As the cold weather intensifies, there’s a high likelihood that some radiators may fail to heat up a room or heat up at all. This can become a significant problem.
The last thing you want is a cold house in the middle of winter. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to solve the issue. If your radiator isn’t working, don’t worry; the problem can usually be easily resolved. Follow these five steps and rest assured.
Step 1 – Check for Major Issues
The first thing to do is to check for any major, serious problems with the system. This means checking if all radiators are heating up. Additionally, see if anything unusual is happening with the central heating system. Is the device you use to heat water noisy or not functioning as usual?
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If more than one radiator isn’t heating up, or if the heating device, such as a gas boiler, is behaving differently from usual, there may be a larger issue. In that case, call a professional to address the problem.
Step 2 – Check for Air in Radiators
If one radiator (or a few) isn’t heating up, the most common issue is excess air trapped inside. You’ll easily recognize this if the radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top in most cases.
Bleeding the radiator is simple. Use a radiator key to loosen the valve and keep it loose until you hear a hissing sound. Once water starts to trickle out, tighten the valve and wait. The radiator should start to heat up.
A quick note: keep a container under the valve to catch any water to prevent stains on walls and floors, as the water from the radiator can often be dirty and hard to remove.
Step 3 – Check the Valves
If excess air isn’t the issue, and the radiator remains cold to the touch even when run over entirely with your hand, not just at the top, check all the valves. Ensure that both the left and right valves of the radiator are open. If you have a thermostatic valve (which allows you to adjust the temperature automatically), make sure it’s open and set to heat.
You might think this is trivial, as valves aren’t usually closed year-round, but double-check. Especially if you have children in the house, they might play with the valves and accidentally close them.
It’s also possible that all valves are open, but the thermostatic valve is faulty and closed systemically. In that case, just call a professional to replace it, and that should fix it – it should start heating up.
Step 4 – Check the Pump
If half the radiators are warm and half are cold, and none of them have excess air, then touch the inlet and outlet pipes. If the inlet pipes are warm and the outlet pipes are cold, the issue might be with the pump or the boiler you’re using to heat. Check if the pump is working. If it is, the problem might lie with the boiler. Then, just call experts to come and diagnose the problem.
Step 5 – Only in Case Previous Steps Fail
If after these steps you still can’t get the radiator to heat up, the best thing to do is call in professionals to diagnose the issue. There might be a blockage, dirt stuck in the radiator, or a cracked pipe somewhere. In such situations, don’t hesitate; call a professional to come and diagnose the problem.
Foto: Freepik