There's no disputing that radiators that fail to heat up may be a major issue. The last thing you want is a frigid home in the dead of winter, so what should you do if your radiators refuse to heat up? Fortunately, there are a few easy actions you can do to address the issue and start your radiators heating your house as quickly as possible, such as radiator balancing and powerflushing.
What is radiator balancing?
When it comes to most older gas boilers, electric boilers, oil boilers, and heat pumps, 'radiator balancing' simply means making sure every radiator in your home is hot. To balance the system, heating experts must restrict access to radiators closer to the boiler (through thermostatic radiator valves, [TRVs]) while opening access to radiators further away. Water will always choose the route of least resistance, so unless you encourage it around all of the radiators, it will only circle the one nearest to the boiler. In this manner, hot water is cycled throughout the heating system. TRVs come in a variety of forms and designs, so it's critical to select the right radiator and radiator valves for your home. To read our guide on TRVs, click the button below:
In order for a modern gas or oil-fired boiler to work in 'condensing mode,' the temperature of the water returning to the boiler must be less than 54 degrees (preferably lower). If the system is not correctly balanced, the water temperature returning to the boiler will exceed 54 degrees. The boiler will continue to operate, but it will be inefficient. Fortunately, our heating professionals here at Elements Heating Installations can install a variety of radiators and TRVs to guarantee that your system remains balanced while also significantly enhancing your energy efficiency!
What else can I do to my radiators if they're not working properly?
If you have cold spots on your radiators or entirely cold radiators that aren't working, the best thing you can do is to book in a visit from a heating engineer so they can conduct a system powerflush.
A powerflush is the process of flushing out and refilling each radiator with clean water. This eliminates air from the system and halts corrosion at the source. It is also a good idea to get magnetic filters installed, which our engineers can provide for you. These do an excellent job of keeping any excess sludge from entering the boiler. Get in touch with Elements Heating Installations if you want to ask us more about radiator maintenance by calling 07875 344794.
