noisy radiators

i-luv-free-stuff

ariba10 wrote:

It is probably the copper tubes expanding and contracting with the change in temperature as the thermostatic valves open and close on demand.

no way of stopping it then?

ariba10

i-luv-free-stuff wrote:

no way of stopping it then?

As they expand and contract they probably rub against each other or across whatever they are resting on.

Without taking all the floorboards up in the area that the sound is coming from to see there is not you can do.

I have the same problem but I get up at about the same time the central heating comes on so I look on it as my alarm clock.

i-luv-free-stuff

ok ariba ..but with the heating on most of the time because of the baby its not the best alarm clock!!!

matto

If you can find the troublesome thermostatic valve and turn it right up or even remove the thermostatic bit you may find the problem dissappears.

This may be why you didn't have the same problem last year. It could be that you've turned the heating up, have it on longer or turned the valves down.

aliasojo

We had the same thing but downstairs in our living room. It sounded like it was coming from the wall the rad was mounted on rather than the rad itself. It drove me nuts so I ended up hauling off the plasterboard and sawing a small section of wood off around the pipes.

When the installers had put the heating in, they had drilled holes almost the same size as the pipes which meant the pipes were a really snug fit. Of course the heat also made the wood round them expand. As soon as I cut out some of the wood......silence!

We have a similar but much much quieter noise where the pipes run across the joists on the upstairs landing but it is only quiet and it's not bothersome.

Bit extreme to start demolishing your house because of a noise, lol. But for me....it was worth it!

i-luv-free-stuff

matto wrote:

If you can find the troublesome thermostatic valve and turn it right up or even remove the thermostatic bit you may find the problem dissappears.

This may be why you didn't have the same problem last year. It could be that you've turned the heating up, have it on longer or turned the valves down.

are the thermostatic valves the ones on the radiators?

matto

Yes.

They should be recognisable as they are quite large - much larger than the non-adjustable valves on the other end of the radiator and have a large number of slits in the knob.

kenshaz

Whilst the problem does exist when you have Thermostatic valves which restrict reduce the diameter and causes friction and resistance you get this problem when you do not have TRVs(thermostatic valves) the pipes need insulation cushioning at certain points and proper clipping,movement due to pressure and expansion and contraction,ie pump and temp,and clipping. Have you turned your pump down yet.

i-luv-free-stuff

no kenshaz ... i dont really want to take the cover off the boiler , but , i will tomorrow and i will have a look for it.

i will let you know what happens!

Charlotte_3-2

Hi i'm no plumber but we have the same problem and also have a combi- bolier i was told, that copper pipes expand when they heat up and so you get the tapping and clicking, newer houses have plastic push fit pipes and you don't get any noise! lucky them. As far as i know theres not alot you can do (appart from replace the whole heating system! Whilst we had the floor boards up we tried to secure the pipes better so there was less vibration it help slightly but not much.