The construction of electric underfloor heating is reliable enough to serve its owner during the stipulated warranty period. The latter depends on the specific manufacturer and on average is at least ten years. After this time, the identification of possible malfunctions in the system and the subsequent repair of the heated floor are carried out at their own expense.
The principle of operation of the underfloor heating system
Any electric heating system contains the following mandatory elements:
- heating cable that converts electrical energy into heat;
- thermostat (thermostat) that controls the modes of operation of the system;
- temperature sensor (sensitive element);
- a foil substrate that acts as a heat reflector.
Like a water system, electrical elements are installed in the subfloor screed or under any finishing surface, including concrete, tiles, linoleum or wood. Unlike pipes with a water carrier laid in a screed, the electrical structure is a set of special conductors (electrically conductive cores), laid out in a certain order. By means of the control unit, they are connected to the contacts of the apartment electrical network with an effective voltage of 220 volts.
The principle of operation of an electric underfloor heating system is as follows:
- When current flows through the electric buses, the latter are heated to a certain temperature.
- Electrical energy is converted into heat, which is explained by the high resistivity of the cable cores.
- Due to high-quality contact with heated surfaces, heat is transferred to surrounding objects with minimal possible losses.
Under certain conditions, for example, if the operating rules are violated, the well-functioning heating system may break down, and it becomes necessary to repair the electric underfloor heating.
The main types of malfunctions
The following malfunctions occur during the operation of electrical systems:
- damage (breakage) of a cable or a separate wire that is part of it;
- failure of the electronic thermostat;
- supply voltage problem;
- rupture of the cable sheath (insulation).
The first of these problems occurs due to accidental deformation and rupture of the copper core, which disrupts the power supply chain of the entire system. The second reason happens less often, but no one is safe from marriage or accidental breakdown of the thermostat.
Power problems are the most common causes of structural failure attributable to overcurrent tripping. A break in the cable sheath is similar to the first fault, but in this case the circuit is disconnected due to the presence of earth leaks. Malfunctions of water floors are reduced mainly to the appearance of leaks formed in the places where the fitting joints are arranged. It is also possible accidental damage to pipes due to careless actions during work carried out on the finished floor covering.
Do-it-yourself restoration of warm floors
If the underfloor heating is broken, in order to repair it, you should find the place of possible damage.To make sure that this is the cause of the malfunction, you should ring the cable through a special measuring device - a multimeter. When the central core is dialed, it is only able to confirm the break; it is impossible to establish the exact place of the wire break in this way. You will need special devices designed to find hidden electrical wiring. When they move along the route of the cable in the place of the break in the electrical circuit, the device will emit a sound or light signal.
It is necessary to remove the floor covering in the area where the breakage is found, and then carefully disassemble the concrete screed in this area. After contact is restored, the cable is reliably insulated in this place, and then checked for operability. If the check shows a positive result, the floor covering in this place can be repaired.
It is possible that the electric floor does not heat up to the required temperature set on the electronic controller. One of the reasons for this is the weak contact in the terminal block of the device itself. During repairs, check the screw connections and, if necessary, tighten them up to the stop. You should also check the temperature sensor itself, which will make it possible, using the elimination method, to make sure that the thermostat is malfunctioning.
If all the remaining elements of the system are in good working order, you should simply replace the thermostat with a new product.
Another reason for the temperature regulator to work is the wrong installation location of the sensor. If it is close or too far from the heating cable, the actual temperature inside the screed and the readings of the device may differ by 2-3 degrees, which will lead to a false activation of the protection system.
Repair of water floors, as a rule, boils down to replacing the damaged section of the pipe, or to renewing a leaking fitting joint.
User's manual
The operating rules for the underfloor heating set are detailed in the instructions attached to it. Before starting, you should carefully study the list of given requirements.
- Underfloor heating restoration works, as well as partial replacement of heating cables and thermostats are carried out only after disconnecting the supply line.
- When operating in the manned room, there should be no large objects and thick coatings that impede normal heat transfer. Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to overheating of the cable and complete system failure.
- The floor surface should not be exposed to significant mechanical stress that threatens the condition of the temperature sensor and the heating cable itself (film element).
- When a malfunction or malfunction is detected in the system, the circuit breaker responsible for supplying electricity is turned off. Immediately after this, they contact the specialists of the service center.
- In the event of a long absence from a living room, when the warm floor is left completely unattended, the power supply should be completely removed.
If the underfloor heating system is the main source of heat in the house, in the absence of people for a long time, a mode with minimum temperature indicators is established.
