When the problem is the heating system
Your boiler heats water, but it relies on pumps, valves, radiators and controls to get that heat to the right rooms at the right time. When one part of the system fails, the boiler may be running perfectly while rooms stay cold. We look at the whole system to find the real cause.
Common heating problems
Cold radiators and cold spots
Radiators that are cold at the top usually have trapped air. Cold at the bottom, or patchy, usually means sludge. Some radiators being hot while others stay cold can point to balancing or circulation problems.
Noisy heating
Gurgling, banging and whistling can be caused by air, sludge, pump problems or water flowing too fast through part of the system.
Pumps and valves
Pumps wear out and motorised valves can stick, especially on older systems. These are common causes of “hot water but no heating” and “heating but no hot water” in homes with a cylinder.
Controls and thermostats
A faulty thermostat or programmer can make the heating come on at the wrong time or not at all. We can also advise on upgrading to modern or smart controls that work with your boiler.
Keeping the system healthy
After a repair we may suggest ways to stop the problem coming back, such as cleaning the system, fitting a magnetic filter, adding inhibitor to the water or balancing the radiators. We will explain what each does and whether it is worth it for your home.
If the boiler itself is the problem, see boiler repairs.
Heating problems we can help with
- Radiators cold at the bottom or with cold spots
- Radiators downstairs cold but upstairs warm
- Noisy pipes or gurgling radiators
- Pump failure or poor circulation
- Zone and motorised valves sticking
- Thermostats and programmers not working
- Smart thermostat set-up and compatibility
- Wireless controls losing connection
- Leaking radiator valves
- System pressure rising or dropping
What affects the cost
- Cause of the problem A faulty valve is very different from sludge throughout the system.
- Parts Pumps, valves and controls vary in price.
- System cleaning A badly sludged system may need cleaning before it will work properly.
