Radiant Floor Heating Troubleshooting - Your Questions Answered
When your DIY radiant heating system isn’t working as it should, it can be very frustrating. There are several reasons why your system might not be working properly, but we’re here to help. Here we explore some of the common problems that can arise with radiant heating systems and what you can do to fix them.
The In Floor Radiant Heat Isn’t Turning On
The most likely case for your radiant heating system failing to turn on is a broken or faulty thermostat. The thermostat is the core of any type of in-floor radiant heating system. It communicates with your heating and cooling, telling each when to turn on or off depending on your settings. If there is a problem here, it will affect your whole system. A fault in the thermostat could simply be down to a bad connection, so check if the wires in and out of the thermostat are connected properly. If your system is over ten years old, your thermostat could simply have come to the end of its life and needs to be replaced.
My Radiant Heating System Isn’t Warm Enough
A faulty thermostat might be the issue here, causing it to open sooner than it should. Check for faulty connections and whether a replacement is necessary. If you have a hydronic in-floor radiant heating system, you can also check your zone valve to make sure it’s opening fully. If you find that this is faulty, it's easy to remove and replace - just make sure your replacement valve is identical to the old one. This issue can also occur if radiant heating cables or mats in an electrical system have been damaged, which is rare, but can happen. In which case you’ll have to locate and replace the damaged components.
DIY Radiant Floor Heating System Isn’t Working In One Room
This can be caused by a faulty thermostat or zone value or damaged heating cables or mats. The culprit could also be tripped circuit breakers, where your electrical box is tripped by faulty or broken wiring, or over-consumption of electricity. Checking your thermostat is working is a relatively straightforward task, so do this first before investigating the issue further. If your circuit breaker isn’t the right size for your home’s power needs, it will need to be changed. If you have some electrical knowledge, you can do this yourself, but speak to an electrician if you’re unsure.
If you have a hydronic in-floor radiant heating system, your baseboard radiators may be clogged by debris or an air bubble. To remove this, find the bleeder valves on all the radiators in the affected room and bleed the ones that aren't quite warm enough. Then you can open the valves just a bit, using a flathead screwdriver. You should hear a popping or hissing sound as the air bubble starts to escape.
For more information on how we can help with your DIY radiant heating system, visit our website: https://www.radiantmadesimple.com/