Is it possible to put a carpet on a heated floor?

At first it was warm. Beauty came later. This is how we can briefly outline the history of the evolution of carpets - a covering designed to protect the feet of residents from the coolness of the floor. Aesthetics come to the fore only when the need for the thermal insulation properties of a decorative element of the interior disappears. Taking this into account, it would seem that the issue with a carpet on a warm floor has been resolved. But alas, not everything is so simple.

Initial data

The evolution of heating devices has led to the fact that the variety of heating systems forces you to seriously think about choosing one of them. This also affected warm floors, among which are:

• stationary, mounted under a finishing coating with high thermal conductivity (special heat-resistant laminate, ceramic tile);
• mobile, placed on top of the floor in any convenient place.

Among the former, there are water and electric heating systems. A distinctive feature of the latter is uneven heating, smoother temperature control and compatibility with auto control sensors. The range of mobile options comes down to cable, carbon or film models, which require additional protection from mechanical stress.

Carpets, regardless of the material from which they are made, can also be divided into two large categories:

• warm - characterized by low thermal conductivity, which is achieved due to the dense structure and long pile;
• decorative - not protecting from the cold, thin or thick, but openwork, with large holes.

The answer to the question “is it possible” to lay a carpet on a warm floor depends precisely on the combination of these two variables.

Under what circumstances is it impossible

If stationary underfloor heating is installed as the main heating system, then additional thermal insulation by the floor covering will reduce its effectiveness. Especially when it comes to large thick carpets or rugs. Moreover, such a serious obstacle will worsen the heat dissipation from the heating elements. And if water systems have a sufficient safety margin for this case, then electric ones can simply burn out.

The other side of the coin is the safety of the carpet. In winter, when the heating system is operating at full capacity, synthetics and carpet simply cannot withstand the load - the canvas becomes deformed and discolored. Natural materials also suffer from such treatment, but are quite capable of “living” longer than electric heating elements.

If you really can’t bear it, you can lay a carpet and connect a temperature control sensor under it to the heating. This way you can avoid damage to property. But you will have to forget about home comfort in winter frosts - the furniture will not be covered with frost, but there will be no warmth in the house.

When is it possible

Small decorative rugs near upholstered furniture are always allowed. Cloths occupying a large area on a heated floor are permissible only if they have high thermal conductivity. And even then, it is better to choose durable mats or openwork fabrics made from natural materials - synthetics will not last long.

As for mobile heated floors, they need a carpet - this is the very protection from mechanical impact.True, you should still not use options that are too dense and fluffy - with such a coating, the efficiency of the heaters is reduced, and their circuitry requires the connection of automatic thermostats. The best option is heat-resistant synthetics or natural fabrics of medium density. Let's say short pile. But it is better to avoid bright colors and patterns - it is unknown whether the dye will withstand the temperature test.