Radiators Not Heating Evenly

If you find that your radiators are not heating up or they are not heating evenly, there can be several problems which can lead to this.

If your radiators are not heating up at all, then the first check to be made would be the thermostat. Is the thermostat on? Is it operational as is should be? Is your thermostat in a cool place like near a window, an open door or a draughty area in the building?

Assuming that any problems with the thermostat have been resolved and you are still having problems, you then have to decide if all the radiators are heating up or not? Are the radiators only heating up in certain areas but not others? Are the radiators heating up but just not heating evenly or radiators with cold spots, either at the top, middle or bottom.

All of these signs show the diagnosis for different problems.

Radiator Not Heating Up 

If your radiators are not heating up at all, you first have to check that the boiler is switched on; the thermostat is on, operational and set to an appropriate temperature in case the heating is merely off as the set temperature has already been reached. 

It sounds like a daft thing to say but we see these kind of “problems” every day. Ensure your room thermostat has batteries in it and it is on. If you have a room thermostat. Ensure that it is connected to the boiler by the receiver and that the receiver is at the correct setting (and not to off!!!)

Assuming that you do not have any problems with your thermostat and that you have checked all the simple stuff, you can then investigate further in the knowledge that your boiler and central heating system should be operational. 

Radiators Heating Upstairs but Not Downstairs

Sometimes we come across radiators heating upstairs but not downstairs. Or the reverse. Heating downstairs but not upstairs. Again, this could be to do with your thermostat and its setting. However, it could also be the zone valve or pump not working properly, or at all. If this is the case, call in a Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer. 

Radiators Staying Cool

If you have the situation wher you find that the radiators are staying cool and you have already made the necessary checks that the boiler and thermostat are operational, it is possible that your pump is not working at maximum efficiency or faulty. 

By checking that the pump motor is running, it could be that the pump outlet is blocked. 

Radiator Cold at Top

If your dariator is cold at the top, then it is most likely that there is air trapped at the top and not allowing the hot water to pass freely around it. 

Simply bleeding the radiators will eject the water and leave the radiators free from air and will heat up again very quickly once the hot water starts passing through them again. 

These are the kind of simple, easy radiators repairs you want to have to deal with and should certainly be able to do before calling in for a local boiler engineer to fix your central heating system when there is nothing wrong.

Radiator Cold In The Middle

When you find cold spots in the middle of your radiator, it is a sure sign that there is a sludge build up which is blocking the hot water from passing through the system and preventing the radiators from heating up. If your radiators are cold in the middle you need a Power Flush.

Radiator Cold at the Bottom

Similar to your radiators being cold in themiddle, if your radiators are cold at the bottom, again it is a sign that there is a build up of iron and rust deposits forming a sludge which blocks hot water from flowing round your central heating system. 

Once again, your only outcome is to get a power flush. 

You can also check that your boiler is not overheating.

If it does not do this, then you should call out a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer to investigate the problem further.

If you are still having problems which you are unable to resolve yourself, you should call in a professional Local Boiler Engineer in East Kilbride  by giving us a call 24 hours a day, every day on (01355) 202656.