Underfloor heating, a shorthand for floor radiant heating, utilizes the entire floor surface as a heat exchanger. It evenly heats the ground through pipes installed beneath it, then employs the ground's inherent thermal storage to conduct heat from the bottom up, ultimately achieving the goal of warming the space.
In recent years, in northern regions of China such as Shanxi, Hebei, and the three northeastern provinces, ground heating has become a widely adopted heating method. It is highly favored by residents for its energy-saving and environmentally friendly features, space-saving design, and its ability to meet the physiological comfort requirements for heating.
As the harsh winter approaches, many residents in Nanjing's residential communities have reported that their underfloor heating is not warm enough, far from meeting the heating needs. What to do when underfloor heating is insufficient? In response, this author has thoroughly researched some relevant materials, finally uncovering some solutions to ensure a warm winter for the general public.
We've analyzed several common situations where underfloor heating does not warm up and provided solutions to address the issue.
One of the reasons why the radiant heating is not warm: the radiant heating pipes have not been regularly cleaned.
The phenomenon: Inadequate or untimely maintenance of radiant heating systems leads to insufficient heating. In a radiant heating system, pipes accumulate 1mm of scale annually, which can cause a decrease in water temperature by 6°C. Moreover, the pipeline circuit structure used in radiant heating systems is prone to attracting silt and rust deposits.
Experts Tip: It's recommended to clean radiant heating pipes every 2-3 years, of course, depending on specific circumstances. Naturally, it's wise to have professional radiant heating cleaning services perform maintenance on the equipment before the annual heating season.
The second reason for the underheating of radiant floor heating: insufficient pipe pressure.
Some residents, due to their high floors or being at the end of the community heating system, experience insufficient pipe pressure, resulting in suboptimal heating.
Expert Tips: In such cases, it's advisable to contact a heating company or the property management. If the issue persists, installing a circulating pump is recommended to enhance the circulation of hot water for optimal heating results.
Third Reason for Underfloor Heating Not Being Warm: Air Trapped Inside the Pipe
The phenomenon: Air is trapped in the ground heating pipes, preventing hot water from entering the circuit for circulation.
Expert Tip: Open the vent valve on the diverter and release the air from the pipes until hot water starts to flow.
Fourth Reason for Inefficient Ground Heating: Uneven Circuits
Phenomenon: Other users in the same neighborhood have good heating effects, whereas the owner's experience is unsatisfactory.
Expert Tip: Adjust the small valve on the diverter to regulate the circulation in each loop, ensuring even flow for optimal heating performance.
Top 5 Reasons for Inefficient Ground Heating: Filter Clogging
The phenomenon: The main water supply pipe is not hot, which may be due to excessively dirty hot water quality, causing the filter to clog and preventing normal circulation.
Expert Tip: Simply use a wrench to open the filter, clean the filter screen inside, and reinstall it.
Additionally, there are many situations where underfloor heating doesn't heat properly, such as damage caused by improper installation, poor quality materials used in the heating pipes, and inadequate heat dissipation of the flooring. These situations are all worth our attention!
