Underfloor Heating Service

The parts a service looks at, in plain English

• Manifold: where every loop starts and ends. Checked for leaks at the fittings and that the flow gauges on each loop still read.
• Pump: pushes water round the loops. Listened to, checked for noise and vibration, and its speed setting confirmed.
• Mixing valve: sets the floor temperature. Checked it's still holding the right setting, usually 35 to 45 degrees, and that it moves freely.
• Actuators: the small motors that open each loop. Each one checked that it opens when its thermostat calls and closes when it stops.
• Thermostats and wiring centre: each stat tested to confirm it calls for heat and the right loop responds.
• Pressure: the system pressure checked and topped up. A slow drop over a year points to a weep at the manifold.
• Glycol or inhibitor: the antifreeze and corrosion inhibitor in the water. Tested and dosed, because it protects the pump and the pipe.
• Filters and strainers: cleaned. Debris here is the most common cause of a weak flow.
• Balance: every loop's flow set so the rooms heat evenly. Drifts over time as valves are fiddled with.
• Boiler connection: the pipework and valves between the boiler and the manifold, and that the boiler is firing when the floor calls.

What usually shows up on a service, and what it involves

• One room slower than the rest: a loop out of balance or an actuator not opening fully. Fixed on the service.
• Pressure lower than last year: a weep at a manifold fitting. Nipped up on the visit, or a fitting replaced if it's past that.
• Noisy pump: air in the pump or a pump on its way out. Bled on the day; a replacement pump is a repair, from \u00a399.
• Floor takes hours to warm up: the mixing valve has drifted low, or the filters are blocked. Both sorted on the service.
• Thermostat calling but nothing happening: a failed actuator or a wiring centre fault. Actuators are a quick swap; the wiring centre is a repair.

Honest advice: what's overkill

• A service twice a year: once a year is enough for a wet underfloor system. Twice is money for nothing.
• A “system flush” on every service: underfloor pipe doesn't sludge up like radiators. A flush is only needed if the water is dirty when we test it, which is rare with inhibitor in the system.
• Replacing actuators as a set: they fail one at a time. Replace the one that's failed.
• A smart control upgrade sold on the service: a smart controller is a fine upgrade if you want it. It isn't a maintenance item and it won't fix a balance problem.
• Worth paying for: the boiler service on the same visit. It's the heat source for the floor, both warranties need an annual service, and one call out is cheaper than two.

When to book

If it's been more than a year, if some rooms are slower than others, or if nobody's looked at the manifold since it went in, book a service. Send a photo of the manifold with your postcode. Book a service