Radiators use steam or hot water to heat your space in the colder months. Instead of heated air traveling through air ducts, a series of pipes move the steam or hot water throughout your home. Like all heating systems, radiators need regular maintenance and, occasionally, things go wrong. The winter months are not a good time to lose heat unexpectedly! In this post, we look at 5 radiator warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.
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Leaking
The biggest causes for radiator leaks are seal and pressure issues. While it’s possible to bleed a radiator at home, this can lead to seal and pressure changes, resulting in leaks. Calling a heating professional can help save hours of troubleshooting.
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Strange/New Noises
Rattling, buzzing, groaning––any noises you aren’t used to hearing when your system runs could indicate a problem. This one can be tricky to diagnose, with causes ranging from a radiator in need of bleeding, to an air vent that needs to be replaced. Again, a professional can help find and fix the problem.
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Radiator Takes Longer Than Usual to Warm Up
A radiator that takes an extremely long time to heat up could indicate the system needs to be bled or rebalanced. In addition, a system that does not become very hot could indicate one of several problems. If none of your radiators are heating well, there could be an issue with your central heating system and/or boiler. If only one radiator isn’t working, the system might need a valve repair, power-flushing or bleeding.
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Cold Patches
If your radiator feels cold on top but warm on the bottom, it might need to be bled. Our post on how to fix one cold radiator explains this process. A radiator that feels warm on top but cold on the bottom might need to be flushed.
Work with a Professional
If you’d like to skip the troubleshooting, give SBPHA/C a call! We proudly serve Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester Counties. Our clients trust us to restore their heat quickly when it matters the most. Contact us online or call 215-584-2098 today for all your plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs!