It is very disappointing coming back to your home during winter, only to find that the temperature in your house is the same as the weather outside there. However, you may find that your house radiators have not been operating properly or they are faulty. When radiators fail to heat up. Several factors may lead to these faulty.
Below is some of the most common causes of these problems and their possible solution.
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Check On The Main Heating System
The first thing you should work on when this faulty occur is to check on any possible serious problem. Start by checking on the central heating system if it is operating well. The common sign of this bigger issue is when all the radiators won’t heat up. Check if there is any unusual noise from the central heating system, as you also check if you have hot water in the system. If not so, call an expert such as your local gas and heating engineer for more consultation on the way forward.
Bleed Your Radiator To Get Rid Of Trapped Air
When one or selected radiators are not working, the possible problem is the trapped air. The trapped air can prevent the uniform distribution of the heat by making the bottom to be warm and not the top. This problem is common, especially after summer. The solution for this is bleeding your radiator. Just get your screwdriver and engage the bleeding screw.
You can do it by following these steps:
1. Ensure that all the radiator thermostats are opened.
2. Run the system heating at its full temperature for a while.
3. Turn off the circulation pump and wait for the radiators to cool for almost an hour.
4. Unscrew the bleeding key and bleed the radiator until the water comes out. Do this for the rest of the radiators.
5. Switch on the boiler and check on the water pressure.
6. Call the professional heating engineer for assistance if you encounter any difficulty in bleeding your radiators.
Check For Stuck Valves
The thermostatic valve is also one of the most common causes of cold radiators. When this valve gets stuck, the flow of hot water through the radiator is interfered with, and hence this faulty. This valve is a white control found beside the base. The common cause of its failure is due to age.
In this case, you should remove the head to check its pin if it is raised beneath it. Depress the pin and if it does not rise again, then it is stuck. The pin should be flexible and free to move such that when it is depressed, it can rise again.
If the pin is stuck, then you should try to free it by greasing it, and by using a pair of pliers, try to move it in and out slowly making sure that it is not damaged. If it does not respond, do not try further. Ensure that you get advice from a professional on how to get another valve or repair your old one.
Carry Out A Power Flash If Required
After checking for all the possible problems and finding out that there is no sign of a common fault, then try the power flushing service. This is the removal of debris and sludge that may have become stuck on the central heating system over quite a long period and thus causing system malfunction.
The common sign that the radiator system needs to be power flashed is when you have its top heating up but the cold bottom. This shows that you need to get rid of the sludge at the bottom to help the system heat properly.
To carry out a power flush for your central heating system, its best to call your local professionals such as a Gas Safe registered Heating Engineer to do it for you. This is not a job for the DIYer and to ensure that your power flushing work is done to the required standard by a qualified professional.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our post, for enquiry, please get in touch by calling us on 07771 956641, our team is always happy to answer your questions.
