Comfort Heat – Tile Heat supply and install Devi electric heating systems. European made, DEVI is Australia’s leading brand in intelligent electric floor heating systems, offering a full range of high performing, long-lasting cables, mats and thermostats. DEVI sets the bar high as one of the most respected names in electric floor heating and a global leader in heating solutions.
Having underfloor heating means any room can be designed with elegant simplicity. The electric radiant floor heating systems are recognised around the world as safe, silent and very comfortable, providing practical luxury in any room. DEVI develops, manufactures and markets complete systems containing heating cables and thermostats. DEVI is high performance, greater comfort, optimum reliability and usability, and correspondingly low energy consumption.
DEVI Intelligent Electric Floor Heating
DEVI Electric floor heating goes particularly well under hard floor surfaces and does not take up valuable floor space. One of the great advantages of floor heating in bathrooms is that heat is not lost in the exhaust air, as seen with convection heating. This form of heating is hidden from view and considerably reduces the amount of traveling dust particles which is naturally a great relief to allergy and asthma sufferers.
The DEVI Thermostats allow you to heat specific rooms independently and can be programmed to automatically meet your weekday and weekend lifestyle. Pure comfort is far from the only reason to choose DEVI floor heating. DEVI offers flexibility, durability, minimal energy consumption and comes with a warranty that is second to none.
How it works:
Systems: DEVImat in tile adhesive, In-Screed, In-Slab, Under Timber
Depending on the application and personal preference of the home owner, either of these systems can be installed using loose cables or mats. There are generally three different systems that can suit particular design requirements:
Electric Heating Cables in TILE ADHESIVE
- Under tile heating consists of a thin heating cable pre-laid on a self-adhesive fibreglass mesh. It sits in the glue or levelling screed which then becomes heated and warms the floor covering. Cables can be placed in a tile adhesive of at least 5 – 15 mm depending on the design requirements of the room and the personal preference of the home owner. An ideal option for retrofit and new construction projects, this “on-demand” system is quick to respond to a change in the thermostatic reading. Located immediately under the heated surface, it tends to be the fastest floor heating system on the market. One thing to keep in mind with this particular system is that installation costs can be a bit on the high side, but running costs have the potential to be quite low.
Electric Heating Cables in SCREED BED
- In screed heating consists of heating cables fixed on top of the floor structure using a light steel mesh or fixing strips. The cables are embedded in a sand/cement bed which then becomes heated and warms the floor covering. In screed heating is considered to be a ‘direct’ acting system although it does have some storage. This system is the best option for rooms that have some flexibility in the height of the floor. Typically embedded in 20-30 mm of screed, usually at the time of construction, these systems can raise the floor of an existing room by 30 mm in addition to the floor tile. The benefit to this system lies in its ability to hold the heat for a much longer period of time when compared with an adhesive system. Generally speaking, these systems take up to 1.5 hrs. to heat up and will give off heat for the same period of time once the system has been turned off. This system works well for areas that are irregularly shaped and installation is recommended by a trained professional.
Electric Heating Cables in CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB (“storage system”)
- In slab heating consists of heating cable that is typically fixed to the top layer of the slab reinforcement, prior to the slab being poured. The heating cables heat up the slab, in turn warming the floor covering above. Cables are laid on the top mesh in about 30-40 mm of concrete and run during off-peak hours to cut energy costs and maximize the efficiency of the system. During peak hours, the system runs on the stored energy accumulated during off-peak hours. This system is usually used in new construction before the slab is laid.
Electric Heating Cables WITH INSULATION FOR UNDER FLOATING TIMBER FLOORS
- This system consists of heating cables that are fixed to an insulated panel that is specifically designed to spread the cable out at 100 mm centres. Recommended for use under manufactured floating timber floors, the panel’s polystyrene insulation ensures that any heat loss downwards is minimized and its aluminium surface ensures a uniform distribution of heat transfer to the timber floor.
* We highly recommend the use of MARMOX insulation beneath the heating element. This is to improve warm up times and reduces running cost.
Application
Electric floor heating is ideal for bathrooms, ensuites and laundry rooms. It works perfectly under floor coverings such as marble, stone, slate and all varieties of tiles. It’s also fabulous under carpet and timber floors. Please note that if used under carpet, cables must be laid in a sand/cement bed or levelling screed.
Installation
The installation of an electric floor heating system is generally straight forward, although depending on the system, the level of complexity can vary. It is very important that care is taken during the install. It is very important that care is taken during the install to avoid cutting or damaging the cable in any way.
Maintenance
Electric floor heating systems are virtually maintenance free so long as they have been properly installed at the front end with no damages to the cables. If the cable damage is minor, more often than not it can be easily fixed. Once they have been installed, good quality cables have a lifespan of upwards of thirty years.
Cost
Electric floor heating is a cost-effective heating solution when properly used. The upfront cost of an electric system can be much less than that of a hydronic floor heating system. Here is an example of running cost, please note it depends on the electricity plan. Here is an equation that we use for a rough approximate based on the charges on our electricity bill:
watts X rate during biggest peak = running costs per hour
Example:
Bathroom 1 (3m2) uses 450 w = $0.18 per hour approx
Bathroom 2 (4m2) uses 600 w = $0.24 per hour approx
Thermostats
Another factor in ensuring the highest efficiency of your floor heating system is a high quality thermostat. They will allow you to heat specific rooms or areas independently or program them to automatically meet your weekday and weekend lifestyle. You can select from manual or programmable thermostats or incorporate a mix of the two if preferred. A good quality thermostat will allow for greater control over temperature, zoning and timing making it easy for you to make the most out of your floor heating system.