Fixing Radiant Floor Leaks

My introduction into the art of leak detection in slab based hydronic radiant heating systems was in our town s version of levittown n y in an area called fireside.

Fixing radiant floor leaks.

Back then 1972 homes in fireside had radiant heating systems that were springing holes like a metal street sign sprayed with buckshot. While most modern systems are built with tough pex pipes that won t develop cracks with age older systems used copper or steel pipes that were both prone to developing leaks after. This series article discusses the suitability of various tubing materials for radiant heated concrete floor slabs and choices of heat conducting fluids for radiant floors. Slab on grade homes with in.

If a hole s develops in one of the lines it can be a radiant floor disaster. We found a section of hot floor tiles while working on a toilet in the master bathroom. A lot of people ask if floor heating will ever leak or flood the house. How to fix leaking pipes under a slab foundation.

For those of us with young knees there was also an old style hand crank like phone device with a contact pin sticking out its opposite end for direct contact with piping or the floor to listen for leaks. Common radiant floor heating repairs. Found a 1 2 pex pipe leaking in cement slab and jackhammer make repa. Repairing the damaged line is not that hard however.

If you have a leaking pipe underneath your foundation it is either a water or sewer line. Any hydronic system is susceptible to leaking and radiant floor heating is no different. Radiant heating involves pipes buried under your floor that circulate hot water from a boiler to keep your rooms pleasantly and evenly warmed throughout the winter. In this video you will learn about how often this happens and how to repair a punctured or leaking floor heating.

Locate repair patch or abandon basically those were the choices and many opted to cap off lone circuits. Copper tubing embedded in concrete. What causes leaks in tubing or piping used for radiant heat in floor slabs and what repair options make sense when the radiant heat system is leaking.