The electric floor heating does not heat: reasons

It happens that after installation or a long break in work, heated floor does not heat well, there may be several reasons for such a malfunction, as well as options for eliminating it, so we will consider the possible versions in order.

The simplest and most reliable, but at the same time the most expensive way would be to call specialists. They will diagnose the heated floor, identify the cause of the malfunction and eliminate the problem.

It is also possible to analyze the underfloor heating system yourself. Of course, all cases are individual and it is difficult to list every reason for a malfunction in the operation of a heated floor, but among them the most common ones can be identified:

Incorrect heating cable or insufficient thermal insulation layer. The cable power is selected based on the technical conditions of the room where the heating system will be installed. An incorrect calculation of the power or area of the heated floor, as well as a thin layer of thermal insulation, can cause poor heating of the heated floor. To resolve this problem, you should contact specialists who will check the system and give recommendations on how to fix it. Incorrect calculations are one of the main reasons why electric underfloor heating does not heat well. When purchasing this heating system, you should listen to the advice of specialized consultants.
Incorrect installation of heated floors. If, when starting the system through the thermostat, the heated floor turns off almost immediately after turning it on, most likely the problem is in the location of the temperature sensor. Often during installation, the sensor is installed adjacent to the heating cable or heating mats, or located too close to them.
Mechanical damage to the heated floor. It is possible to damage the heating cable during installation, for example when pouring screed or installing the finishing floor covering. To determine if there is a cable fault, you should disconnect the heated floor from the thermostat and measure the resistance of the wires. Compare the obtained indicator with the data given in the operating instructions; the deviation from the norm should not exceed 5%.
Technical parameters of the electrical network. The reason for weak heating of the heated floor can also be low voltage in the home network. The operation of a heated floor may be ineffective if a cable with an insufficient power density reserve has been selected.
Interruptions in the operation of the thermostat and heated floor sensor. Often the cause of a cold heated floor is faulty control equipment. It is necessary to check the correct connection of all cables and the functionality of the regulator.

Most “breakdowns” of a heated floor are of the same type and you can identify them by performing a certain sequence of actions. It will take some time and require some additional equipment, but it will save your budget.

To troubleshoot, you will need a MULTIMETER .

First, it is worth excluding the most banal and simple options for the failure of a heated floor, which seem so simple that we do not pay due attention to them. Once again we check the presence of voltage in the network. If the power supply is correct, the light on the thermostat will light up or the heating icon will appear on the display panel. Then you should check the system temperature settings that may have gone wrong.

If the cause of the cold heated floor has not yet been found, then the damage lies in one of three elements of the system: thermostat, temperature sensor, heating cable.

The operating principle of the heated floor system.

Warm floors belong to room heating systems and are installed directly into the floor structure.
This turns the floor surface into a kind of panel that evenly radiates heat. Structurally, a warm floor consists of heating wires that are located under a screed or tile. The energized cable begins to heat up and thereby warms up the floor surface. The thermostat controls the heating on and off depending on the set heating temperature.

The process of installing such floors does not cause any particular difficulties for specialists, but malfunctions that arise over time cause a lot of headaches. The floor is laid, perhaps even using a concrete screed, and suddenly it turns out that for some reason it does not work.

What needs to be done in such a situation?

conclusions

After all these manipulations, the warm electric floor does not work? What to do? Call the experts. Do not forget that this is quite complex equipment that requires a professional approach. Even an experienced person often finds it difficult to understand why a heated floor does not work. Anyone can replace a pipe, clean and connect a cable, or install a new thermostat. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to solve the problem so simply.

As we have already said, often a warm water floor does not heat due to poor installation. For example, weak heating may be due to insufficient insulation. In this case, a significant part of the energy is simply spent on nothing. Does it make sense to explain why a warm floor does not heat well? Here you need to completely disassemble the structure and redo almost everything. In general, errors in calculations and installation are unacceptable, so carry out the installation yourself only when you are one hundred percent confident in your knowledge and skills. More information on the question of what to do when an electric or water heated floor does not heat well can be found on our website in Moscow.

Malfunctions of electrical transformer stations

How to make a warm floor from heating Warm water floor.
Installation of heated floors Diagnosing damage to electric heated floors is easier than water ones, because this is a simpler system.

If electric heating heats poorly or does not heat at all, then the reasons may be the following:

There is no power supply to the heating elements (power cable is broken).
The thermostat is faulty (see above).
The temperature sensor is damaged or incorrectly installed (see above).
The heating cable of the mat is broken (the floor does not heat, but the thermostat indicator is on).
The film floor does not heat well - one of the infrared bands may be damaged.
The rod floor heats unevenly - one of the infrared rods does not work.

How to find a broken wire

The search for a broken contact should begin by inspecting the terminals on the thermostat. There may be a loose connection of the contacts coming from the temperature sensor and the wires from the heating mat.

The next check step is to inspect the connection between the power cable and the electric heating element.

You need to pay attention to the tightness of the connection and the presence of burnout. Next, the tester checks the voltage in the power cable. If the current does not flow, then look for a break in the wiring

When testing a heating wire, you need to measure the conductors, as well as the resistance between each conductor and the insulation. Specialists use a megohmmeter for this. If there is no such device, then a household multimeter will do. The resistance in the heating conductors is checked against the passport data. Discrepancies should not exceed 15%.

If the resistance values are much different from the nominal values, then there is a break.

Damage to the heating cable

You can find a break in the heating cable under the screed in one of the following ways:

Using a reflectometer. This is a high-precision device for finding faults in any metal cable lines. It sends a pulse along the wire, which, upon reaching the point of damage, is reflected and goes back to the device. By the nature of the pulse, you can find out what’s wrong with the wire: a break or a short circuit. The reflectometer will also show the distance to the damaged area with an error of 0.01 - 0.2%.
Burning the cable with a high-voltage device, for example, Devitector II (available at Devi service centers). Strong heating occurs at the break point, the cable core is connected to the screen (insulation). Next, this place is searched using an electromagnetic sensor or thermal imager.

Both of these methods require specialized equipment, so you can’t do it without calling a specialist.

How to fix a heating cable

When an electric heated floor is installed without filling the screed, you can find the break yourself by removing the floor covering and inspecting the cable. If you were able to determine the location of the damage yourself, then you can repair it without calling a specialist.

For repairs you will need:

crimp lugs for wires;
sleeves in an insulating shell;
adhesive heat shrinks;
crimping tool.

The ends of the cores are stripped and folded in half. Tips are put on them and crimped.

Prepare ends

Then the tips are inserted into the sleeve (red in the photo). It is also crimped without damaging the shell. The shielding braid is stripped off on each wire, twisted and connected together with an insulated wire (brown wire in the photo).

Crimp the wires into the sleeve

The restored cable is covered with heat shrink, which is heated with a hair dryer. It is needed to protect the connection from water.

Sealed with heat shrink

Installation errors

When installing an electric floor heating system, mistakes may be made that lead to damage to the cable:

The location of the heating cable under heavy pieces of furniture or plumbing fixtures.
After laying the cable, you should be careful when walking on the floor, without stepping on the wires or placing equipment and materials on them. Before pouring the screed, you must once again ensure that there is no damage and that the system is operating correctly.
When laying the floor covering, also be careful and monitor the integrity of the screed layer. Sometimes the heating cable is placed directly under the tile in a layer of adhesive. It can be damaged, for example, when opening seams with a spatula.

Advice! Take photographs or diagrams of the location of the electrical cable in each room of the apartment

It is important to know the distances from the walls and between the rows. This can be useful when changing flooring, installing interior doors, and in other cases of repair when the floor is drilled.

Possible causes of failure

Laying heated floors under tiles with your own hands

The operating principle of a warm electric floor is not much different from other types of electrical appliances. The current hitting the heating element heats it up, which gives off its heat to the screed or floor covering, thereby warming the air in the room.

The passage of current to the heating system is carried out through a thermostat, the main function of which is to turn the floor on and off, and to regulate the strength of its heating. As soon as it reaches the set temperature, the thermostat turns off, which also happens when the coating is overheated.

What can cause weak floor heating or a complete lack of heat?

Typically, the most common culprits are:

The thermostat, so you need to start checking with it. To verify that it is faulty, you should dismantle the device, first turning off the light, and check it with a multimeter.
If the floor is cable, then the cause of the breakdown may be its breakage. This happens either during installation or by some mechanical influence, for example, with a drill during repairs. The cable is checked by measuring its resistance and insulation. If the data exceeds the data sheet readings by more than 5%, it means it is damaged or there is a break in it. In an infrared system, rapid deterioration of the film is possible due to insufficiently dense coating. If, for example, thin linoleum was laid, then even a woman’s heel can push through the film floor.
The temperature sensor can also cause a malfunction. If the base does not warm up to full capacity, then it simply does not turn off and the floor works non-stop around the clock, which leads to high energy costs. On the other hand, if the temperature sensor is too close to the heating elements, it will quickly heat up and turn off, and the floor will not reach the desired temperature.

Whatever the cause of the breakdown, you can repair an electric heated floor yourself, if you have the necessary tools.

Read below on how to repair an electric heated floor.

Water TP froze

How much does a warm electric floor cost?

A situation where a water heated floor freezes may occur due to an unexpected shutdown of the boiler if gas or electricity is turned off. Short-term outages will not have time to harm the equipment, but if residents are not at home, then in a few days the boiler room will cool down, and then a serious accident is possible.

When the air temperature drops below zero, the elements of the circulation system in the boiler room will be the first to suffer: the water pump, filters, metal and plastic pipes. The heated floor itself cools down very slowly and freezes last. Even a week after the boiler is turned off, the water in the pipes under the screed remains mobile.

Ruptures and leaks should be feared if the TP pipes are made of metal. The thermal circuit made of polyethylene or polypropylene, due to the flexibility of the material, will retain its tightness.

What to do if equipment bursts due to frost:

Start by heating the boiler room. Heat guns are good for this.
Replace broken system elements.
To inspect the boiler, it is better to call specialists from the service center.
After the equipment in the boiler room has been brought back to normal, you can try to start the heated floor. At the same time, monitor the pressure in the system on the pump pressure gauge. If it falls, look for leaks.

How to protect yourself from freezing underfloor heating:

Frost-resistant coolant If the house is not for permanent residence and you periodically leave, then it makes sense to install electronics with a GSM module that will monitor the air temperature and notify you via SMS if the room becomes cold.
If the house is left for the winter, you need to drain the water from the heated floor and blow out the pipes with air.
Another option to avoid freezing is to fill the heating circuits with antifreeze. But many boiler manufacturers will remove the equipment from warranty if they find out about this. Check with them about this question before adding coolant. For heating systems, you need to use antifreezes designed for them, for example, Fritherm-30 based on propylene glycol.

Hydraulic floor failure

If the floor does not heat well, the reasons for this can be very different. In most cases, owners blame the equipment manufacturers, saying that they have become the owner of a low-quality product. In reality, failure often occurs due to incorrect installation. Mistakes made in this case become the basis for failure or unstable operation of the structure.

Loss of functionality of the hydraulic floor

is connected with several points.
It happens that the floor stops working due to a breakdown of the hydraulic circuit .
In such a situation, first carefully inspect the distribution panel. In the middle of it there are toggle switches responsible for supplying the coolant inside the heating circuit. If the installation process is done according to the rules, the toggle switches in the open position are turned along the pipes. Another reason why heating stops working is the failure of the circulation pump. If everything is good, during operation you will hear an insignificant background noise and feel a slight vibration. If no sounds are heard from the equipment, and the electrical supply of the house does not cause reproaches, then the pump will have to be repaired or replaced with a new one.

Debugg

How to make an electric heated floor

Even after the location of the breakthrough is found, proper troubleshooting must be performed. Repairing an electric heated floor after determining the location of the fault requires removing the screed layer. After this, the burnt out (or torn) section of the wire is stripped down to the core.

Next you will need a special sleeve. The fact is that the vein has several special shells around it. Therefore, it will not be possible to connect the heating element like a regular electrical wire. The sleeve must match the diameter of the wire.

The sleeve is crimped with special pliers. The connection point is also additionally protected with a heat-shrink sleeve. It is heated with a hair dryer and cooled to room temperature. In this case, the coupling will compress, effectively sealing the joint. Next, the system is again filled with solution.

The floor “pierces” with electricity

The main reason is poor insulation of the connections of the supply wire and current-carrying strips. All terminals and connections must be inspected.

Violation of the insulation of the supply wire - a problem can arise during long-term operation of the heated floor if the connecting wires are installed incorrectly (especially if they are installed overlapping).

There is a lot of humidity in the room - for example, there was a water leak or moisture somehow got under the finishing coating onto the heated floor. In this case, the connections between the film floor and the supply wire are a “weak” point that must be checked first.

Causes of electric floor malfunctions and their elimination

There are two main types of underfloor heating: electric and water. First, let's talk about possible problems with electric heating. The reasons for the failure of this heating system can be different. The main ones are:

non-compliance with installation rules;
unsuitable heating cable;
poor thermal insulation;
cable damage;
low voltage in the network;
malfunction of the thermostat or temperature sensor.

Non-compliance with the rules for installing an electric floor is indicated by a slight heating of the floor with the thermostat constantly turning off. In most cases, this problem is due to an incorrect installation of the temperature sensor. It is located on or next to the heating cable.

The correctness of purchasing the heating cable and laying the thermal insulation material is checked as follows. After turning on the heating system, you should wait until the floor warms up. This usually takes 30-60 minutes (depending on the type of flooring). The surface temperature at the location of the sensor must match that of the thermostat.

Quite often, the reason that a warm floor does not heat is a violation of the integrity of the heating cable. This can happen during installation work. For example, when creating a concrete screed and laying tiles.

To identify the cause of this malfunction you must:

turn off the thermostat;
disconnect the cable from it;
check the resistance between the wires.

The resistance value must correspond to the passport data. Deviation is allowed in the amount of 5%.

If the product data sheet does not contain such data, the optimal cable resistance can be calculated by ratioing the double sum of the voltage to the cable power. The effective resistance is 1 MOhm or higher. If there is insufficient resistance, you will have to dismantle the floor covering and find the damaged cable.

A heated floor may not heat well due to low voltage in the network. A drop in network voltage of only 10% entails a reduction in the power of the heating cable to 17-20%. To avoid inefficient operation of an electric heated floor, you must:

purchase a cable with a reserve power density;
use voltage stabilizers.

When the heating cable is laid correctly and all terminals are securely tightened, the functionality of the thermostat and temperature sensor is checked. To do this, the voltage at the cable terminals is measured. When the thermostat is operating, it should be equal to the voltage in the power supply. The sensor resistance must correspond to the data specified in the passport.

The operating condition of the thermostat can be checked in a simpler way, which involves:

interruption of power supply to the thermostat from the distribution panel;
direct connection of power supply wires with a heating cable;
turning on the machine on the dashboard for half an hour.

If the floor heats up, it means the thermostat has failed. It just needs to be replaced. This also applies to the sensor.

In the case when, when connected directly, the heated floor still does not heat, you will have to look for a burnt out wire. By the way, the operation of the machine when the cable is directly connected to the electrical network indicates the presence of a short circuit. We'll have to measure the resistance again.

Specific fault of film floor

When using an infrared film floor, resistance measurements are taken for each heating element. The readings must match the acceptable passport data. If the device shows:

the number “0” – a short circuit has occurred in the network (most likely due to overheating);
infinity – break of the heating cable (usually in the coupling).

The most vulnerable point of a film heated floor is the contact terminals. Along the edges of the infrared film there is a copper busbar. It connects to a wire that heats the film. The connection occurs with special clamps, which can oxidize during the heating process. As a result, the electrical circuit breaks. The repair consists of replacing the contacts and connecting them more reliably.

Causes of malfunctions

When using a heated floor, problems may arise related to its operation. There are two types of malfunctions - complete loss of heating and the inability to control it. For some breakdowns, you will have to remove the finishing coating and dismantle the screed, and for others, you will have to repair the temperature controller.

The reason for the breakdown of the heated floor may be a malfunction of the thermostat or a cable break.

Before you undertake the repair of warm electric floors, you will need to determine the reason that led to the breakdown. For example, this could be construction work that caused a heating wire to be broken, or a flood that flooded the control unit.

If the heating has completely disappeared, then the presence of voltage is checked on the line supplying electricity to it. Sometimes a breakdown occurs due to a circuit breaker tripping or poor contact.

When the input voltage is present, but there is still no heating, you need to find the cause of the malfunction. It may be hidden in the heating wire or thermostat. To understand what caused the breakdown, you need to disconnect the underfloor heating contacts from the regulator and measure their resistance. For this you will need a multimeter. The resulting resistance value should not differ by more than 10% from that specified by the manufacturer.

A significant deviation from the norm indicates damage to the cable under the tie. It can be caused by an insulation breakdown (when the resistance value decreases) or a cable break (the multimeter will show infinity).

If everything is in order with the resistance and there is voltage at the input, then the breakdown is in the thermostat, which is easiest to check by replacing it. Malfunctions in it also lead to incorrect setting of the heating temperature, but in this case the culprit may also be a broken sensor.

Thermostat failure

A common failure in practice is insufficiently tight contact of the wires in the regulator terminal block. Before removing the thermostat, you should try to tighten these contact points.

Before disconnecting the thermostat, try tightening the contacts, this may be the reason

You can understand that it is the thermostat that is to blame by directly connecting the underfloor heating wires to a 220 volt network. If after this the floor becomes warm, the thermostat will have to be replaced. If you have the appropriate skills, you can try to repair it yourself.

The most common radioelements that fail are key transistors, voltage stabilizers, electrolytic capacitors and relays. Often a breakdown of the mains capacitor also occurs.

Cable damage

Repairing the wire under the screed is a very serious task, since it will have to be dismantled. But in order not to tear off the entire coating, special devices are used to help narrow down the location of the breakdown.

Repairing a broken cable requires dismantling the tie

To repair a broken cable, you will need to prepare:

thermal imager or hidden wiring detector;
generator;
connecting sleeve;
heat shrink;
press tongs.

Before determining the location of the damage, the wire laid in the floor is disconnected. High voltage is then applied to the cable through a generator or high-frequency transformer. Next, using a thermal imager, a point with a higher temperature is determined.

Once a place is found, the section of screed located above it is dismantled. The ends of the damaged cable are stripped and connected to each other through a copper sleeve, followed by crimping. After this, the cable connection is protected with electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. Before restoring the screed, the system is turned on and checked for functionality.

Sensor repair

If the sensor malfunctions, you will not have to destroy the floor to replace it, since it is installed in a special protective tube.

The sensor cannot be repaired; it must be replaced with a new one.

To dismantle it, you only need to find the exit of this tube and pull it out by the ends of the wires. But in rare cases, the tube may be embedded in the wall.

The sensor itself cannot be repaired; a new one is purchased instead. If necessary, a wire of the required length is soldered to it, which is installed in place of the old one.

Reason 1. Lack of thermal insulation

The most common reason why a heated floor does not cope with the functions assigned to it is that you simply forgot to install the thermal insulation properly, or did not install it at all. Often, a regular polyethylene foam backing is used as thermal insulation. And the substrate is simply not intended for thermal insulation of heated floors. Instead, you need to use polystyrene foam 5-10 cm thick.

How to fix it?

Keep one thing in mind. You will already have to overpay for heated floors. But perhaps the situation will be corrected by a higher temperature supply to the heated floor and the use of more powerful heating equipment. But don't overdo it. The maximum temperature should not exceed 70 degrees. And it shouldn't be permanent. Otherwise, the pipe will quickly become unusable.

Electric underfloor heating does not warm reasons

Now we can identify several main reasons. We will analyze each of them in detail so that you can fix any problem yourself. So, the reasons why infrared heated floors do not heat.

No power

As a rule, this reason is considered the main one. The first thing to do is check the power supply to the system. The heated floor is most often connected through a thermostat, so you need to look at it. If you see that all indicators are displayed on the display or there is a temperature, then everything is in perfect order. If nothing is displayed, then you need to check the input contacts using a multimeter. To avoid making a mistake here, read our article on how to use a multimeter.

Note! A heated floor may not heat up even due to low voltage in the network. If the voltage is 200 Volts, then it may not heat up, since its efficiency drops significantly

To avoid this, you need to use surge protectors.

You can learn in detail how to check the thermostat in this video. Here they tell you in detail how to perform the check step by step.

If there is voltage, but the floor does not heat, check the integrity of all wires that go to the heated floor. The only reason can only be there.

Note! Sometimes people accidentally change their settings. Initially, take a close look at the thermostat and try to set all the settings to the required values.

Damage to the floor heating system

If you have checked, but everything works perfectly, then the reason may be hidden in a damaged system. First you need to check the temperature sensor. To do this, you need to measure the resistance of the temperature sensor and cable (film). Next, we check all the values and compare them with the passport values; if there are differences, it means that the heated floor has failed.

If “0” is displayed on the screen, then there is a short circuit in the system. "1" will mean a network break.

How to check the resistance of the heating cable, see this video lesson.

Other reasons

If you checked and everything works, but the cause could not be stopped. This means that your heated floor was initially installed incorrectly. There are the following errors during installation, which can lead to the fact that the electric heated floor does not heat:

If the room is poorly insulated, there may be too much heat loss. Therefore, the heated floor may not heat up much, which will cause a lot of trouble.
It happens that during design the power was calculated incorrectly. If so, then the warm floor will never warm up properly.
There may be an error when pouring the screed for a heated floor. If the distance is too large, the floor will not heat up.

If you have such reasons, then you will have to redo everything. There is currently no other way to fix problems during installation.

Reasons for the failure of a properly functioning heated floor

Often at the beginning of the heating season, when the heated floor is turned on, the circulation pump may not work because it may “boil” during long periods of inactivity in the summer.

By the way, a note for you. For prevention in the summer, it is necessary to turn on the circulation pumps for 10 minutes once a month to maintain their functionality.

A lack of electricity in the network will also stop the pump and lead to a lack of coolant circulation in the system.
Check that the automatic air vents are open and that the system is not air-filled.
Clogging of the mechanical cleaning filter of the heating system leads to difficult passage of the coolant through it, as a result of which the floor may not warm up properly.
Pay attention to flow meters, valves, and in general it is necessary to check all the taps, because if you have small children, they can screw up anything.
If it is left idle for a long time during the cold season, for some reason (often a power or gas outage), the water may freeze.

Also, malfunctions during operation can occur, as already mentioned above, with automation. But this problem needs to be considered separately.

Cozy living conditions in most cases evoke associations with warmth. But even careful handling of the heating system does not guarantee stable heating of the floor covering

. For some, the heated floor does not work due to incorrect installation or influence received during operation. In such a situation, you will have to establish the cause of the failure, and then remove the resulting breakdown.

Stable heating operation – guarantee of comfort

Why doesn't electric floor heating work?

2 thermomatTVK-130 5 floor sets installed, one works, one doesn’t. The indication on thermostats is the same. No drilling was done in the installation area. I tried to connect it bypassing the regulator (contacts n1+n3 and n2+n4), but there was no heating. What is the possible reason?

You have probably already checked the presence of voltage in the network. This means that the malfunction lies in one of the three elements of the heated floor: thermostat, temperature sensor or heating cable. We recommend checking all three elements, despite the fact that you did not feel any heating when the cable was connected directly.

For initial diagnosis you will need a regular multimeter or megohmmeter

You can check the serviceability of the heated floor by measuring the electrical resistance of its individual elements one by one with a multimeter:

The heating cable mat ThermomatTVK-130 5 with a power of 640 W should have a resistance of 82.7 Ohms. The difference between the passport and actual value should not exceed 15%. If the resistance is too high - there are breaks in the cable, low - the insulation is damaged, close to zero - there is a short circuit. In many cases, it is possible to find a problem area in a heating cable, but to do this you will need to scan the entire surface of the floor with a thermal imager. With less accuracy and more labor, this can be done with an infrared thermometer. For such services, we recommend contacting a large company that sells, installs and maintains heated floors.

Repairing a heating cable is relatively easy; it is more difficult to find the defective location

The thermostat and temperature sensor are checked in the same way. However, it should be taken into account that their electrical resistance will directly depend on the air temperature. The range of values must be indicated in the passport; the measurement results should be correlated with temperature.

The sensor, if installed correctly, should be located in a hollow tube. This makes it possible to replace it without any problems.

The sensor must only be installed in a hollow tube

You can check the thermostat in another way: with the sensor connected and the heating cable disconnected, set the maximum temperature. In this case, voltage should appear at the terminals intended for connecting the cable. You can verify this using a multimeter or a regular light bulb. Then turn the regulator to the minimum value. If the voltage disappears, the relay is working.

Just in case - thermostat connection diagram

Incorrect installation of the system

If certain rules are not followed, even from correctly selected and fully functional components, you can assemble a poorly functioning system. First of all, this concerns the distance between the branches of the heating cable. It depends on the power and must be maintained in strict accordance with the requirements of the instructions. If the cable laying step is made too large, a so-called thermal zebra will appear on the floor surface - a temperature difference that is noticeable to users.

If, on the other hand, the cable is laid too often, it may become damaged due to overheating.

Cable options for heated floors

To avoid such mistakes, it is better to make a heated floor from cable mats. The mat is a fiberglass mesh on which the heating cable is already laid with the correct pitch and fixed. All that remains is to spread out this product, connect the individual sections and fill everything with screed.

Remember that a regular non-regulated cable (it can also be self-regulating) cannot be shortened or lengthened as you please.

As the length decreases, its resistance will also decrease, causing the current in the circuit to increase, and this, in turn, can damage the wires or the thermostat. If the length is increased, the resistance will increase and the power of the cable may greatly decrease. Length changes are allowed within 5% - 10%.

If you encounter such a problem, do as described above: disconnect the sensor from the thermostat and connect a timer or air temperature sensor instead.

Where to start troubleshooting

Possible malfunctions in the operation of heated floors and their causes:

does not turn on (no electricity is supplied, the temperature sensor is broken, the thermostat is broken, the pump does not pump);
does not heat well (malfunction of temperature sensor, thermostat, incorrect selection of heat pump, high heat loss to the foundation and walls);
heat is distributed unevenly (errors in choosing the length of the thermal circuit, uneven thermal insulation under the TP pipes, failure of the heating elements);
unstable pressure on the pump (air in the pipes, leaks).

When diagnosing problems with a water floor, the first step is to look at the temperature on the boiler and the pressure on the pump. By increasing the temperature on the thermostat, monitor whether the heated floors have become hotter or not. If it doesn’t help, then we’ll see if this problem arose immediately (during the first start of the TP) or after some period of operation:

If immediately, then we check that the pump is selected correctly. When the boiler is used for heating and heating, it can take a lot of heat to the radiators, and the floors do not have enough remaining power.
If problems arise after some period of operation of the underfloor heating, then we continue to search for the reasons.

Attention! If the heating of floors is turned on in a cold room, then the thermal energy will primarily be used to heat the structural elements of the house. Those

Until the concrete screed and the air in the room warm up to 15-20ºС, the floors will feel cold. The first start-up is characterized by a long heating period; this is normal and does not indicate a system malfunction.

Below we will look at all the common cases of breakdowns.

Damage to the heating cable and heating mat

If you have checked the sensor, thermostat, all contacts and there are no comments on their operation, and the floor still does not heat, then all that remains is to look for damage in the heating cable itself.
An obvious short circuit can be diagnosed with a simple multimeter. But to establish its exact location, unfortunately, one cannot do without special expensive devices.

At the beginning of diagnostics, use a tester to check the resistance between the cable cores. It should be within the factory specifications - from 11 to 700 Ohms, depending on the length.

Therefore, always keep the passport documentation for heated floors. Paste nameplates from cable products there, write down the readings of the initial insulation resistance and core resistance.

Then, if problems arise, it will be easy to determine what kind of cable is laid, its length, and factory resistance. It also doesn’t hurt to take a photo or sketch of the laying areas.

If there is no short circuit between the cores, then the problem is poor insulation, we move on. Check the resistance, again with a tester, between the core and the screen.

Here the readings should tend to infinity - or a unit is displayed on the left side on the current clamp screen. With zero readings, everything is clear - the core somewhere is clearly shorted to the screen.

But if the multimeter shows a resistance of several hundred Ohms or even kOhms, then connect a 2500V megohmmeter and apply increased voltage between the braid and the heating core.

And if at the same time your insulation resistance drops to zero, then this means that the cable is broken and you need to look for the place of damage.

Moreover, at a lower voltage of 500V or 1000V, this may not be recognized.

For new heating cables from quality manufacturers (Devi, Veria, etc.), the resistance must be at least 1 GOhm at a voltage of 2.5 kV.

For example, manufacturers test heating mats at the factory with a voltage of 3 kV and immersion in water.

Heated floor repair

The heated floor does not heat well

The warm floor heats poorly or does not heat at all! What happened and how can I help?

These questions arise especially often when turning on an electric heated floor after a long break. Let's try to figure out what is actually happening with the underfloor heating system.

Is the underfloor heating not heating well?

First, you need to diagnose the system. This can be done either independently or by calling our specialist. By the way, I plan to write an article about self-diagnosis in the near future. Almost any malfunction of underfloor heating systems can be repaired without global destruction and re-installation of the entire floor.

Sometimes there are cases when, when you turn on the heated floor after a long break, for example, after a vacation, you get the subjective impression that the heated floor has begun to heat worse. To begin with, you need to wait a day or two; the heated floor system is quite inertial and after a break or when turned on for the first time, it returns to operating mode within several days.

At the same time, if the warm floor warms at least somehow - congratulations! - the most unpleasant thing, namely a cable break, has passed you by, because the heating cable “does not know how” to heat half-heartedly, it either heats or it doesn’t.

Structurally, any heating cable is a conductor that heats up when electric current passes through it. The strength of the flowing current is determined only by the physical parameters of the cable itself, its electrical resistance, and cannot be changed. The thermostat regulates not the power, but the timing of the voltage supply. The power to the heating cable turns on and turns off when the set temperature is reached. Therefore, if your heated floor begins to heat worse, the problem may be either in the thermostat or in the temperature sensor. What's next?

What is the reason?

The easiest way to check the functionality of the thermostat is to replace it with a similar one. Full diagnostics and repair of a heated floor thermostat are only possible at the service center of the manufacturer or its representative.

Thermostat with temperature sensor

Another theoretically possible reason for a poorly heated floor is a malfunction of the temperature sensor or its incompatibility with the thermostat. The latter is quite possible if you replaced a failed thermostat with a similar product from another manufacturer without simultaneously replacing the temperature sensor. The fact is that different manufacturers use different sensor standards and a thermostat from one manufacturer may not work correctly with a sensor from another. True, in most cases, the thermostat itself notifies about a malfunction of the temperature sensor, an error message is displayed in the electronic product, and in the mechanical version, as a rule, the control lamp blinks.

Well, of course, you need to check whether the thermostat settings have gone wrong. In electronic thermostats, the settings may be lost if the power is turned off for a long time, so if you need to turn off the thermostat, turn it off using the “turn off” function in the thermostat. In mechanical models, the settings may be lost if the adjustment wheel is accidentally turned.

How to properly install a thermostat for a heated floor and other questions

Warm floors have long been nothing new in a modern home, but for the average ordinary user this equipment still raises a lot of questions about installation, maintenance and repair. One of the main elements of an electric heating system is a thermostat, which works in conjunction with a temperature sensor. The sensor takes readings about environmental changes and transmits them to the regulator, which in turn makes adjustments to the operation of the heated floor. It is these two elements of the heating supply system in the house that we will try to consider from the point of view of the average user.

Where to install the thermostat when installing a heated floor?

When choosing a location to install the thermostat, you must be guided by the following considerations. The thermostat must be installed on the wall in a convenient and accessible place. It is also important to take into account the fact that when arranging furniture, you can block access to the device with a large sofa, wardrobe or other piece of furniture. It is unacceptable.

The temperature sensor is located in the screed inside the corrugated pipe. Uncured cement or tile adhesive must not come into contact with the sensor. If necessary, the user or repairman must be able to replace equipment that has failed the temperature sensor.

A thermostat designed to regulate the operation of a heated floor in rooms with high humidity (sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool, bathroom) must be located outside the room.

The diagram below provides basic recommendations and dimensions for installing a thermostat and sensor.

Why doesn't the floor heating thermostat turn on?

A popular question from the “why” series is the underfloor heating thermostat does not turn on/does not work. To find out the reasons for such an incident, it is necessary to check whether power is supplied to the regulator terminals. To do this, after first turning off the circuit breakers in the distribution panel, remove the thermostat filling from the mounting box. Turn on the power supply again and use a tester to check the presence of voltage at the supply terminals. If there is no voltage, then the fault should be looked for in the electrical wiring, and not in the underfloor heating system. If during the test it turned out that the phase cable is connected to the zero terminal of the regulator, then it is necessary to perform a phase change, i.e. just swap the wires. If there is power, the wires are correctly phased, but the thermostat display does not light up, then the device itself has failed. To restore system operation, the thermostat should be replaced.

Why doesn't the floor heating thermostat turn off?

Another common problem in the operation of heated floors is that the thermostat does not turn off and, accordingly, the system operates around the clock. In this case, the thermostat does not turn off because it does not reach the specified heating mode. Most likely, the thermostat itself is faulty; to be sure that it is broken, set the maximum heating temperature. If in this case the device does not turn off, it means that it is definitely faulty and requires replacement.

Why does the heated floor heat up with the regulator turned off?

In fact, there may be several reasons for this behavior of the heating system.

The first reason is the inertia of the heated floor. It does not cool down instantly, it takes some time, about 1 hour, so it seems that after turning off the heated floors continue to heat.

The second reason is that the heating system is somehow connected directly, bypassing the thermostat. In this situation, it is necessary to put the electrical wiring in order and everything will work as it should.

Why does the floor heating thermostat click?

Clicking of the thermostat is a sign that the heated floor is on/off. If the thermostat “clicks” frequently, it means that when installing the heating you installed the temperature sensor too close to the heating elements. The floor does not have time to heat up, and the sensor already reacts to temperature changes. The sensor mounting point needs to be changed. Loud clicks of the thermostat are typical for a situation where the conductive contacts are loosely tightened in the corresponding terminals.

Source

Liquid coolant systems

Scheme of a heated floor with film.

A water heated floor is essentially a heating system aimed at unloading the overall heating system, compensating for heat losses and maintaining a comfortable temperature of the floor covering. These are universal heating systems, which are presented both in individual versions and in central heating schemes. The coolant in the water system is transported through pipes made of metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene. The diameter of the pipes ranges from 8 to 32 mm, they are not subject to corrosion and the accumulation of deposits. The coolant is hot water, and the heat source is a separate boiler or central heating boiler. You can repair such a heating pipeline yourself.

Recently, water-based electric floors with built-in electricity have appeared on the heating market. They are very versatile and can be used under tile, wood, linoleum, laminate and other materials. This floor works perfectly, it will never burn out or freeze, its heating element is located in antifreeze. These systems are characterized by low electrical energy consumption; they can be repaired through an installation box using double-sided couplings, as in water floors.

The floor is not warm enough. Coolant temperature is low

A typical and common problem that owners of city apartments and private houses are forced to face when complaining about the unsatisfactory performance of the heated floor is uneven heating. During normal operation, the water circuit must completely and evenly heat the concrete screed or floor covering, creating the necessary conditions for heating the home.

In this case, the problem is uneven coolant flow through the water circuit. Due to the fact that pipelines can have different lengths, due to the same intensity of coolant supply, the degree of heating of each pipe is different. Usually, before starting, the levels of electric drives are set in the collector cabinet to the required position.

Before starting the system, the optimal parameters calculated for each circuit are initially set. By measuring the temperature of the coolant in each water circuit, the electric drives are set to the appropriate position. Consequently, the heating temperature of the coolant in the system changes, and the degree of heating of the water circuit also changes.

The solution in this situation is as follows. We are looking for a water circuit in which the coolant does not heat the water floor in accordance with the set temperature, then we manually increase the flow of boiler water.

Causes of problems

1. The heating cable is incorrectly selected, the thermal insulation is incorrect. When choosing cable power, take into account the technical conditions of the room in which the heating system is installed. If there is an error in calculating the area of the flooring or the power of the system, or if an insulating layer is not thick enough, the floor may not heat up sufficiently. To fix the problem, you need to call specialists who will check the correct installation of the system and fix the problems or explain how this can be done. 2. Incorrect installation. If the heated floor turns off immediately after turning on the system, the temperature sensor is probably located incorrectly. 3. Presence of mechanical damage. During installation of the system, its heating cable may be damaged. This can happen while pouring the screed or during installation of the floor covering. To understand whether the cable is working properly, you need to disconnect the heated floor from the thermostat, and then measure the resistance of the wires. Having compared the data obtained with those specified in the instructions for the system, you should make sure that the deviation from the normal indicator does not exceed five percent. 4. Insufficient voltage. A heated floor may heat up too little due to too low voltage in the home's electrical network. 5. Malfunctions of the sensor and thermostat. The floor may remain cold due to faulty control equipment.

Almost all possible system breakdowns are of the same type, so identifying faults is not difficult if you have the necessary equipment. First of all, eliminate the simplest, most banal options. Check if there is voltage in the network. Make sure the system temperature settings are correct.

If, after doing all of the above, you could not find the cause of the cold floor, the damage was caused by one of three elements - a heating cable, a temperature sensor, or a special thermostat.

1. Damage to the thermostat. If this part breaks down, voltage from the electrical network is not supplied to the heating cable or heating mat, as a result of which no heating occurs. This may be caused by a break in the temperature sensor, a breakdown of the thermostat, or a switched off circuit breaker located in the power panel. To eliminate this malfunction, it is necessary to measure the ohmic resistance using a multimeter. 2. Failure of the temperature sensor. To check the operation of the temperature sensor, you need to measure its resistance and compare this indicator with the data specified in the data sheet. Please note that when the sensor heats up, its resistance may decrease slightly. If the difference in indicators is significant, the sensor must be disconnected and replaced with a new one. 3. Heating cable failure. If, after checking the heated floor sensor and the system thermostat, you do not find a malfunction, check the heating cable. To determine the load created by the heating cable, measure its resistance, and then compare this indicator with the data specified in the data sheet.

Instrument readings help determine the cause of the breakdown of the heated floor. If the data is below normal, the outer sheath of the cable responsible for heating is damaged. If the resistance approaches zero, the coupling is burnt out or the cable is damaged. If the values are unstable, water has entered the casing. The appearance of an infinity sign on the multimeter indicates a break or burnout of the heating element located in the coupling.

After diagnosing and detecting a malfunction, you can perform repairs yourself or call specialists. A qualified technician will repair the heating cable efficiently, quickly, and with minimal damage to your floor covering.

Infrared coating

Infrared film floors are the most modernized heating method. However, during their installation certain nuances may also arise.

The system is connected to the network by wires attached to a copper bus running along the entire edge of the film. They are connected using clamps. If there is insufficient contact, oxidation of the metal occurs. Gradually the chain breaks and the floor may stop heating. To correct the situation, the contact must be replaced and securely fastened.

Film floors regulate the degree of heating using a thermostat. Accordingly, its failure leads to improper operation of the floors. This is an easily repaired unit.
If the quality of heating deteriorates, the heated floor is checked by measuring the current consumed by the device. A deviation from the specified value in the passport of more than 10% indicates a breakdown of the heating elements. A broken tape can only be replaced. You can temporarily increase the heating temperature of the remaining elements using a thermostat. However, this is a temporary measure.

There are a number of reasons for failure that are common to all types of floors:

Initially, you need to check that the heated floor is connected correctly to the network. Only after making sure that the input voltage is present can you further look for a breakdown.
The main reason for heat loss is a small layer or complete absence of thermal insulation. The heat goes down (it warms the neighbors or the ground), rather than warming the floor. During installation, it is necessary to take into account the operating conditions of the floors.
By measuring the resistance of a heated floor, you can easily calculate its power. By comparing the calculated value with the rated value, we can confidently say about the presence of short circuits and insulation damage (power greater than the rated value) or cable breaks (power less).

Underfloor heating is considered a low-temperature heater. The maximum surface temperature is 30°C. At higher temperatures, the floor covering (laminate, parquet) may deteriorate.

When using two heat sensors, heating the room is more efficient

Heated floor models

Before we begin to consider problems that can lead to a lack of functionality of systems, it is first worth familiarizing yourself with their structural features and scope of application. Heated floors are divided into three main models:

Water floor. The heating element of this heating system is a concrete screed in which the coolants are located. The model is more often used in private homes, where it acts as the main heat source. In multi-apartment buildings, it is possible to install a water floor as the main source of heat, but it is not rational, since there are a number of restrictions for installation that lead to additional costs. Therefore, in these buildings they are more often used as an additional heating system.
Electric floor. The design of this model includes insulated electrical wires that act as heating elements. This system has proven its performance in both private and multi-apartment buildings. But since there are no restrictions when using it, it is more often used in city apartments with central heating.
Infrared floor. The peculiarity of the structure of this model is that the heating elements are emitters that are sealed between two layers of film. The film is sold in thin mats, so it can be combined with all types of floor coverings and used in different buildings of any size. Also, this model can be put into operation several times, which is so convenient when changing place of residence.

Regardless of the type of model, there are two ways to eliminate the heat supply problem:

call a specialist;
do the repair yourself.

If you choose the second method, before you begin to repair the damage, you need to become familiar with the reasons that affect the lack of heat supply of a particular system.

Film floor failure

Low floor

appears due to the following reasons:

Poor contact in the electrical circuit. To connect the film to the electrical power supply, cables are used that are connected to a copper bus located along the edge. The connection is made using a specialized clamp. If the contact crimp is insufficient, the floor covering will not heat up. Poor contact can result in metal oxidation. By returning contact, you will restore the functionality of the structure;
Thermostat failure due to a malfunction or lack of power. This can be determined by measuring the voltage;
Poor operation. If from the very beginning the system was planned as an additional one, it will not be able to work as the main one, since the external water thermostat will be installed incorrectly. During installation of the key system, an appearance is established that responds to the temperature of the floor covering . When it decreases, the device will work and the temperature will increase.

We carry out the installation process carefully

If the heated floor does not work, there is no need to give up. You can restore his ability to work by establishing the cause in advance. When calculating failure conditions, consider the design features and operating principle of the heating system itself. If some parts can break a hydraulic floor

System Features

There are two main types of heated floors. These are water and electrical systems. When properly installed and used, they have a high level of reliability. The service life of both pipes can reach 50 years.

Repair of heated floors may be required earlier if the integrity of one of the system elements is compromised. It should also be taken into account that when purchasing any structural elements of insufficiently high quality, the risk of breakdown increases significantly. This applies to both pipes or wires and the control device (thermostat).

In the event of mechanical damage or power surges in the network, various malfunctions may occur. Eliminating them can require a significant investment of time and effort. To avoid this, you must carefully study the instructions of the manufacturer of such equipment. All its points must be strictly followed.

Low voltage

Our electrical networks are still far from perfect, so instead of the required 220 V, the outlet may only have 200 V or even less.

This problem is especially relevant in rural areas.

It is clear that under such conditions, the heating cable, with all the desire and effort, will not be able to develop the required power and heat the room to the desired temperature.

There is only one way out in this situation - the cable must be replaced with a more powerful one, and the power of the new heater must be selected based on the lowest voltage. To determine it, you should take measurements with a multimeter in the morning, lunchtime and evening for several days, including weekends. There is no need to be afraid of overheating - if the voltage returns to normal, the cable will simply disconnect more often.

If you decide to install heated floors, you need to choose a system option. Warm floor - water or electric? Comparison of options and tips for choosing.

Read all about choosing an electric heated floor in this topic.

Warm floors in the bathroom require some nuances. You can only install an electric floor in an apartment, so you need to take care of the safety of the system. Read all about installing heated floors under tiles in this article.

Malfunctions of infrared heated floors

Despite the fact that this is the newest and most modern heating method, there are problems that arise during installation or operation:

When powering the system from the mains, wires are used that are attached to a copper element located at the edge of the film. Fastening is done using clamps. If you don't press hard enough, the metal will begin to oxidize over time. This will lead to an open circuit and a cold floor. To correct the situation, you need to clean and reconnect.
During operation, the thermostat, which is responsible for regulating the degree of heating, may fail. With this breakdown, incorrect operation occurs, the temperature does not correspond to the set one, or heating takes too long. This can only be fixed by replacing the broken element.
If the quality of heating has decreased significantly. and the temperature in the house does not rise to a comfortable value, it is necessary to test the serviceability of the electrical strip element. If it malfunctions, you can only replace it with a new one, since it is practically irreparable.

If you are doing your first startup, the question often arises, how long does it take for the floor to heat up? Initially, you need to set the temperature to 40 degrees, and in the end you will have the desired, or more precisely, comfortable surface temperature for a person of 36-38 degrees, in about 30-40 minutes.

We invite you to watch a video about repairing a heated floor with your own hands:

Malfunctions of water floors

The main reasons why a water heated floor does not work well are due to defects during installation. Insufficient heating may be due to low boiler power or improper operation of the water pump.

When the circulation pump is running, it vibrates slightly and makes a little noise. If there is power and no signs of operation, the failed pump can be easily replaced with a new one.
The system may not turn on if air gets into it. This problem can be resolved with the help of repair specialists.
If the boiler power is low, the heat may not be enough for high-quality floor heating. It is necessary to install a boiler with a power reserve or turn off part of the heating (in rooms not in use during this period).
If the floor gets warm in places, the vapor barrier is not done correctly. It will have to be redone. Poor quality vapor barrier leads to increased dampness in the room and the formation of mold, which is very harmful to health.

What to do if you cannot determine a problem in the system

If it is not possible to determine the reason why warm water floors do not heat, then you need to measure the operating voltage of the power system. The result obtained should not deviate by more than 5% according to the parameters specified in the instructions. If there is no voltage in the system, it is recommended to replace the thermostat and all temperature sensors.

To avoid breakdowns during the operation of a heated floor, you should follow safety precautions and rules for using heated floors. When laying a contour pipe, you need to take into account the area of the room; you should not place the pipes very often. If you plan to place a large amount of furniture on the floor, then the heating element is not installed under the items to avoid overheating and drying out of the furniture.

The underfloor heating system should be laid on a flat and thermally insulated surface, with temperature sensors located outside to ensure round-the-clock control over the temperature in the system.

Possible problems and their manifestations

A malfunction in the water heated floor system manifests itself in a sharp decrease in the level of comfort in the room.

It is felt physically:

Most often there is no heating , the room becomes cold.
Less often, users have to deal with excessive heating , when it becomes unbearably hot, and the heating time of a water heated floor is significantly reduced. If such a malfunction is not corrected in time, the floor covering, screed and the pipes themselves may deteriorate.

The question arises, why does a water heated floor heat poorly or is there no heating at all?

Often, such problems can arise immediately after installation of the system during the first start-up. That is why it is important to know the requirements for putting a heated water floor into operation, as well as to be able to correctly adjust the system.

In order not to worry, wondering how long it takes for a water heated floor to warm up, you should adhere to all the requirements of the installation technology when constructing a “warm pie”. One of the possible reasons for the low quality of heat transfer from the system is poor-quality thermal insulation.

Periodic recording of energy consumption and temperature can be invaluable in identifying the problem. By checking them, it is much easier to identify the malfunction in time.