How does the radiant (infra-red) heating system work?
On the same principle as the Sun. We all know that warm air flows up. But radiant infra-red heat generated by the Carbon Film, unlike the convection one (a common radiator that heats up air), spreads in all directions and heats up objects in the room. First, it heats up people, then walls or furniture. Air is heated up from the warm objects. Radiant heating is more comfortable for people than the convection heating. And more cost-saving.
When does it pay off to use the Carbon Film?
The solution based on the LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system is best chosen for renovations and especially for new well-insulated buildings, preferably as early as in the designing stage when it is possible to consider and meet all requirements. This is the way to guarantee your satisfaction in all regards.
Why is the Carbon Film better than regular water-based underfloor heating?
The operation cost for our Carbon Film is lower, you do not need any gas or electric boiler or a heat pump. This eliminates facilities requiring regular maintenance. You must neither bear in mind revisions of the chimney nor worry about the plumbing. A great advantage is a much simpler installation and precise regulation.
Why to choose the Carbon Film and not a heating cable?
- The Carbon Film strips are distributed in the floor evenly, without spaces, the heat transfer to the floor surface is therefore effective and in the whole floor area. If there is a heating cable (or a heating mat) you can always feel, where is the meander of the cable – hot and cold places alternate.
- The heating element in the Carbon Film is a carbon surface, which is an electrical resistor heated by passage of electric current. Because carbon is not a metal, the carbon surface is not a source of electromagnetic smog.
- Unlike a heating cable, our heating system can be applied under screed or directly under floating flooring (wooden, laminate or vinyl). Thanks to this, the heat transfer is immediate, and regulation is fast and precise. The speed and accuracy of the regulation are most important for lowering the operational costs.
- In a case of failure, the Carbon Film applied directly under floating flooring is always easily accessible.
- The Carbon Film strips are connected in parallel. It means, when there is a damage, all Carbon Film strips in the room keeps operational without any limitations.
- Thanks to the maximum utilization of floor surface, the heat loss of a room can be compensated by a lower temperature of the heating surface. Smaller temperature difference between the floor surface temperature and the ambient temperature represents less thermal stress for the building structure, faster and more precise regulation and above all greater user comfort.
- Compared to a heating cable, our LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system can be used in a prefabricated floor construction without a wet building process. This concerns prefabricated buildings and timber constructions. In addition, the installation of the Carbon Film is fundamentally simpler and therefore faster for building.
Why to choose the Carbon Film and not an electric boiler?
- The Carbon Film is a local source of heat – the heat is produced directly in the place of need, therefore there are no distribution losses and losses caused by heat transfer between electricity and water. The Carbon Film is more effective.
- Compared to an electric boiler, the Carbon Film heats the whole floor surface and the heat distribution is even.
- Regulation of each room is independent, it is not needed to heat water in the whole system because of one room.
- The Carbon Film can be applied directly under floating flooring. Regulation is then immediate, and the room does not overheat.
- The Carbon Film does not have a boiler, therefore the space in the technical room can be used in a better way.
Why to choose the Carbon Film and not a heat pump?
At present, in a case of a normally sized, well-insulated family house (up to 250m2), a heat pump does not make sense over the Carbon Film. The factual drawbacks of a heat pump are: higher initial investment, almost comparable operational costs, higher system failure rate (compressor, mechanical elements), noise, requirements for a valuable space, lower service life, demands on the investor's own time, both during its installation and operation.
In general, it is absurd to install complex heating systems in today's well-insulated houses when heating can be realized much easily. Our LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system provides comfort by a radiant heating (warm floor). In modern houses with low heat losses its operating costs are very close to a heat pump. Simply put, a well-insulated family house is heated by normal operation, by thermal gains from electrical appliances (mostly kitchens), by warmth of a human body and, of course, by our Carbon Film for “warm feet”. You will be pleasantly surprised by its operational costs.
Is the Carbon Film suitable for flats?
Sure it is! It is suitable for all types of new houses and for quality renovations as well. Often the low height profile of the system is very favourable.
Is the Carbon Film suitable for an older house?
In depends on the ability of the house to hold heat inside. It may be necessary to use the Carbon Film with higher power. We will be happy to analyse your house and prepare a project of the heating system.
Does the Carbon Film fit under PVC, parquet floors, wood or plastic flooring, tiles, vinyl, carpets?
Yes, our heating system can be installed under any flooring if it is certified for underfloor heating. Under all these covers it will work reliably and efficiently.
What if we (or our neighbours) will flood our house?
We do all installations professionally and according to the strictest standards to protect the heating system.
Does it not damage my floor?
The Carbon Film does not reach temperatures that can damage the flooring. Its maximum temperature is also monitored by a thermostat with a floor sensor.
Is the Carbon Film safe for my health?
The heat is basically the same as the Sun’s heat. Compared to convection heating (radiators), less harmful microorganisms are present in the air, due to its lower temperature.
What wavelengths emits the Carbon Film?
Carbon films are, in principle, a low temperature infrared radiator (about 20-50 °C). Radiation is a transmission of electromagnetic energy in a form of waves of different wavelengths. It is caused by excitation of particles.
Carbon films do not visibly radiate. Infrared wavelengths, in which they radiate, are larger than visible light. The infrared wavelength is from 760 nanometres to 1000 microns. The Carbon Film wavelength is about 10 microns. However, this value is influenced by many factors, mostly depending on the flooring. According to Wien's shifting law, the higher is the temperature, the shorter is the maximum intensity wavelength.
Why do I find it cheaper than other heating systems?
Because it's cheaper – cheaper than most of other ways of heating. When considering critical parameters such as investment and operational costs, speed and method of installation, precise and simple regulation, no failures, no maintenance, no chimney and its revisions, no gas, no heat exchanger or other large equipment in your house – you will not find a comparable and equally good alternative for today's modern housing.