Is Your Radiator Haunted? Common Central Heating Woes & How To Exorcise Them!

Radiators are the most important part of your central heating system. When the hot water inside radiators gets warm, it makes the air around it warm too. Then this warm air moves around the room, making it cosy and comfortable. But if your radiators aren’t working as expected, it’s likely there are issues with your central heating system that need fixing. In this post, we’ll talk about some common central heating woes and how to fix them.

Let’s be honest, not all issues are worth fixing. Sometimes, change is the answer. Changing your heating system comes at a huge cost. If you’re old and on pension, even more difficult. To exorcise these problems, there are central heating grants for over 60s  under the ECO4 scheme.

Some central heating issues are easy to fix. Reliable plumbers and heating engineers can quickly and effectively solve these problems. New heating system or old, let’s look at some common problems with central heating systems.

Cold Patches on Radiators

Cold patches on radiators are a common issue. They make your home heat irregularly and feel uncomfortable. To fix this, understand the problem’s causes and choose the right solutions. First, look at the top of your radiator. If you find it cold while the bottom is warm, trapped air is likely the problem. Here’s what to do:

• Turn off your heating.
• Put a bowl under the radiator.
• Find the bleed valve and open it with a bleed key.
• Listen for air and wait for water to drip out.
• Close the valve and turn on the system.
• Check and adjust the boiler pressure if necessary.

Bleeding radiators and dealing with mold issues

The radiator’s warm bottom is another common issue. So its solution lies in bleeding the radiators. First, turn off the pump and put a bucket below. You can use a radiator key to turn the nut. Next, let air and dirty water escape. Moreover, if you can’t find a radiator key, buy one from a hardware store. Now close the valve after bleeding. It’s where you can check for leaks.

Secondly, most heating system problems take place due to sludge. But don’t worry you can fix this issue as well. First, flush the radiator with running water. If you can’t fix it easily, check your blocked pipe, broken pump, or a poorly designed system. 

Noises from the central heating system

Strange noise from the central heating system is known as kettling. So if you hear this noise when the pilot light ignites, it might be trapped air. So vent air through the bleed screw. If not fixed, fill enough water in the boiler tank. As discussed earlier, sludge build-up may be the issue, so flush the system. Set the pressure system to the right level if applicable.

Cold in the middle and the bottom

If your radiator is cold in the middle, it might have sludge or rust blockage. This is harder to fix and may need a plumber’s help. Next, if your radiator stays cold at the bottom, it too might have rust, scale, or sludge blocking it. Apply these solutions:

• For open-vented systems, use a sludge remover to clear the blockage.
• For systems without open vents, get help from a professional to flush the pipes and remove the blockage effectively.

Leakage problems

Undeniably, leaking pipes in your heating system can cause big problems. No doubt, tightening joints or using sealant can help temporarily, but fixing the underlying issue will be better to avoid more damage.

• Carefully tighten leaky pipe joints with quarter turns.
• If tightening doesn’t work, use sealant temporarily but plan to replace the pipe soon.
• Remember, sealant is just a quick fix; get professional help to solve the problem lastingly.

What’s more, if your system or boiler overflows non-stop, it might be due to a jammed ball-cock. Fix it by un-jamming the ball-cock. Secondly, for immersion tanks leave it to professional plumbers to handle it effectively.

Pressure drop and boiler defects

If your heating system pressure drops suddenly, check the boiler gauge. Causes include water leaks or air removal that takes place after bleeding radiators. Top up water after system maintenance. This will help you to fix the pressure drop. Furthermore, qualified engineers recommend using the filling loop. So if you need more clarification, contact a professional. Without a doubt, a broken central heating system due to a faulty boiler can be expensive and unpleasant in cold weather. But if you experience a problem, contact a professional plumber.

Bottom line

In conclusion, if your central heating system is acting up, there are ways to fix them. You can bleed a radiator, remove sludge, check boiler pressure so forth and so on.   So from bleeding radiators to dealing with strange noises and pressure drops, take timely actions for a cosy home. Remember, a trouble-free home is just a few steps away from exorcising those heating woes! Moreover, there are free boiler grants, and central heating grants that you may be eligible for so apply for them.