Protecting Your Underfloor Heating System

A lot of under floor heating installers are still not taking all measures possible to protect the under floor heating systems they are installing, There are a number of procedures that can be put in to practise to ensure the lasting performance of all under floor heating systems.

The first of the procedures is very straight forward make sure the pipe used has a 100% oxygen diffusion barrier this type of pipe is normally a multi layer pipe which has a aluminium core running through the middle which stops any oxygen passing in to the pipe work.

The next procedure will ensure that no mechanical damage to the pipework this involves a simple pressure test to make sure that no damage is done to the pipework whilst the screeding or concreting is cast over the top. A lot of manifolds do not incorporate a pressure gauge on them so although a pressure test may have been done at the time of installation this is not a test that will last until the screeding or concreting is completed.

The procedures that follow are the protection of not only the under floor heating but the whole of the heating system installed.

The first of these is when the pipework is pressure tested and filled with water the addition of antifreeze to the system is recommended especially in the winter months when cold water is in the pipework and there is a possibility of freezing, as well as preventing the pipe from freezing most antifreezes also have inhibiter in them so it does two jobs in one application.

The last procedure is a very new product which has just been developed and its function is to prevent micro organisms growing within the pipework and causing damage to the valves on the manifold.