Electric underfloor heating (UFH) is becoming more and more popular, especially for people restoring or renovating their own homes. However, it can be very disruptive to a home, business or commercial premises when things go wrong with the system. Thankfully, the vast majority of problems can be fixed without the need to lift and replace flooring. The first step in troubleshooting a problem is to check the power is still running through your underfloor heating. This can be done by checking the fuse or circuit breaker for the heating system has not tripped or blown. If this is not the case, you may be experiencing a thermostat issue.
There are a variety of reasons for this, including a sensor wire being disconnected or the thermostat being incorrectly programmed. It is important to ensure that you have the right settings set on the thermostat, as this will affect how warm the room will be. If you are experiencing this symptom, it is best to consult one of our experienced floor heating engineers who can advise on the best solution for your situation.
If you have confirmed that the heating electric underfloor heating repairs near me element is receiving power, it is also worth testing its resistance with an ohmmeter. This can be easily done, and if the readings are open, it will most likely be down to physical damage or a broken element. You can purchase a basic ohmmeter from most electrical supply outlets, but Warmup can provide one free of charge (on a rental basis) to help you test your floor heating element and locate any problems.
It is also a good idea to ensure the thermostat is getting power, and that the sensor is not touching any obstructions. You can do this by examining the thermostat display to see if it is showing any abnormal readings or messages.
Another thing to consider is that the UFH cable may have been damaged during installation. If this is the case, it is possible to repair the cable using a UFH repair kit. These kits typically contain materials such as rivets, tubing and cold tails to help you repair the damaged section of your cable. The kits also usually come with a bridging wire to help you bridge the gap in your damaged cable.
The best time to inspect a UFH cable is when it is cool and has just been turned off – this will make it easier to spot any breaks or shorts. Alternatively, you can use a thermal imaging camera to quickly and effectively spot any problems.
This device works by sending a range of voltages through the core wire and ‘sniffing’ out the location of the fault. The results are similar to a dog sniffing out its objective, but much quicker and more accurate. Warmup can provide this at no cost to customers on a rental basis, although it must be used by a trained professional. The results will show any areas of heat loss or a break within the heating wires, helping you to pinpoint and rectify a failure point in the system before the floor is finished.