An expert has said ‘approximately 80% of radiator issues, particularly when they fail to heat up properly, are simple and easy to fix’ and there’s typically four common blunders to watch out for
Experts have shared the common reasons people may be facing up to an additional £130 on their household heating bills.
With Google searches for “radiators are not getting hot” soaring by 250% in recent weeks, online radiator specialist BestHeating, has revealed the simple mistakes that could be increasing energy bills, and how to fix the issues fast.
According to BestHeating, there’s a few issues which could be the likely causes. Jessica Steele, heating technology expert at BestHeating said: “Approximately 80% of radiator issues, particularly when they fail to heat up properly, are typically simple and easy to fix.
“The main problem is that many people are unaware of the common causes behind cool radiators, leading to panic and unnecessary plumber expenses. By shedding light on these frequent easy-to-fix issues, I hope we can help households across the UK improve their heating efficiency effortlessly in time for winter.”
Here are four common reasons why your radiators aren’t getting hot:
1. Air trapped in radiators
Air can get trapped in radiators, preventing hot water from circulating properly, causing the top of the radiator to stay cold. The solution for this is bleeding them. Jessica explained: “Using a radiator key, turn the valve at the top of the radiator to release trapped air. When water starts coming out, the air is gone, and you can close the valve.
“This should allow the hot water to flow evenly. Be sure to check your boiler pressure after this though, as it may need to be topped up.”
2. Faulty Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV)
A Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) regulates the temperature of each radiator. If it’s stuck or faulty, it can block the flow of hot water. To check and clean the TRV, Jessica advised: “Ensure the valve is not stuck by trying to turn it to a higher setting. If it remains unresponsive, it might need to be cleaned with a soft damp cloth, lubricated with WD-40 or similar, or replaced.”
3. Radiator balancing issue
When some radiators are hot, and others remain cold, Jessica suggested: “It may be a balancing issue where the hot water is not evenly distributed across the system. Balance the radiators by adjusting the lockshield valve on the warmer radiators which is usually found at the bottom opposite the TRV.”
This will reduce the flow and allow more hot water to reach the colder radiators. This requires a small adjustment and testing over time to balance the heat.
4. Boiler pressure issues
The boiler may also be malfunctioning, causing insufficient hot water to circulate through the heating system. This is likely to be a result of low pressure in the boiler.
Ensure the boiler pressure is within the recommended range which is usually 1.0 to 1.5 bar. Jessica added: “If the pressure is too low, you can add water to the system through the filling loop.”
Experts believe these blunders could be adding an estimated £130 onto their heating bills, which is based on an average estimated saving from improving radiator efficiency in a typical UK household, factoring in reduced energy usage and lower heating costs after bleeding radiators to eliminate trapped air.
Consumer experts Which? shared a TikTok video detailing how to bleed a radiator using a screwdriver. In the comments section, people shared their thoughts.
One person quipped: “Bleedin’ heck! … or ‘bleeding hack!’” while someone else suggested: “get a bleed key, much easier than a driver” and someone else nervously added: “no, I’m scared”.
