Having trouble with your underfloor heating? We are here to help.
Have you gone to turn on your underfloor heating for the first time this winter and it is not working how you were expecting it to?
Underfloor heating is a very simple heating system, however, sometimes things don’t go to plan. On the rare occasion that this is the case, we are here to help. This is a guide for troubleshooting potential repair issues with electric underfloor heating and our MCD5/MWD5-VC thermostats. If you are new to using our MCD5 or MWD5 thermostats, it may be worth taking a look at the downloadable manuals:
Here are some troubleshooting questions to help point you in the right direction:
Troubleshooting Section 1
No – continue to the next question.
Yes – the heater has had some form of damage done to it and will require a technician to conduct an investigation. An investigation will determine the problem and provide a repair recommendation.
Yes – the heater has had some form of damage done to it and will require a technician to conduct an investigation. An investigation will determine the problem and provide a repair recommendation.
Yes – continue to the next question.
No – thermostat may have been installed incorrectly.
If your thermostat was fitted off by your site electrician, you may want to contact them to rectify their installation. Speedheat does not generally fit off the thermostats, however, you can contact us to arrange the installation of a new thermostat if your site electrician is unable to do that for you.
Please note that there will be a call-out charge for this. If there is no damage to the thermostat and it has been put together incorrectly, it is just the cost of the call-out. If the thermostat has been damaged, then it will be the cost of a new thermostat as well.
No – thermostat may have been installed incorrectly.
If your thermostat was fitted off by your site electrician, you may want to contact them to rectify their installation. Speedheat does not generally fit off the thermostats, however, you can contact us to arrange the installation of a new thermostat if your site electrician is unable to do that for you.
Please note that there will be a call-out charge for this. If there is no damage to the thermostat and it has been put together incorrectly, it is just the cost of the call-out. If the thermostat has been damaged, then it will be the cost of a new thermostat as well.
Yes – continue to the next question.
No - the screen is likely to have a crack in it from an incorrect installation. Contact the people who completed the installation of the thermostat, as a replacement thermostat will need to be purchased and the broken thermostat replaced. Speedheat is happy to complete the reinstall of this thermostat for you, so please speak to our team about the cost to do so.
No - the screen is likely to have a crack in it from an incorrect installation. Contact the people who completed the installation of the thermostat, as a replacement thermostat will need to be purchased and the broken thermostat replaced. Speedheat is happy to complete the reinstall of this thermostat for you, so please speak to our team about the cost to do so.
Working – Likely to be a thermostat programming issue. Move to section 2.
Not Working (Stone Cold) - Potentially a thermostat issue, however, this could indicate that the heater is compromised and needs repairing. For either answer, put the heater into manual mode, increase the temperature up to 35 degrees, and leave it for 1 hour. Before setting manual mode ensure that the open window feature is turned off as this may turn the thermostat off while it is running in manual mode.
Not Working (Stone Cold) - Potentially a thermostat issue, however, this could indicate that the heater is compromised and needs repairing. For either answer, put the heater into manual mode, increase the temperature up to 35 degrees, and leave it for 1 hour. Before setting manual mode ensure that the open window feature is turned off as this may turn the thermostat off while it is running in manual mode.
How to run your thermostat on manual mode:
If your heating is working (even slightly), then it is highly likely to be a programming issue. Refer to section 2.
Our thermostats have many configurations. Learn more about how to program them properly to suit your space below:
Troubleshooting Section 2: Thermostat Programming
To run your thermostat on room/ambient temperature, it needs to be in the same room where the heating is placed. Some people locate their thermostats in cupboards or in the hallway wall outside of the room where the heating is. These placements are great if your preference is for your thermostat to not be visible in the room, however, you will need to run your heating on floor mode. If your thermostat is inside a cupboard and you are trying to run your heating on room mode this may be the reason why your flooring is not being heated as you would like.
Typically, there is a difference of 5-7 degrees between floor-level temperature and room/ambient temperature. So when running the room on floor mode, you will need the floor temperature set at 31 degrees to have the room temperature feel like 25 degrees. Some flooring types, such as wooden floorboards, require floor temperature limits (of about 27 degrees celcius) to be in place to protect the flooring.
If there is another form of heating in the room, you will need to run your heating on floor mode. If you are running it in room mode, the thermostat will be detecting the room temperature, which could already be warm from the other heating, and automatically switching off.
If yes, it might be best to run your heating on floor mode. This is because in room mode, the thermostat will be detecting the ambient temperature of an open space and reacting accordingly (e.g. turning off when you don't want it to).
If no, the thermostat may have the open window feature switched on and be detecting air movement, which will turn the heater off to conserve energy. Run the thermostat in room mode and turn off the open window feature as discussed in section 1.
If no, the thermostat may have the open window feature switched on and be detecting air movement, which will turn the heater off to conserve energy. Run the thermostat in room mode and turn off the open window feature as discussed in section 1.
If you have programmed a heating schedule, but your heating is coming on when you are not expecting to, this may be for two reasons.
1. Adaptive Function - your adaptive function feature may be switched on. The adaptive function feature learns your heating patterns over time and adjusts its scheduling to the current temperature accordingly. This means in colder months it may start coming on earlier than scheduled to ensure that the room is heated to your preference by the time you have scheduled it for. To avoid this, switch adaptive function off in your settings.
2. Temperature Limits - minimum and maximum temperature limits can be set on your thermostat. If your thermostat detects that the temperature drops below your minimum temperature limit it will automatically switch on and heat the room to the temperature limit. Similarly, if your thermostat detects heat above your programmed maximum temperature, it will automatically switch off.
1. Adaptive Function - your adaptive function feature may be switched on. The adaptive function feature learns your heating patterns over time and adjusts its scheduling to the current temperature accordingly. This means in colder months it may start coming on earlier than scheduled to ensure that the room is heated to your preference by the time you have scheduled it for. To avoid this, switch adaptive function off in your settings.
2. Temperature Limits - minimum and maximum temperature limits can be set on your thermostat. If your thermostat detects that the temperature drops below your minimum temperature limit it will automatically switch on and heat the room to the temperature limit. Similarly, if your thermostat detects heat above your programmed maximum temperature, it will automatically switch off.
Troubleshooting Section 3: Error Codes
E0: Internal failure. The thermostat is defective. Contact your heating engineer as the thermostat must be replaced.
This is a warranty claim. Please contact us to work out the plan to get a new thermostat for you.
E1: Internal sensor defective or short-circuited. Contact your heating engineer as the thermostat must be replaced.
This is a warranty claim. Please contact us to work out a plan to get a new thermostat for you.
E2: External wired floor sensor disconnected, defective or short-circuited. Contact your heating engineer for reconnection or replacement.
The floor probe may not have been connected to the thermostat so you can speak to the person that fitted off the thermostat, or the floor probe may have failed. You can reconfigure the thermostat to operate in room mode only but this will only apply if the thermostat is not located in a cupboard, remote to the room with the floorboards. There may be an option of installing a new floor probe, depending on how and where the thermostat has been installed. Contact us to discuss options if you are unable to change the thermostat to room mode.
E5: This is indicative of internal overheating. Turn your thermostat off immediately as keeping it on will create further damage to the internal part of the thermostat. Contact your heating engineer to have the installation inspected. This is usually because a contactor has not been installed, and there is too much current going through the thermostat (at more than 16 amps it becomes overloaded).
An investigation of the heater wiring will require a technician call out.
An investigation of the heater wiring will require a technician call out.
How to fix an E2 Error:
As you turn on your underfloor heating for the first time this winter, it is good to have some of these points in the back of your mind. At Speedheat, we prioritise making heating your home a simple and enjoyable experience. Our team is always happy to help. You can contact us through our website with any questions or concerns you may have.
Shopping Cart
0