With temperatures dropping more rapidly, one inspection can now prevent lengthy call-out queues and cold evenings ahead. Lee Saunders, a plumbing and heating specialist at Toasty's, explains why now is the perfect moment to prepare radiators before darker, colder evenings arrive.
Why test radiators before the first cold snap
"It sounds completely backwards, but testing your radiators ahead of their first winter use is a game changer," says Lee. "When the first cold snap hits, heating engineers are bombarded with emergency calls for seized valves, cold rooms and various other concerns. By taking the time now while the weather is mild, ensures your system will run smoothly and efficiently once the cold weather eventually kicks in."
One valuable tip involves locating the loaded pin. Lee explained: "After being untouched for the majority of the summer, the spring loaded pin in your Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) can easily seize up in the closed position."
Freeing a seized TRV pin
To resolve this issue, Lee suggests: "After removing the TRV head, grab a pair of pliers and gently grab the pin and ease it upwards or gently tap it to free it from its stuck position. It should move up and down slightly once fixed."
"Be careful not to force the pin too aggressively as it can be damaged, in most cases it shouldn't need more than a gentle nudge to get things flowing as they should."
Checking boiler pressure and balancing radiators
The next step involves inspecting the radiator following a bleed. Lee explained: "We all know that bleeding our radiators is important as it removes any trapped air from the system. However, it also can lower the overall pressure of your boiler and heating system which can cause issues including your system shutting down all together."
Lee suggests performing this simple procedure after bleeding radiators: "Use your boiler's filling loop to top the pressure back up to its correct level (typically 1.0 to 1.5 bar) so your system doesn't shut down when you need it most."
The balancing process is essential. Lee noted: "If the radiators nearest to your boiler get nice and toasty, whereas those further away remain lukewarm, your heating is unbalanced," and added: "Water will always take the path with the least amount of resistance, heading to the nearest radiators first."
To correct this, head to the fast heating radiators and locate the lockshield valve (typically opposite the TRV). Turn the valve slightly clockwise to restrict water flow. "By creating this small bit of resistance, you're forcing the hot water further down the pipework to the colder radiators in the home."
