Floor heat splice repair

[Electric_kool_aid]

So the tile guys messed up my floor heat wire I’m getting a ground fault with 26 ohms hot to ground (this is a 240 floor heat system). Trying to avoid ripping the entire floor up (I know it’s their problem not mine but I’m trying to work with everyone). Been doing research on splicing the wire itself, the manufacturers sell both cold line and hot line splice kits. There are technicians that can find the fault location so we only have one tile to rip up. My worry is liability and if this is actually a legal thing to do I know in accessible splices are obviously a no go. Wanted to hear thoughts on this or if anyone’s experienced it. Will most likely be ripping the floor up but wanted to look at options

 

[Elect117]

If the manufacturer sells a listed repair method than I would be inclined to go that route. But I do not think there is a code section that would really accept it. There are only a few code sections that allow splices to be buried or inaccessible. I don't think there is one that applies to floor heating wire.

You do have 424.40. I just don't know if that applies to sections that will be covered / inaccessible.

 

[kwired]

If it is heat trace wire I think most will have a repair splice kit designed for the purpose.

If it is a heat mat of some sort that goes down before finishing the floor, it may depend on design of that mat. I seen some more recently that are low density and more like a printed circuit on a thin plastic sheet and can go under almost any floor covering. Where I seen it recently was a vinyl plank floor system. I did not see how they installed it, but did see some the left over pieces of the product. I doubt that product was repairable though. But that flooring system would be easier to remove for replacing a section than tile would be as well. I think it had jumper leads between each section of mat so you likely would replace the entire bad section.

 

[Electric_kool_aid]

If it is heat trace wire I think most will have a repair splice kit designed for the purpose.

If it is a heat mat of some sort that goes down before finishing the floor, it may depend on design of that mat. I seen some more recently that are low density and more like a printed circuit on a thin plastic sheet and can go under almost any floor covering. Where I seen it recently was a vinyl plank floor system. I did not see how they installed it, but did see some the left over pieces of the product. I doubt that product was repairable though. But that flooring system would be easier to remove for replacing a section than tile would be as well. I think it had jumper leads between each section of mat so you likely would replace the entire bad section.

Thanks yea this is the heat wire. They lay a mat down first then we run the heat wire through the Mat then they tile over it. They do have a manufacture splice kit and I can find the damaged wire with thermal imaging. Trying to avoid ripping up the floor this tile is 80 bucks a piece. Super high end home

 

[cabledawg]

There is a new product out like JB weld but for cables now. Not sure of voltage ratings or temps specs. For fault locates, the tech can TDR(Time domain reflectometry) it IF you know the Cable route. Hope this helps a little bit.

 

[qcroanoke]

Thanks yea this is the heat wire. They lay a mat down first then we run the heat wire through the Mat then they tile over it. They do have a manufacture splice kit and I can find the damaged wire with thermal imaging. Trying to avoid ripping up the floor this tile is 80 bucks a piece. Super high end home

I probably would not want to splice it unless directed to do so by the G.C. or the homeowner and in writing.

 

[Electric_kool_aid]

looked into alot of the splices from the manufacturer, the floor ended up getting ripped up and redone. i wasnt wanting to be liable for any of that but thank yall for the input! plumbers ended up paying for this one they put screws through the wire