How To Solve Underfloor Heating Not Working
Underfloor heating users worldwide experience the many benefits and comforts of a home heated in an even, efficient and comfortable fashion. But when your underfloor heating is not working, what do you do next?
Underfloor heating systems require very little attention and maintenance but that does not mean that they are immune to problems. Some problems may only cause small, minor issues that make the system less effective but in worst-case scenarios, the problem can prevent the UFH from working completely.
As UFH is a covered system, the idea of a repair can be daunting for homeowners. However, past the installation of the floor coverings, it is not necessary to access the covered pipework. Find out the common problems that occur with underfloor heating below and how to fix them.
Air in your pipe.
Underfloor heating not working could be a result of air in your pipes.
It is common for air to get trapped within your piping, which can cause reduced flow and patches of the floor which aren’t as warm, ultimately decreasing the system’s heat output.
In our article, we discussed how to bleed underfloor heating in more depth, giving you an overview of how it works, what you need to check, and how to solve the problem. Removing air from your heating system can help improve its overall heat output and solve any inconsistencies in coverage.
How To Bleed Underfloor Heating
Problems with your Actuators
Issues with your actuators can lead homeowners to notice that parts of their system are not producing heat like they should.
The reason behind actuator problems tends to be poor connections or stick pins. In our article, we have discussed Underfloor heating actuator problems in more detail.
Underfloor Heating Actuator Problems
The heating stays on all the time.
If you are struggling to turn off your Underfloor heating system or its constantly running, this is normally due to the thermostat which is responsible for controlling the system.
Our article below explains what to check for and the possible reasons. Read it now.
Underfloor Heating Won’t Turn Off
Avoiding common UFH issues
Oversight
Sometimes oversight is accidental. Sometimes it occurs as a result of neglect or poor training. If tests aren’t run to check the efficiency of the system during and after installation then there’s a threat that a problem will go unrecognised and develop later.
Ambiente provides underfloor heating certificates for installers to fill out. These work as a reminder for installers but also as valid documentation that the checks have been carried out.
Poor installation
If an installer has been careless during UFH installation or the proposed plans were not closely followed, it can create problems further down the line. Although there are lots of ways installers can jeopardize laying the pipework, such as create too tight of a bend in the pipe that reduces the flow rate, one of the most common incidents is damage to the pipes during installation
If the original installer has used a knife to cut material close to pipework then they may have caught the UFH pipe. If a pressure test isn’t properly carried out that indicates this breach in the pipe network or the hole begins to grow, leaks beneath the floor will occur. This will result in some very intrusive investigations if the floor covering is already down, and the house occupied.
First, identify that it is a UFH pipe by pressure testing each zone separately. Once you’ve isolated the leak, you’ll need to get to the pipe. If it’s just a hole you can cut off the damaged pipe and refit a new piece with a coupler.
Correct specification
Having the correct underfloor heating for the requirements of a residential or commercial building makes sure that home and property owners are maximising the efficiency of their UFH.
Whether it’s for retrofit or new builds, suspended floors or a bespoke system, having the correct underfloor heating specified prevents poor heat return and dissatisfaction.
At Ambiente, we’re always developing new products to raise the bar in the UFH market and we’re sure we can provide the best fit to meet requirements.
Warrantees
As UFH problems can be very stressful and time-consuming, trusting the products that make up an underfloor system is important for the end client and the installer who should only want to work with high-quality equipment.
Ambiente are so confident about the quality of our pipework that we will provide compensation on top of the above-mentioned warranty up to a maximum amount of £3million per individual case up to an aggregate limit of £9million of damage if the material damage and any subsequent connected damage has been caused by us due to the use of defective Ambiente piping.
Fixing underfloor heating systems can be a difficult task. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that UFH is installed to all specifications and artwork during the primary stages. Ambiente’s technical resources and installer accreditation provides the foundations of information needed to get the job done properly, making sure rare problems are stopped early.
Become an Ambiente accredited installer and gain access to information that can improve your technical knowledge and project leads. Just contact Ambiente Systems on 01707 649 118 or email info@ambienteufh.co.uk
Recommended articles for you:
Retrofitting UFH: The Best Way to Tile Over Underfloor Heating
Installer’s Guide to UFH Wiring
