Why is my radiator cold?

Don't you just love waking up on a cold morning to a warm comfy house- but if your radiators are not heating up as efficiently as they should be you might wake up a little chilly. There are several reasons your radiators might not be working, see below for the most common reasons.

Common reasons why radiators are not working:

Thermostat is set too low.
The time isn't working.
Radiator valve is closed.
Air pockets in the system.
Blockages within the system.
Circulation fault.

Why is my radiator cold at the bottom?

When the radiator is cold at the bottom it is likely due to a blockage that is restricting the circulation of hot water to the whole radiator. Usually this is a result of sludge and debris build up which is caused by the metal and pipes reacting with oxygen and water over time. If you live in a hard water area lime scale can also build up in the system.

A power flush can help clean your radiator and remove the blockage and dirt in your system.

Why is one radiator cold when the heating is on?

If one radiator is cold when the heating is on, this could be a result of air stuck in the system.

Firstly check that the valve is open as sometimes it can be quite simply that the valve has been closed meaning no hot water is going to reach the radiator.

If the valve is open then we can assume it is an air lock- luckily the solution is quite simple : bleed you radiator.

Click the image below to see how to bleed your radiator to remove air in your system.