Flir thermal imaging underfloor heating temperature

Beverly27 · 11 Nov 2021

I recently used a Flir ONE thermal imaging camera on our ground floor wet underfloor heating system, which showed that the loops were all visible, intact and warm.
The first screenshot shows an area of floor with the UFH system pipes visible (32.7C); whilst the second shows an area of the floor upstairs where we have no UFH installed (29C).
Is the temperature shown by FLIR and visible in the images that of the ambient floor temperature, that of the UFH water pipes themselves, or something else? We have an engineered wood floor, the surface temperature of which is not supposed to exceed 27C and the UFH water pipe temperature is supposed to be 40C or less. Because I'm not sure how to interpret the FLIR temperatures shown, I don't know if we're within these parameters. We do have a temperature probe in the screed which tends to sit around 32-35C. Thanks all.

RandomGrinch · 11 Nov 2021

Hi,

In your images, the Flir is showing the surface temperature of the area highlighted in the reticle

Beverly27 · 11 Nov 2021

RandomGrinch said:
Hi,

In your images, the Flir is showing the surface temperature of the area highlighted in the reticle

Thanks RG, that's really helpful to know, much appreciated. How, I wonder, do I address the surface temperature of the floor being 5C or so higher than it should be? Suggestions gratefully received!

sxturbo · 11 Nov 2021

Range rate the boiler flow temps...

Beverly27 · 11 Nov 2021

sxturbo said:
Range rate the boiler flow temps...

Thanks sxturbo. I'm no expert I'm afraid. Is this something which I would do via the manifold?

Diyisfun · 11 Nov 2021

My wet ufh has a thermostat for the mix, I have never altered it as I assume it was set up by the installer.

Beverly27 · 11 Nov 2021

Diyisfun said:
My wet ufh has a thermostat for the mix, I have never altered it as I assume it was set up by the installer.

I'll check the thermostat too, thanks.

RandomGrinch · 11 Nov 2021

The other thing to consider is the average temperature of the floor.

The Flir has given you a spot temperature.
This isn't the highest temperature on the floor; that is shown by the more orange area to the right of the reticle.

However, it isn't the lowest temperature either!
Averaged over the whole floor area, the surface temperature may be a couple of degrees closer to 27C !

...and if you lower the temperature and the rooms not comfortable, the manufacturer's recommendations may have to be ignored!

Beverly27 · 13 Nov 2021

RandomGrinch said:
The other thing to consider is the average temperature of the floor.

The Flir has given you a spot temperature.
This isn't the highest temperature on the floor; that is shown by the more orange area to the right of the reticle.

However, it isn't the lowest temperature either!
Averaged over the whole floor area, the surface temperature may be a couple of degrees closer to 27C !

...and if you lower the temperature and the rooms not comfortable, the manufacturer's recommendations may have to be ignored!

Thanks RG, good points. I've just bought some temperature level indicators, so I hope they'll give an average reading when I use them.

magicmushroom666 · 13 Nov 2021

The accuracy of a flir one wont be completely precise when trying to determine absolute values. It'll be very good at giving relative differences between areas (such as seeing where the pipes are), but the actual temperature number depends on its calibration, the emissivity of the surface, and the acuracy of the device itself.

Beverly27 · 14 Nov 2021

magicmushroom666 said:
The accuracy of a flir one wont be completely precise when trying to determine absolute values. It'll be very good at giving relative differences between areas (such as seeing where the pipes are), but the actual temperature number depends on its calibration, the emissivity of the surface, and the acuracy of the device itself.

Thanks magicmushroom, that's useful. I'll see how I get on with the flat thermometers.

Mr Chibs · 14 Nov 2021

Has the engineered floor been down a while? If so perhaps you shouldn’t worry about the temperature being over the recommended.

I run my ufh at 44° From the boiler, and blending valve at around half... I’ve never measured floor temp, but might now (Out of curiosity) now I’ve seen your post.

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Flir thermal imaging underfloor heating temperature

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