It is commonly known that during the winter, your central heating system may cause a few issues. Our heating engineers, here at DC Heating, Plumbing & Renewables have put together a list of things you can do to help protect and maintain your radiators so you do not have to worry about it breaking down on you, especially when you need it the most.
Are there any signs of cold spots?
Checking for cold spots on your radiators is a great way to make sure your radiators are working properly. Cold spots usually mean there is trapped air inside your radiator which is preventing the evenly distribute the heat. Our heating engineers recommend checking from the top of the radiators, if you notice any cold spots, you will need to bleed your radiators, this simply helps release any trapped air so your radiator can work as it used to.
Is the pipework okay?
Your central heating system is constantly working and overtime is can start to show signs of decaying. This could potentially cause major issues suchs as leaks, so if you do see any signs of decaying or build up of rust or debris on the pipework, make sure to get a professional heating engineer to assess it.
Have you turned off your heating during the summer?
Many people turn their heating off during the summer, this is because they are not using it. Doing this can cause more damage than you think, the reason for this is because when your boiler is turned off for a long period of time, there are chances of certain components to not fuction properly. If you choose to turn your heating off, make sure you turn it back for a brief amount of time every 4 weeks to ensure your radiators are in working condition and ready for the winter.
Bleed your radiators
It is best to bleed radiators when they are not in use. This removes any pockets of air in your radiators and prevents it from moving into your boiler or heat pump, which could lead to airlocks or overheating. Failure to bleed your radiators can result in internal corrosion and damage to boiler-connected parts. It will only take you 20 minutes and you will only need a bleed key, a cloth, and a towel to place underneath while you do it.
Check for sludge
If you've never maintained your radiators, there's a good chance that sludge has accumulated. One of the most obvious signs of this problem is when radiators are cold at the bottom. To resolve this, you must flush the radiator. Bleed it, remove it from the wall, and then connect a hosepipe to the radiator valve inlet, turning it on full blast to flush out all the dirt and grime. Once the water runs clear, the problem is resolved, and you can reattach the radiator to the wall.
If all of the radiators in the house are cold at the bottom, a full system power flush will be required.
For more infomation on how we can help, call our team on 07725 520980 or send us a message using our contact form.
