Under floor
heating has low maintenance needs but many things can go wrong with
it. Some of these problems are as a result of improper installation,
damaged wiring, improper insulation and damage to tiled flooring and
other issues as well.
1. Damage to
wiring: Tiles are the best flooring solution when using
underfloor heating because they retain heat after being warmed up,
and this helps save on bills. However, the heating system's wiring
can easily be damaged when installing the tiles. The sharp trowel
used in spreading mortar can actually rapture the wires.
Damaged wire may
make some parts to not operate well or to malfunction, although it
would not necessitate under floor heating replacement.
Raptured and
damaged wires can easily be fixed with the help of a Putney plumber
who removes and installs back the tiles, although it can take time to
find out the exact point where the wire is raptured.
2. Blocked
under floor pipes: It is important to flash out the system's
pipes whenever you are installing or doing under floor heating
replacement. Flashing will help avoid iron oxide that could collect
in the system's pump and cause serious issues.
Usually hire an
experienced and qualified Putney plumber or professional to install
the system or do underfloor heating replacement to avoid this
problem.
3. Heat
causing crumbling of tile adhesive: Frequent changes in
temperature such as changing from warm to cool or putting it off
completely or frequently adjusting the temperature can cause the
flooring material to expand irregularly and crumble the tile
adhesive.
Such crumbling can also occur when the mortar used to fix floor
expands due to heat exposure. Tile flooring distorts because mortar
expands at a faster rate than most floor tiles.
Tiles can end up
pointing from the floor at odd angles due to this distortion problem.
The problem can also cause cracked or chipped floor tiles. More
damage could result when you walk on this flooring because of the
change in shape of the mortar. The best way to fix this problem is
ensuring that the mortar used will tolerate the heat of an under
floor heating system.
4. Damage to
wood flooring: Temperature change can cause wooden flooring to
warp or bow. This can result due to rapid temperature changes and
therefore, switching the system off right from a very high heat can
strain the wood to end in such damage although bowing and warping
occurs over time.
Wooden flooring
also damage due to uneven distribution of heat where some areas are
made warmer than others. This may cause gaps between floorboards.
To avoid such
problems, ensure to involve an experienced qualified professional or
Putney plumber, use high quality wooden flooring materials and
ensure even heat distribution.
There are many
others that we will discuss in a different article. For instance, the
heating single zone may not be heating up, in which case you should
check if the actuator has failed, if the thermostat is faulty, wiring
issues, flow gauges not being opened up correctly on manifold and air
in UFH loop. A sticky pin valve underneath an actuator can also cause
this problem.