Residential Heating Services

Many factors can contribute to when you should replace your radiator. Most radiators can last 10 to 15 years. You may decide to replace yours if you notice they aren’t efficient or are starting to fail.

How you repair a boiler leak can depend on the cause, such as high boiler pressure, corrosion, or a faulty heat exchanger. Start by checking the pressure gauge and bleeding your radiators to release water. Look for any leaks around pipe fittings or joints. Sometimes, corrosion can wear away seals. Call your local service professional to take care of boiler leaks for you.

Average household boilers with regular servicing and maintenance can last up to 15 years. Some last longer or fail sooner, depending on factors like use, installation, and servicing.

Boiler radiator heating systems consist of radiators and a boiler. Metal radiators fill with hot water or steam generated by a boiler and work efficiently to heat the rooms in which the radiators are present. They are a quiet way to heat a house compared to blowers and fans.

Most boilers in the United States run on electricity or gas. Coal-powered boilers are less common than they used to be. Gas boilers often use propane or natural gas and cost less than electric boilers. However, you may enjoy more energy efficiency with electric boilers. Electric boilers also tend to be smaller with fewer moving parts and more eco-friendly.

Many homeowners know they need to flush their radiators when they hear loud noises, see brown liquid when they bleed their radiators, feel cold patches at the bottom of their radiators, or their radiators need bleeding more often than usual. While you might know when you need to flush your radiator, that doesn’t mean you know how to do it. Take these steps or contact a trained professional:

1. Turn the heating off and let your radiators cool down
2. Cover your flooring to keep it clean and dry
3. Turn off the valves at both ends of your radiators
4. Loosen the nut that joins the thermostatic radiator valve to the radiator
5. Put a bucket under the thermostatic radiator valve and use a bleed key to open the valve and remove air pressure
6. Drain the radiator into the bucket and loosen the lockshield valve nut to catch water out the side of the radiator
7. Once you’ve drained the radiator, close the bleed valve with your bleed key
8. Uninstall the radiator from the wall and take it outside
9. Flush the radiator by attaching a hose to the valve inlet and turning the tap on to flush it out.
10. Put the radiator back on your wall, retighten the nuts, and open the valves. Check the boiler pressure.

You might know when it’s time to replace your boiler, but what about your radiators? Most radiators will need to be replaced when they are beyond the point of repair or restoration. Most modern radiators last 10 to 15 years. Even if they still work beyond that timeframe, they are likely no longer as efficient as new radiators on the market.

You may also decide to replace your radiators if they are corroded. If left unchecked, that corrosion can build up, accumulate in your radiators, and block water from providing good heat output.

Your locally owned and operated Mr. Rooter Plumbing can provide a wide range of home radiator services, including:

• Bleeding radiators to remove air from the system
• Flushing radiators to clear sediment and rust from the lines
• Applying sealant to stop a radiator leak
• Replacing leaky radiator valves and other parts
• Replacing zone control valves and leaky relief valves
• Replacing circulator pumps

Boilers and radiators work together behind the scenes to keep your home warm and comfortable. However, they sometimes need our help. Contact a licensed and insured service professional to provide the following important maintenance tasks:

• Check the condition of your vent connection pipe and chimney
• Check the heat exchanger’s integrity – inspect for leaks
• Adjust boiler controls for optimal water and air temperature settings
• Perform a combustion-efficiency test (if you’re replacing or retrofitting your radiator boiler)

Home heating radiators are reliable and effective forms of heating, but that doesn’t mean they’re problem-free throughout their lifetime. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to encounter a myriad of problems. Fortunately, many common issues are easy to rectify with the help of trained service professionals.

• Pilot Light Keeps Going Out - Pilot burners are small gas burners. Surprisingly, having them go out is quite a common problem! A pilot light often goes out due to a buildup on the gas nozzle or a gust of air extinguishing the flame. However, it could also be the result of a broken thermocouple. If that’s the case, it's best to call a trained service professional for help.
• Boiler On But No Heat to Radiators - If your boiler is running but your radiators are producing little to no heat, there could be air trapped in your central heating system. Contact trained service professionals to bleed and flush your radiators.
• Boiler Making Strange Noises - Don’t ignore any strange noises coming from your boiler. Whether it’s a bang, a whistle, a gurgle, or a vibration, it could indicate a problem with your boiler. The most common causes of a boiler making strange noises are air in the system, a failing pump, or low water pressure. If you hear a vibrating or humming noise, check your boiler’s connectors and adjust the settings. If you hear gurgling, try bleeding your radiators. When in doubt, contact a service professional.
• A Leaking Boiler - A number of things can cause a leaking boiler, such as corrosion or a broken component like a valve or seal. If you suspect or identify a leak in your boiler radiator heating system, call a service professional without delay. Never attempt to fix a leaking boiler by yourself.
• The Thermostat and Boiler Aren’t Working Together - Your thermostat and boiler need to work in harmony to ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature. If your radiators don’t seem to be at an appropriate temperature, check your thermostat and its settings. If they all look as they should, it might be time to contact a service professional for thermostat replacement.
• Boiler Keeps Switching Off - There are few things as frustrating as trying to keep your home warm and comfortable when your boiler keeps switching off! Many things can cause such a problem, like low water pressure or a thermostat problem. Call a service professional for help. They can adjust your thermostat, bleed your radiators, and take other actions to address the cause and provide a solution.

Boiler maintenance and repairs can go a long way toward keeping it in excellent shape for many years. However, there may come a point when repairs are no longer the most cost-effective solution, and replacing the boiler becomes the better option. Here are some of the many signs that may see you contacting home heating radiator experts for boiler installation:

• Your Boiler Is Leaking - A leaking boiler can certainly be a tell-tale sign that you require a new one. Many leaking boilers have age-related structural problems that are not cost-effective to repair.
• It’s Over 15 Years Old - Time isn’t always kind to our boilers. What’s more, technology and efficiency can change over the years. If your boiler is over 15 years old, consider a replacement. You can avoid waiting until there’s a frustrating failure at an inconvenient time and enjoy more energy efficiency and safety.
• It Smells Strange - Boilers and boiler radiators shouldn’t emit strange odors. If you notice a bizarre smell around your boiler, contact a service professional to diagnose the problem. Odors can often come from dirt, sludge, and rust deposits.
• You’re Constantly Paying for Repairs - Most homeowners don’t mind paying for regular maintenance services with licensed and insured professionals. After all, regular maintenance can keep your boiler in good condition and even sometimes prevent costly problems.
  
  However, if you’re constantly contacting service professionals to replace parts and provide repairs, you may like to consider a replacement. Total repair costs may end up as much as a new boiler but without the same reliability as one.