Hi All
recently had UFH installed in my house. Having a few problems as the system won't go above 22 degrees and at best feels luke warm. Standard porcelain tiles were fitted above the system in the pic.


underfloor heating pic.jpgAny ideas why this won't work properly?

Thanks

It should have been covered during other works.
However it looks as the spacing is OK although unsupported on the edges.
I'am unable to see what insulation was done prior to laying the cables or where the floor sensor has been placed in the system.
On a normal insulated wooden floor when you switch on electric UFH it would register at about 18degrees before any power is used!
If you are only getting a 22 degree heat then I'd check the position of the sensor to see if it has not been pulled back through the conduit and away from the heat wires and thus not registering an accurate reading, however if it's only 22 then the system may not be receiving any power (ie a fault in the wiring).
Get the part 'p' qualified electrician back who connected it and check for resistance and continuity in the cables.
Still don't like the thought of people working over an unprotected mat - usually causes problems.

Thanks
I'm not sure there was an additional insulation - which is a worry. there was a hardboard floor put down - which is what the wire was laid on to.

Originally Posted by brownjoe

Thanks
I'm not sure there was an additional insulation - which is a worry. there was a hardboard floor put down - which is what the wire was laid on to.

Hardboard ????

Originally Posted by Sir Ramic

Hardboard ????

Hardboard !!!!!!!!

i'm not good with the icon thing - but i'm guessing you guys are saying that's not good?

the programmer may be controlling this 22 degree setting , some new programmers pick up the ambient room temp and will hold the setting at what ever it has been set to . read the programmer instructions .it may be that you have to set it to work from therm probe only..

Is it hardboard indeed Joe?

Could do with more info & photos please of the prepared substrate & materials used.

Have you been in contact with the installers?

I would be sorting the hardboard floor before anything else, that is sure to cause failure when it's tiled..

hardboard omg

Originally Posted by whitebeam

I would be sorting the hardboard floor before anything else, that is sure to cause failure when it's tiled..

i thought it was tiled

Wire spacing is a bit wide .surely its not fixed direct to hardboard

Originally Posted by nybor62

i thought it was tiled

Your right

the pic looks like hardie backer then the wire the tiled.

underfloor heating pic [1280x768].jpg[CODE]

looks thicker than 6mm not many screws

guessing its chipboard

😳 Hardboard!!! Just asking for problems. Very badly laid UFH too. No consistency with spacing & an unprotected over hang!

its 12 mm hardie backer on top of chipboard flooring!!!!!!!!!!

But why is the UFH only 22 degrees?

Thermostat probe could be in the wrong place and giving a low reading. From the look of the UFH I would treat the whole lot with caution, too much tape for my liking too !

If the floor sensor (and I'am assuming their is one) is away from the cables then the floor would be very hot.
Of course the thermostat could be set at 22degrees for it to switch off at that temperature.

I tend to use a seperate thermometer to test the temp of the floor in various places and have seen the probe in some weird situations.....under the bath and under skirting. The floor will indeed be hot depending on the thermostat settings. We also do not knowthe wattage of the cable. I also agree that they look too far apart for my liking.

Thanks all. I'm sensing I've bought a turkey with this one on a number of levels
Some serious discussions to be had with my builder!

Very much so Joe the more info you can give the guys the better and photos please.

Any other questions ask away, did the builder do the Tiling?

Agree with everyone above.

Spacing looks like what we would say for spacing on a ply floor base
At that spacing we would also say the system is only a Warm Floor (secondary heat) system, depending upon how well the dwelling is insulated & the heat loss figure for the area.
Also, you would not have had U/F heating under the units ( I hope ) so less output for your area, and you have some patio doors / lot of glass, so more heat loss there.

Warm regards, Keith

Originally Posted by brownjoe

Thanks all. I'm sensing I've bought a turkey with this one on a number of levels
Some serious discussions to be had with my builder!

Can you give us a bit more info if you don't mind

Hi All
Firstly thanks for all the info / help and interest in this - didn't imagine the forum could be this helpful.
I don't have any other pictures unfortunately - but here's all the other info i have.

To put it in context - i've had the dining room and lounge knocked through and added a conservatory - there is underfloor heating in all three areas - and not one of the areas works properly - each area is a separate zone with a separate thermostat - the biggest area is no more than 3.5sq metres (the area in the picture relates to the dining room).

The heating does not extend under the units, and the builder who laid the floor also did the tiling.

I believe the chip board you see in the picture is the only floor surface - i.e. it is not laid on top of another floor surface - that is, it's laid on top of the floor boards. But i can't be certain of this.

I have access to the basement below the floor and can feel the ceiling is as warm as the tiles above.

I don't think the problem is with the thermostat regulator turning the temp off at 22 degrees as I'm pretty sure i have over ridden that. Also, in the conservatory the thermostat gets to about 24degrees but the tiles are actually cooler than in the dining room / kitchen.

i has underfloor heating fitted in my bathroom about two years ago (different builder) and i recall they put some sort of foil down first - which i guess insulated the floor. But obviously nothing like this was used this time.

An electritian did check all the zones were working properly and their is power to the system and the tiles do heat up a bit when switched on. But basically it has to be on full power constantly just to take the chill of the tiles.

The electritian did speak to the manufacturer - the manufacturers response was that it must be the insulation (lack of) for it to be happening not once but three times. Would welcome any further help / suggestions / possibl solutions.

thanks all
Joe



The system used is a Raychem wire UFH unit.

Thanks for the information,your problem could be a number of things ,just a couple of questions if you don't mind .size and wattage of heating mats used in areas .was the thermostat installed in condute .and was there any heating cables laid over the thermostat ,this will help to try and find the problem in regards to the temp ,

on another note chipboard is not a good surface to tile to and is a bit of a concern

thanks

Does raychem not have a rep who could look at/test the system for you?

tapatalk on my HTC

Hi Guys
Firstly i did send an emails to the guys at Raychem - and they've been very responsive and helpful - but naturally they haven't actually seen what the process of installation was so they can simply advise on what should have happened. They did point out that the overhangs on the picture aren't ideal and that the cable spacing is all important - really reitterating what many of you have said. They also pointed out that the ideal surface for the system - which they think is their Cerapro system - shoud have been laid on insulation boards given the age of my house.

I will get a independent expert to come and test the system and update the forum with the outcome. I'm hoping I don't have to take up three floors to get this working - but not really seeing any alternative at this stage.

We live and learn.