Central heating and boilers are vulnerable to malfunctions and faults. It is a frustrating situation, when something goes haywire at the wrong time, especially when the temperature dumps below 12 degrees.
In summer people don’t need a heating system, so it is turned off but as soon as autumn starts their boiler starts acting weird. It can be because the boiler was sitting ideally for the entire summer months, so it is recommended to switch on the central heating system at regular intervals in the warm months.
In the winter season, the system is consistently working and this can trigger some issues.in many cases, the issues are simple and fixed on your own. If there are things that you don’t understand then call professional heating technicians. In Southampton Hampshire, Beckett’s Plumbing & Heating is the best repair and servicing destination.
How to fix common central heating system issues?
To prepare for the upcoming cold months switch your gas boiler at the start of autumn. There are chances you may encounter some common issues listed below.
Cold patches
The radiators can have cold patches. It can be because of several reasons and will need different fixes.
- On top – The radiator is cold on top because air is trapped inside the system. Bleed your radiator to allow air escape. Switch off the heating system. Place a bowl below the radiator to locate the bleed valve and catch any spillage. There is a bleed key you need to open and let the air out. As soon as, the water starts dripping close the valve. Switch on the system, and check and adjust the boiler pressure.
- At the bottom – Radiator cold at the bottom means water flow is obstructed. It can be because of scale or rust. It can even be sludge-build up. In case your system is open-vented then add sludge remover and this will clear the obstacle. If your system is not open-vented then call professional engineers because pipes need to be flushed and it is tricky.
- Cold in middle – It can be because of rust or sludge. This is challenging and needs professionals to fix the issue.
Hot & cold radiators
Sometimes the radiators on the first floor are hot, while on the ground floor are cold or vice versa. It is due to some kind of obstruction. Check which are hot and which ones are cold. Check if the valves of cold ones are open, you can even open the more.
If the radiators are cold upstairs then the issue is low boiler pressure. Introduce water until the pressure returns to normal. If the radiators are cold downstairs then the pump is malfunctioning. It needs a professional technician to descale the central heating system.
Strange sounds
If the boiler is making hissing or banging sounds then get cautious. It is called kettling, which is not normal. It means the boiler is overheating and can be hazardous. Turn the boiler off and if kettling sound still persists then the issue is trapped air. Find the bleed valve and vent excess air. Try descaling to fix noises or call professionals.
