• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The DIY Doctor's Blog

Main navigation

      • All Projects
      • Brick, Block, Masonry and Concrete
      • Damp, Condensation, Rot and Woodworm
      • Doors, Windows and Conservatories
      • Electrical
      • Fencing, Decking, Paving and Patios
      • Floors, Walls, Ceilings and Lofts
      • Garages, Sheds and Outbuildings
      • Gardening and Landscaping
      • General Building, Self Build and Renovation
      • General Repairs and Cleaning
      • Green Living and Eco DIY
      • Ground, Foundations and Drainage
      • Heating, Central Heating and Boilers
      • Joinery and Carpentry
      • Materials, Fixings and Fixing
      • Painting, Decorating and Finishing
      • Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety
      • Plastering, Plasterboard and Rendering
      • Plumbing
      • Roofing and Gutters
      • Tiling and Tiles
      • Tools, Appliances and Access
      • DIY Tips
      • Bathroom DIY Videos
      • Decorating Videos
      • Green and Eco Friendly Videos
      • Kitchen Videos
      • Building Foundation Videos
      • Electrical Videos
      • Hand and Power Tools Videos
      • Plumbing Videos
      • Building Videos
      • Fitting Blinds Videos
      • Heating and Central Heating Videos
      • Security Videos
      • Carpentry and Woodworking Videos
      • Flooring Videos
      • Kitchen Videos
      • Damp and Damp Proofing Videos
      • Gardening Videos
      • Plastering and Drylining Videos
      • Find a Tradesman
      • Contract Download
      • Working With Tradesmen - Ultimate Guide
      • Home Improver Protection
      • Price Doctor
      • Tool Store
      • Book Store
      • Tool Reviews and Product Reviews
      • Blog
      • DIY Competitions
      • About DIY Doctor
      • What we do
      • Trade Shows and Exhibitions
      • Master Classes
      • Contact Us

Home > Blog > Heating and Radiators

Heating and Radiators

Posted on March 6, 2013 by DIY Doctor

A quick guide to problems with radiators and how to resolve common heating issues

Heating problems and how to siolve them

Source

We get lots of questions about radiators, and why they aren’t working like they should, so we thought we would give you a quick run down of the most common problems and the cure for them.

We have lots more useful information on heating and plumbing on our main site, so either follow the links in this blog post, or click onto our main site, go to Projects and search for whatever you are having problems with.

The Top of My Radiator is Cold but the Bottom is Hot
When air gets into the heating system it bubbles through the pipes into the top of the radiator. It needs ‘bleeding’, which is a simple job. Click here to find out how to bleed a radiator in our Projects section.

The Top of My Radiator is Hot but the Bottom is Cold
Over time rust, scale and other impurities can build up in the bottom of the radiator preventing the water from properly conducting heat. This is a slightly bigger job than bleeding radiators, but it is still a job that can be tackled quite easily. Go to our Project on Removing a Radiator for instructions. You will need to know about Draining Down the system. Once you have drained down the system then you can remove the radiator and flush it out. When you refill the system you can add in a proprietary scale inhibitor, to help prevent this happening again.

This problem can also cause this next symptom

None of my radiators are getting very warm
See the top of the radiator is hot above. You will need to remove each radiator in turn and flush the system before refilling using a scale inhibitor.

The Radiators are Hot Downstairs but Cold Upstairs
This can show that the feed and expansion tank in your loft has run dry. The most likely cause is the valve in the feed and expansion tank (1), and needs to be sorted out quickly to prevent damage to the system. Changing the valve is within the capability of most Home Improvers.

For an explanation and diagram of a central heating system which includes a feed and expansion tank click on this image.

The Radiators are Cold Downstairs but Hot Upstairs
The most likely cause of this is a faulty central heating pump, which can be easily checked by a heating engineer.

My radiators are hot in some rooms and not in others
Check to see if it is the radiators nearest the boiler that are the hottest, if so your system needs balancing. For information on how to do this go to How to Balance your Central Heating System.


Signup for the DIY Doctor Newsletter

<< Next Post

The Knowledge for home builders
The Knowledge for home builders

Previous Post >>

DoNation for Climate week, it Won’t cost the Earth
DoNation for Climate week, it Won’t cost the Earth

Primary Sidebar

DIY Doctor deal of the week

Inspection Light:

Quality 300 lumen inspection light

RRP Price: £18.58

Special Price: £10.44

Get it here now

See our other deals now!

Advertisments

Signup for our Newsletter

Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals

Sign Me Up!

Follow DIY Doctor

Follow DIY Doctor on Facebook
Follow DIY Doctor on Twitter
Follow DIY Doctor on YouTube
Follow DIY Doctor on Pinterest
Follow DIY Doctor on Tumblr

Blog Categories

Footer

DIY Doctor

Site Menu

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Media/Press
  • Community Work
  • DIY Projects
  • DIY Videos
  • Superstore
  • DIY Tips
  • DIY Suppliers
  • UK DIY Forum
  • DIY Webinars

Other Stuff

  • Advertise
  • Competitions
  • T and C’s
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • NHIC
  • Sitemap

DIY Doctor Social Channels

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on YouTube
Follow us on Pinterest
Follow us on Tumblr

DIY Doctor are members of:

© DIY Doctor Ltd 2022 All Rights Reserved