Any ideas how to kick start a radiator?

JethroUK

Since switching my central heating back on 6weeks ago the kitchen radiator isn't getting hot. The others are piping hot. It is full of water and no air in it

Any ideas how to kick start a radiator?

gazman100

I had exactly this and feared it would be costly! Turned out not - sometimes either the thermostatic valves break and stay shut, but can be replaced for a tenner and are completely external to the heating system. Or accordingly to the wise old www the values can get stuck shut and need 'help' getting loose after a long break. Best bet is to google those two for a start.

Jonesya

Assuming the valves are open, could be an airlock in the pipework?

I get that with a few of the radiators on my system although normally only after i've drained the system to work on it. Have you drained the system recently? I find opening up the drain !!!! on the radiator and pulling through a litre or two of water normally shifts the airlock enough to get the water flowing and the remaining air gradually works its way out.

Could also be a balancing issue, if you've adjusted the lock shield valves on other radiators in the system then that may be affecting flow. Have your other radiators got working control valves or TRVs - you could try shutting most of them to see if that makes a difference, so pointing to a balancing issue.

sparky260500

JethroUK wrote: »

Since switching my central heating back on 6weeks ago the kitchen radiator isn't getting hot. The others are piping hot. It is full of water and no air in it

Any ideas how to kick start a radiator?

take the top of the trv off and push the pin up and down a few times also give the body a short sharp tap with a spanner or similar. that will free the pin if stuck. also make sure both sides of the rad are open.

bob_a_builder

Turn all the other radiators off so you direct all the flow just to that one which is not heating
see if that warms it up
assuming it does then turn others back on