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How to identify and repair a broken underfloor heating cable.
If you have already tested and found damage to an underfloor heating system Warmup recommends that a licensed electrician follows along with the below video to make a repair with our repair kits. Warmup support is available over the phone to assist answering any questions throughout the process.
What are the common causes of damaged heating cables?
The most common time for a cable to be damaged is during the installation process. If the cable is installed correctly, the odds of it becoming damaged over time are very low. Be cautious of the following during installation to ensure there is no damage to the cable:
- Use a plastic trowel. When applying thinset over the underfloor heating system, the sharp edges of a metal trowel can nick the heating cable if you’re not careful.
- Dropping sharp tools. Be careful with any sharp tools you are using during the installation – dropping them on the cable can create nicks or breaks.
- Properly embedding the factory joints. If the factory joint between the heating cable and the cold lead or the factory endcap are not properly embedded in thinset, they can deteriorate over time, causing damage to the heating cable.
If you are doing renovations to a room with underfloor heating, it is important to know where the cables are in the floor in order to avoid accidental damage to the heating system during the renovation.
How do I know if my floor heating cables are damaged?
If you suspect that there is an issue with the heating cables in your floor, the first step is to take resistance readings of the cable. To do so:
- Turn off power to the floor heating system from the breaker.
- Remove the thermostat from the wall and disconnect the lead wires that connect to the floor heater (wired into the load side of the thermostat).
- Using a Digital Multimeter set to 200Ω, record the following tests:
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- Core-to-core
- Black to Ground
- Red to Ground
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If there is no reading core-to-core, this indicates a full break in the cable. Readings outside of the range – or readings back from the ground – indicate a nick or short in the cable. You can check the appropriate resistance of the cable in your floor by referring to the tag on the cold lead or in the product specifications, available on our Literature Page.
How do I repair my floor heating system after determining the cable is damaged?
After determining that there the floor heating cable is damaged, perform the following steps to repair your floor heating cable.
If the floor finish is not yet installed…
If the floor finish has not yet been installed over the heating system, you will likely qualify for our SafetyNet Guarantee. Contact Warmup to process the warranty and replace your cable.
If the floor finish has been installed…
You will first need to pinpoint where in the floor the break in the cable is. This can be done with a Hi-Pot Machine and Infrared Camera. Warmup recommends only a certified electrician perform the tests with this equipment.
Once the location of the break has been found, carefully break and pull up the tile (or other floor finish) in the surrounding area. Then, cut out the section of wire that is damaged and reconnect the ends using a repair kit. Repair kits can be ordered from our Warmupedia Shop, free of charge.
> Click here to watch our YouTube Playlist on how to repair a heating cable.
Contact Warmup for further assistance.
We understand that dealing with a damaged heating cable is a frustrating process, but we are here to help every step along the way. For further assistance with your floor heating system, you can reach out to us by phone at (888) 927-6333 or by email at ussales@warmup.com.
