Radiant heating systems both hydronic (water-based) and electric resistance provide one of the most comfortable forms of heat available, warming people and objects directly rather than circulating hot air. When these systems develop problems, the diagnosis requires a different skill set than conventional forced-air HVAC. HVAC Pros. provides radiant heating repair in Wilmington, CA for hydronic systems (heated water circulated through PEX or copper tubing embedded in floors or walls) and electric mat-style systems installed under tile, stone, or hardwood. Common hydronic radiant issues include zone valve failure, circulator pump problems, air in the tubing circuits (which causes cold spots), glycol degradation in freeze-protected systems, and manifold valve issues. Electric radiant failures are typically traced to a broken heating element (detectable with resistance testing), failed thermostat, or GFCI tripping due to moisture intrusion.
Diagnosing a cold spot in a hydronic radiant floor requires methodical zone-by-zone testing measuring supply and return water temperatures at the manifold for each loop to identify which circuit has reduced flow or heat transfer. A loop that shows little temperature differential between supply and return is either not circulating or carrying an air pocket. HVAC Pros. uses non-invasive thermal imaging to identify cold zones across a floor surface before any exploratory work, minimizing disruption to finished flooring. For electric systems, we perform resistance testing on each heating mat zone with a megohmmeter to identify open circuits before removing tile or flooring. Radiant system repairs in Wilmington, CA require patience and specialized diagnostics the kind of careful, methodical work that HVAC Pros.'s technicians bring to every service call.
