Trench heaters - types, construction, application | We are building a house

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Trench heaters are a type of convectors that are installed in channels in the floor. They work quickly and effectively. The system of heating channels located along large glazing heats the cool air penetrating into the room, and also forms a kind of curtain of warm air, additionally drying the windows - prevents them from fogging up. The only visible element is the platform (grid), fitted into the floor.

Certain types of equipment can be used as a room cooling system as long as they are equipped with the appropriate function.

Infographics: Advantages of trench heaters

If you plan to install such heaters, deep ducts must be prepared already during screeding, and when arranging interiors - remember not to place any barrier in front of them that would hinder the flow of heated air. Such an obstacle can be not only buildings, but also heavy furniture. For example, a lounge corner, separating the relaxation area from the dining area, will stand in the way of heat movement.

The elements of the duct system are the tub, exchanger, platform and its frame.

Construction of the canal system. (photo: REGULUS®-system)

The right place for a trench heater

Trench heaters are usually designed along windows and doors overlooking the terrace and along all other glazed parts of building walls .

It is optimal to arrange these devices so that their length exceeds the width of the glazing along which they will operate. Duct convectors are also installed in corners and along internal walls of rooms.

They are usually designed in a living room with glass walls or wide terrace windows, in a vestibule with a high non-opening fixation and wherever there is no underfloor heating and it is not possible to use wall heaters.

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It is assumed that the distance of a trench heater from a glazed partition (e.g. leading to a terrace) should be 20-30 cm.

Trench heaters are most often planned in rooms with wide glazing reaching the floor. (photo by Verano)

Duct exchanger

The duct exchanger consists of two systems: water and heat dissipation. The first one is a copper exchanger - a package of evenly spaced, horizontal heating pipes, connected at the ends with collective collectors. The second one consists of vertical slats made of aluminum sheet, combined with horizontal copper pipes. They form dense ribbing of pipes and form convection channels.

Bathtub

The bathtub is made of galvanized sheet metal painted with paint. Each such element is equipped with a height adjustment system that facilitates its correct setting in relation to the height of the floor. When making the screed, assembly spacers should be used to avoid deformation of the sheet metal tub by the pressing screed.

Shallow bathtubs (8 cm) can also be installed in the ceiling between floors.

Platform

Openwork platforms are made as rigid or folded, wooden (oak or beech) and aluminum. The rungs are arranged across the channel axis. They can have different shapes, e.g. bones, slats. The distance between the rungs is from a few to several mm. Roll-up variants facilitate access to the inside of the channel during cleaning, as well as storage after replacing it with an after-season platform. Versions with rungs arranged along the channel axis are available on request.

Wooden ones are protected with colorless varnish. They are offered with a width of 25, 30, 35 cm and a length of 60-500 cm (every 10 cm). In general, you can order a grate in any color at no extra charge. The varieties finished with metallic and structural paints are not much more expensive.

Wooden platform with bone-shaped slats (photo REGULUS®-system)

Aluminum platforms are painted silver as standard or a color selected from the RAL palette. They can be anodized. It is an electrochemical process consisting in the production of an aluminum oxide layer on their surface, which increases resistance to corrosion, abrasion and chemical agents. There are several color versions to choose from, e.g. inox, black.

Aluminum platforms are available, for example, in widths of 25, 30, 35 cm and lengths of 60-350 cm (every 10 cm). (photo REGULUS®-system)

After the end of the heating season - the openwork platform is replaced with a full one, which completely covers the channel and protects its interior against dirt. It is filled with the material from which the floor is made.

Roll-up platforms facilitate access to the inside of the channel during cleaning. (photo REGULUS®-system) Rigid openwork platform. (photo by Jaga) Full platform. (photo REGULUS®-system)GuideDo you value our advice? Get the latest updates every Thursday!

Fan models

As heat pumps and other low temperature heat sources become more popular, fanned trench heaters are getting more attention.

They work dynamically - they enable quick start and stop of heating, as well as easy control of its intensity. For their operation to be effective, the heated air should leave the heating channel as soon as possible.

Forcing the air movement by a fan placed in the duct, working quietly, significantly increases the heating power of the set. In addition, this element allows the use of a smaller, shallower radiator and functioning with variable dynamics (speed regulation). The power of the fans ranges from a few to several watts. However, the noise level of their operation at a distance of 1 m above the radiator is approx. 20 dB (whisper limit).

Trench heater with a fan. (photo REGULUS®-system)

Usage

The accumulation of dust and other impurities in the niche for the trench heater is not a problem, because they are designed in such a way that after removing the platform (covering grille) they can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. However, outside the winter season, when heating is not needed, but we often use the exit to the terrace, the niche is covered with a tight plug, matching the floor covering. The radiator is therefore protected against sand and other impurities brought on shoes from the garden.

The second potentially significant problem is the so-called dust scorching. Indeed, under the influence of contact with a heated surface, the dust is baked, becoming an even stronger allergen. However, in practice, this problem only affects old installations with very high water temperatures.

Dust and other impurities accumulating in the niche for the radiator are removed with a vacuum cleaner after removing the platform. (photo Verano) Corner trench heater (photo on the left) and in the shape of an arch (photo on the right). (photo by Kermi)

Editor: Joanna Dąbrowskaphoto. opening: REGULUS®-system