 invitations to study on the company's website), seminars and webinars are held in different cities of the country, where all interested parties can attend. The company provides a 10-year warranty for its products, and insures its responsibility in VSK.

9 Sanext

Another manufacturer from Russia, which adheres to the traditional technologies for this industry. Its polymer pipelines have been used in construction for more than 12 years, and thanks to a developed dealer network, they can be purchased and serviced in almost all regions of the country. At the heart of engineering systems of a heat-insulated floor - pipes from polyethylene PE-Xa, crosslinked by peroxide method (at the moment it is considered the best).Due to the high degree of crosslinking, this material is highly flexible (bending diameter - 10 cm), durability (working pressure can reach 8–10 bar) and resistance to thermal effects (short-term temperature rise of the heat carrier up to 110 ° is allowed).

To reduce the diffusion of oxygen through the walls of pipes, the manufacturer has provided EVOH protection, which reduces gas permeability to a minimum and thereby prolongs the service life of the floor heating system. Another advantage of the company is brass fittings and sleeves. According to reviews from the construction and repair forums, earlier the Santext pipes were watched with disbelief - the price difference was alarming. But now there is already a positive experience in their operation, and letters of recommendation on the company's website from serious developers inspire confidence.

8 Neptun

Do you think there are eternal systems of warm water floors? The Russian manufacturer SST is sure of this to the extent that it provides a lifetime warranty on its products. And all because it is the only company in Russia that launched mass production of corrugated pipes made of stainless steel AISI 304 (analog 08Х18Н10). Unlike plastic pipes, "stainless steel" gives excellent heat transfer, is not afraid of defrosting, water hammer, can be laid in a concrete screed and can withstand heavy flooring. According to the characteristics, it is comparable to copper, and at a price is available as polyethylene.

The company also provides a complete solution with all the necessary components: fittings, circulation pump, heat-insulating mats, etc. You can design the system parameters and select the appropriate equipment directly on the company's website. To do this, there is a program specially developed by the engineers of CCT, which the user only needs to specify the geometric and temperature parameters of the room, as well as specify the floor “cake”. As a result, a potential buyer with minimal time costs gets an accurate idea of ​​the configuration of the future underfloor heating and its cost.

7 Wavin Ekoplastik

In the responses about the possibility of using polypropylene pipes in the systems of water heated floors, we often met with negative opinions - they say that the thermal conductivity of polypropylene is too low, and its flexibility leaves much to be desired. This is completely true for regular polypropylene. However, Wavin Ekoplastik manufactures 4th generation polypropylene pipes, which are marked as PP-RCT and are characterized by high strength, heat resistance and a melting point increased to 170 ° C.

As a result, pipes from the Czech manufacturer can withstand a more rigid temperature regime (the maximum long-term temperature is 110 ° with a permissible short-term increase by an additional 20 °). The unique strength properties of the material allow you to set a smaller circumference and wall thickness and thereby increase their capacity without compromising the durability of the system. Remains pleasant and its value. The only thing is that PP-RCT pipes look no different from ordinary polypropylene pipes, so we recommend buying warm floors at a trusted store.

6 Henco

The basis of Henco floor water heating systems is the multilayer construction of metal-plastic pipes, the quality and service life of which most users have no complaints. They are made of a butt-welded thin-walled aluminum pipe with an inner and outer PE-Xc plastic sheath.The aluminum layer with a thickness of 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm is responsible for increasing the flexibility and thermal conductivity, while the multi-layer overall ensures the impermeability of the walls of the pipes for oxygen and, accordingly, eliminates the occurrence of corrosion in the system.

The Russian market has a full range of underfloor heating components, which the company offers to understand with the help of technical support and advice from experienced design personnel. All products have been tested in the laboratory of the University of Stuttgart and have been certified by the German system of DIN standards, and also received certificates from other European institutes and associations. Unfortunately, in stores there are often imitations of this brand, so when you buy you need to remember that Henco is made exclusively in Belgium.

5 Prandelli

"Expensive, but reliable" - so they say in reviews about the warm floors from the largest European manufacturer Prandelli. One of the most sought-after products in its range is Prandelli Multyrama pipes. They are produced exclusively in Italy and consist of two layers of polyethylene PE-Xb, between which lies a thin aluminum tube with a thickness of 0.2 mm. PE-Xb material is valued for its high resistance to chlorine and oxidation and excellent strength properties. The aluminum layer is designed to compensate for the thermal expansion of polyethylene and prevent the penetration of oxygen into the coolant.

The next important component of water floor heating - fittings. All connecting elements from Prandelli - couplings, tees, elbows, press clamps - consist of brass, which is still considered by professionals to be the best material to ensure the reliability and durability of the connection. Thus, the use of "native" components increases the tightness and durability of the system as a whole.

4 Aquatherm

The German company Aquaterm was founded in 1973, initially focused on the production of warm water floors and at that time was one of the three leading suppliers to Europe. Already, its range includes plastic pipes for various purposes, and the manufacturer itself remains an innovator in this field and is developing new and new products. Thus, in the surface heating systems Aquatherm Orange uses two innovative materials - high-temperature polyethylene (PE-RT) and polybutene (PB).

Pipes from both polymers are designed for arranging floor, wall, ceiling heating and cooling, but differ in physical and mechanical properties. Polyethylene with RT marking is characterized by long-term hydrostatic strength at high temperatures, and polybutene is famous for its increased flexibility and resistance to mechanical abrasion. Such a valuable set of properties allows laying warm floors with a minimum bend radius, raising the internal temperature to 90 ° C (up to 60 ° - for polybutene) under pressure up to 10 bar. The company gives a guarantee of 10 years with the condition of free replacement of pipes and fittings in the event of their failure, although in reality they have been serving for over 50 years.

3 Rehau

Even people far from the topic of construction and repair know this trademark. 60 years ago, car materials were produced under it, including for the legendary Volkswagen Beetle, and today Rehau specializes in the development and production of tens of thousands of varieties of goods. The company was one of the first to produce pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene - lightweight, resistant to the formation of plaque, with high mechanical strength and resistance to hydraulic shocks. Thanks to these properties, they are able to serve from 50 to 100 years.

The only weak point of this material is the diffusion of oxygen through the walls into the coolant and the accelerated destruction of the steel elements of the floor heating system, for example, the heat exchanger of the heating boiler.To eliminate the risk of premature equipment breakdown, the company has provided a protective layer that prevents air from getting inside and thereby prolongs the service life. Testimonials claim that the installation of Rehau Rautherm S pipes does not take much time and effort, and the well-thought-out technology makes it possible to obtain highly reliable hermetic connections in 3 steps.

2 Wieland

The company "Wieland" has gone from the bell workshop, founded in the XVII century, to the global manufacturer of copper products. For floor heating, its employees have developed a special design of a copper pipe in a plastic sheath PE-RT. As a result of this combination, they achieved unprecedented mechanical strength, flexibility and durability. Cuprotherm CTX copper pipes, even at high coolant temperature, withstand a working pressure of over 30 bar (!), Can bend under a radius of 5.5 to 8 cm (pipe bender) or 8 to 14 cm (manually), and also have 100% gas tightness and unlimited service life.

Another feature of them is that standard press-fittings for metal-plastic products can be used for the connection, so the installation of a heated floor presents no difficulties. Nevertheless, in view of the specifics of the material, the arrangement of the system should not be trusted to random individuals, and even more so, it is not necessary to undertake an independent installation without proper knowledge. Only with the strict observance of the rules for the assembly and operation of copper pipelines will they serve without fail for many years.

1 Uponor

The oldest of the companies in this ranking (in 2018, the company celebrated its century), Uponor is currently considered one of the best in the field of heating, cooling and water supply. After the takeover of the Swedish concern Wirsbo - a pioneer in the production of cross-linked polyethylene - it began to produce the widest range of high-quality pipes, connectors and installation tools. In the manufacture of fittings, the company uses traditional and modern corrosion-resistant materials - bronze, brass, polysulfone. The latter is not inferior to brass in quality, but at the same time it is 2-3 times cheaper, which accordingly affects the price of fittings.

For quick and easy pipe installation, Quick & Easy, Quick & Easy Master and Wipex connection systems have been developed. Their technologies make it possible to connect two pipes within 15 s, to carry out work even in hard-to-reach places and to obtain a sealed joint with a 50-year service life. A simple installation procedure not only ensures high reliability of the entire system, but also leads to a reduction in labor costs, and hence its total cost.

Popular vote - who is the best manufacturer of warm water floors
We vote!

Valtec

Sanext

Neptun

Wavin Ekoplastik

Henco

Prandelli

Aquatherm

Rehau

Wieland

Uponor

Total votes: 23

Vote results