Looking After Your Radiators
Whether you buy cheap radiators or state-of-the-art ones, you will probably want to look after them. Not only will looking after them make your radiators last longer, but it will also help to minimise maintenance costs, ensure that you don’t have to buy new radiators too frequently (once or twice a lifetime is enough for radiators), but most important of all, they will keep you nice and warm. Here is a guide to looking after your radiators:
1. Check the radiators for cold patches once a month. If you find a cold patch, you will need to bleed the unit. To do this, you need to locate the bleed valve. This is usually found at the top of the unit to the right hand side. If you can’t find it, then use the internet to find that make and model, and you should be able to find information. If not, contact the manufacturer/radiator shop direct. You need to bleed the radiator using a bleed key to open the bleed valve. If you don’t have the key, you can buy one from most DIY stores. You open the valve and air will come out, you keep doing this until water comes out instead. This shows you that the radiator is free of air.
2. If more than one radiator has cold patches, and you’ve tried bleeding them, then you might have sludge in the system. To deal with this, the central heating system needs a power flush. This is where a plumber will pump water through the system at high pressure and will empty the radiator of sludge and debris. Sludge is more likely with cheap radiators, as they tend to flake and corrode inside.
3. Make sure that you deal with any rust on the radiator as soon as you see it. You might need to sand it back and reapply a coat of paint. However, if the rust is too bad, you might need to change the radiator. Rust can lead to burst pipes and radiators, which can be a disaster for the house.
4. Finally, make sure that you have the boiler serviced every year, and, ideally, the radiators too.
1. Check the radiators for cold patches once a month. If you find a cold patch, you will need to bleed the unit. To do this, you need to locate the bleed valve. This is usually found at the top of the unit to the right hand side. If you can’t find it, then use the internet to find that make and model, and you should be able to find information. If not, contact the manufacturer/radiator shop direct. You need to bleed the radiator using a bleed key to open the bleed valve. If you don’t have the key, you can buy one from most DIY stores. You open the valve and air will come out, you keep doing this until water comes out instead. This shows you that the radiator is free of air.
2. If more than one radiator has cold patches, and you’ve tried bleeding them, then you might have sludge in the system. To deal with this, the central heating system needs a power flush. This is where a plumber will pump water through the system at high pressure and will empty the radiator of sludge and debris. Sludge is more likely with cheap radiators, as they tend to flake and corrode inside.
3. Make sure that you deal with any rust on the radiator as soon as you see it. You might need to sand it back and reapply a coat of paint. However, if the rust is too bad, you might need to change the radiator. Rust can lead to burst pipes and radiators, which can be a disaster for the house.
4. Finally, make sure that you have the boiler serviced every year, and, ideally, the radiators too.