Radiators aren’t heating up? – Simple Checks To Try First
Radiators aren’t heating up? Before you panic, there are a few simple checks you can try first.
Some heating problems have a very simple explanation. Sometimes the boiler is broken. Sometimes the thermostat is having a moment. And sometimes – very occasionally – the heating just isn’t on.
Radiators aren’t heating up at all? Check the heating is actually on
Yes, really. No judgement, but start here.🤦♀️
Check that your boiler is working, then that your heating is set to come on.
Your thermostat also needs to be turned up high enough. If your house is already 22 degrees, but your thermostat is set to 21 degrees, the heating wont come on. It isn’t broken, it’s just being annoyingly logical.
If you have a smart or wireless thermostat, check that its connected. They’re brilliant, right up until they decide to stop speaking to the boiler (or the boiler stops speaking to the thermostat, we’re not placing the blame).
It is also worth checking whether the heating should be on at this time. Pressing the boost button is a quick way to test this. Some of ours are orange, which is handy.
Check the pressure on the boiler
If your radiators aren’t heating up properly, check the pressure on your boiler. On most systems the pressure should be around 1.5 bar. If the pressure has dropped, you may need to top it up.
Occasional top-ups are normal. If the pressure keeps dropping, there may be a leak or another issue. If this is the case, it is best to get an engineers take a look. Repeatedly topping it up and hoping for the best is not a long-term plan, however tempting it may be.
Click here – for a video on how to top up your pressure
Radiators heating unevenly? Check whether the radiators need bleeding
If a radiator is hot at the bottom but cold at the top, there may be air-trapped inside it. This can stop the hot water circulating properly.
Bleeding the radiator may help release the trapped air and allow the radiator to heat up properly.
Have a cloth ready, as a small amount of water may escape once the radiator has filled up. Double check the boiler pressure afterward, it may have dropped a little because you’ve released the air and need topped up.
Remember: Don’t be tempted to open it too far, this is not a time to test your reflexes.
Check the radiator valves
Check that the individual radiator valves haven’t been turned off. This includes thermostatic radiator valves, often called TRV’s. These may be turned low or stuck.
On one memorable occasion, the head of the TRV had come off and been put back on slightly misaligned (with a little help from a curious toddler😜). What looked like 5 was actually 0. We got it realigned and the radiator was fine again.
Giving it a twist should identify if this is the issue. Is it turning where it shouldn’t, or not turning where it should?
Still having trouble?
If you’re still not getting anywhere or just aren’t confident and want a friendly face to help, give us a call. We’ll be happy to help figure it out.