Heated floor Caleo: the pros and cons

Warm floors allow you to create comfortable temperature conditions indoors during the cold season. Domestic and foreign manufacturers produce many types of such heating systems. The massive demand from consumers use electric underfloor heating Caleo.

The Caleo heating system is a versatile two-layer thermofilm. The carbonic heating elements isolated by a specialized protective layer are built in it.Due to the carbon material deposited on the film, infrared radiation is emitted with a long-range spectrum of exposure. Power is supplied to the system through durable copper conductors. The connection of the film floor to the household power supply (220 V) is performed in a parallel way.

Scope of a heat-insulated floor is wide. It can be mounted both in spacious apartments and houses, and in small-sized rooms. It is recommended for use in bedrooms, children's rooms, kitchens, corridors, bathrooms, medical and childcare facilities. The film is allowed to lay under various floor finishing materials: laminate, linoleum, floorboard and under a different lining.

Caleo company produces several types of floor heating systems in different price segments, differing in their technical characteristics. There are 4 of them:

• Line. Budget kit that is suitable for budget conscious people. The main advantage of the system is the price. Such a warm floor is suitable for apartments with central heating. Among the shortcomings of the system are the lack of a protective anti-spark silver grid and self-regulation functions.
• Grid More expensive option compared to the previous one. Thermofilm is equipped with anti-spark mesh. The system has a large heat transfer, thanks to this property, floor heating takes minimal time.

• Gold. Designed for consumers with high demands on the quality of the system and its functionality. The package includes anti-spark mesh. This floor has a self-regulation system (automatic reduction of electricity consumption with maximum surface heating).
• Platinum. The most expensive and reliable heating system. Designed for heat-sensitive facing flooring materials.

Caleo warm infrared floors have several advantages that contribute to the annual increase in demand for these products.

The main advantages include the following:

• Easy installation. With a minimum of knowledge, it is possible to independently install a floor heating system in a few hours.The heat-insulated floor can be started in work right after laying of a thermofilm.
• Financial benefits. When installing the system there is no need to spend money on the purchase of glue, screed or mastic. In addition, Caleo floors are distinguished by their economical energy consumption. Their energy savings are about 20% compared with heating systems from other manufacturers.

• Security. Thermofilm does not emit radiation harmful to human health.
• Uniform surface heating.
• Resistance to high humidity.
• Silent work.
• Fire resistance Polymers applied on both sides of the film provide excellent electrical insulation and fire resistance. The temperature of the heating elements does not exceed 55 degrees.

• Durability. The system is designed for long uninterrupted operation (at least 10 years). Damage to one or more heating elements will not lead to failure of the entire film.

However, the Caleo infrared system has some drawbacks. The disadvantages include the high cost of construction and the difficulty in the need for repairs.The fact is that the electrical leads are located under the flooring.

Having bought the Caleo floor heating system, in the package the consumer will find:

• thermofilm rolled up;
• contact clips;
• electrical wiring;
• bitumen insulation.

The kit also includes a brochure that gives detailed instructions for installing underfloor heating.

The kit does not include a thermostat and a temperature sensor. They need to be bought separately. Also, to install the system will have to purchase a special film that reflects heat. With it, users of the heating system may not be afraid that not only their floor will be heated, but also the ceiling of their neighbors from below. If the laminate will be laid on the thermal film, it is advisable to buy a substrate that contributes to noise reduction.

Different heating systems have different technical parameters.

Depending on the series, Caleo heated floors have the following characteristics:

• Power ranges from 130 to 280 watts.
• Energy consumption ranges from 39 to 75 W / h.
• Width 0.5-1 m.
• The length of one lane is from 5 to 12 m pog.
• The melting point of the film is 130 degrees (the thermal film included in the budget kit begins to melt at 120 degrees).

The method of installation of Caleo underfloor heating directly depends on the selected finishing flooring material. If parquet or laminate is chosen as the cladding, a polyethylene coating should be used. Its main function is to prevent the ingress of moisture to the heating elements. In order to correctly install the heating structure, it is necessary to put a thermo-reflective film on the subfloor, then - Caleo heating strips, put a polyethylene cover on top. After that you can mount the lining.

When using carpet or linoleum installation technology will be slightly different from the above. In this case, instead of a polyethylene coating it is necessary to put any wood sheet material (fiberboard, plywood). So you can reduce the risk of mechanical damage to the film. Having decided on the type of flooring, you can proceed to the installation of a heated floor.

Installation work is not difficult. Usually, certain difficulties arise at the stage of connecting the system.

Laying warm floor means the following procedure:

• Preparation of tools and materials. To perform the work, you will need construction tape, waterproofing, a set of Caleo system, a heat-reflecting film (any suitable, except aluminum). You also need to stock up on insulating materials.
• Prepare the floor surface. Works include base leveling activities. For this you may need a special mixture.
• Laying of thermofilm on thermotissive material (without air gaps). Installation of the product must be done with utmost care. During laying you need to make sure that the strip is not bent. To prevent damage to the heating elements, the film may be cut only in marked places.

• Installation of the sensor and temperature controller. These devices are designed to control the parameters of heating the floor surface. The sensor is installed on the inside of the film. For proper operation of the thermostat, it must be installed away from furniture.
• Connecting the system to the mains. The stage includes the installation of wiring and its connection to the heating elements. All activities should be carried out only when the power is off. The system can only be switched on after all insulation work.
• Testing. Verification of the system performance is performed prior to installation of the facing coating. Testing will see the correct connection of the film.

The figure shows the general connection scheme for a Caleo floor.

When laying the Caleo floor heating system, you should follow the installation rules prescribed in the instructions. In addition, some errors must be avoided.

So you can not:

• refuse to connect the thermostat;
• use 1 thermostat for several heated rooms;
• mount one thermal film on top of another (this can lead to the failure of the entire system);

• test the system with non-insulated contacts;
• set the temperature on the thermostat greater than 30 degrees.

Thanks to the correct operation of the heated floor and the observance of precautionary measures, you will be able to ensure long and uninterrupted operation of the entire system.

On the products of the company Caleo users leave conflicting reviews. According to some consumers, such floor heaters:

• feature fast and easy styling;
• Safe to use and durable.

Some users told about the shortcomings of warm floors Caleo. In their opinion, the products are overpriced. Also, some users encountered a film fire.

Many buyers note that the disadvantages of warm floors are not immediately apparent. In reviews, it is often written that after the first year of use, some sections stop working, and the floor warms unevenly.

Despite the negative reviews, the Caleo system is in massive demand due to its excellent technical characteristics and affordability.

To learn how to install Caleo under floor heating under laminate and linoleum, see the following video.