Underfloor Heating - What Can Go Wrong And How To Fix It

Undoubtedly, Underfloor Heating technology used today is by far a more economical method of Heating one's home. The home is heated by heated water that flows through pipes or by electric cables. When Underfloor Heating systems are installed they are often installed under a raised floor with access hatches. These access hatches allow access to the Heating system for maintenance or troubleshooting, in the event of a problem. Depending on the type of Underfloor Heating system there are a few things that could possibly go wrong. For example, if water pipes are used to heat the home the pipes could develop a leak. This is especially true if the heat has not been used in quite some time, with water left standing in the pipes. In this case the first thing to do is to check for any possible leaks. You will need to open the access hatches to your Heating system, observe and check for any visible dampness under the raised floor. If the Heating system appears to be losing water it will be necessary to diligently locate any leaks. Yet another malfunction is noticing that the Heating system does not get hot enough to warm the floors. In this case you'll want to immediately check the rating of your boiler. If the rating is insufficient, it could be that the boiler is not capable of getting hot enough to heat your home. If on the other hand your Heating system uses electric cables this is an entirely different matter. Instead of using heated water through pipes an electric element is designed and positioned under the floor. AS the electric current flows through this element it heats and transfers the heat to the floor. There are, unfortunately, several things which can affect the functioning of electrical Underfloor Heating. First, it could be a matter related to the fuses and wiring of the electrical element itself. Secondly, and definitely most dreaded, are rodents. Damages caused by rodents such as mice or house rats or even a wayward squirrel that found his way in, could damage wires of the system. Regardless of the type of system your home is equipped with, it is necessary that you examine and ultimately determine the cause of the malfunction. If in fact you have a heated water system, leaks in pipes can be very costly and damaging to your home. If you are very lucky and the leak is not located around a connecting joint it will be a simpler fix. In this case you can purchase plumbers tape from a plumbing supply store. Wet the tape thoroughly in water and wrap securely around the leaking pipe. If, on the other hand you are unfortunate and the leak is around a connecting joint, you will need to use a plumbing product called epoxy resin. Ultimately, the best and most desired repair is to replace the section that is leaking. If this a financially feasible option, it is your best bet. In the event you have electric Underfloor Heating, in some cases it could be a simple case of just a blown fuse. If that is the case a simple fix of replacing the fuse will solve the issue. Unfortunately, in the largest majority of cases though, it is damages caused by mice and rats chewing through electric wires. This of course, results in a short in the wiring system. In this case you need to replace the sections of affected wire. Following that it is necessary to rid the area of the rodents by poisoning the rodents.