Restoring Performance in an Existing Radiant Floor Heating System
Valencia, Spain
“The system is heating evenly again. We avoided a much more expensive repair and restored comfort throughout the entire home.”
A heating maintenance company contacted QUIMACER to resolve issues in a residential building in Valencia with underfloor heating that had been installed more than 10 years ago.
Users reported that some rooms took much longer to reach the desired temperature and that the boiler had to run longer to achieve the same level of comfort.
The system had been operating with water that had not undergone any specific treatment, and there was no clear record of preventive chemical maintenance. During the inspection, an imbalance between circuits, irregular flow rates, and the presence of dark water in the drain lines were observed.
The client's goal was to restore performance without replacing pipes or carrying out invasive construction work.
Problems Identified
- Accumulation of sludge and scale in small-diameter circuits.
- Probable presence of biofilm and microbiological contamination.
- Flow reduction in several loops of the system.
- Loss of thermal efficiency and increased energy consumption.
- Risk of damage to pumps, valves, and manifolds due to solid particles being carried along.
Our Intervention
- QUIMACER proposed a two-phase treatment: corrective cleaning and subsequent protection of the circuit.
- It was recommended to analyze the water quality, check the conductivity, pH, color, and presence of solids, and monitor flow rates after the initial flush.
- A protocol was established for circulating the cleaning solution through the circuits, prioritizing the loops with the lowest flow rate.
- It was recommended to rinse until the water runs clear before inserting the circuit protector.
- A preventive maintenance plan was proposed to prevent the problem from recurring next season.
Solution Implemented
- Use of QUIMANET as a cleaner/descaler to remove deposits and scale that are compatible with the system.
- Use of QUIMABAC when there were signs of biological contamination or biofilm in the system.
- Rinsing and subsequent hydraulic balancing of manifolds to verify flow recovery.
- Addition of QUIMAPROTECT / QUIMAFLUID to protect the circuit against corrosion, sludge, and scale.
Target parameters: clean return flow, controlled pH, flow rate stabilized by a control loop, and reduction of abnormal temperature fluctuations.
Results and Improvements
Thermal performance recovery of more than 25% in the most affected circuits.
Improvement of the water balance between rooms.
Reduction in the operating time of the thermal generator to reach the setpoint.
Reduction of noise and flow problems in collection pipes.
Extended system service life by using treated water and a protected circuit.
| Parameter | Technical Details |
|---|---|
| Sector | Underfloor Heating Maintenance |
| Installation | >Residential Building, 10 years |
| Problem | Sludge, biofilm, and reduced flow |
| Application | QUIMANET, QUIMABAC, QUIMAPROTECT, QUIMAFLUID |
| Application | Cleaning + protection |
| Key Improvement | >25% improvement in thermal efficiency |
WHY QUIMACER?
- A comprehensive approach: cleaning, protection, and maintenance.
- Solutions tailored to existing facilities.
- It reduces energy consumption and breakdowns.
- It provides a clear protocol for installers and maintenance technicians.
