Why Is My Radiator Cold At Bottom?

A radiator that is cold at the bottom, but hot at the top, is usually caused by a build up of sludge in your radiators see below how to fix this problem.

What is Radiator Sludge?

Radiator Sludge is a thick Viscous mixture of rust and dirt from within your heating system. Sludge builds up over time and can cause havoc around your Radiators, Pumps, Moterised Valves and Boiler, causing massive expenses in repairs and more importantly loss of Heat.

Five Signs I Have Sludge In My System?

1. Cold Spots at the bottom of Radiators.

2. Noisy boiler.

3. Radiators needing bled frequently.

4. Radiators taking longer to heat.

5. When you bleed the radiators, the colour of the water is black.

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How To Fix My Radiators Cold At Bottom?

Follow These Steps:

1. Cover the area with sheets.

2. Open one valve that’s connected to the radiator.

3. Drain down the radiator using the bleeding key.

4. Remove radiator and bring outdoors.

5. Attach hose to one end and flush out.

6. Return radiator to permanent position, add Inhibitor, and bleed.

Note: If you have a pressurised system, you will need to top up your pressure to 1 Bar, making sure the air has been purged from all radiators.

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Whats The Damage?

With so many variables and components the sludge could cost you a lot of money!

So before we look at “How To Prevent Sludge Build Up” lets have a look at the individual components that can be effected negatively by sludge and what can happen if left un-treated.

Circulating Pump - The circulating pump acts as the heart pumping warm water around your home, however due to its moving parts it acts as a mini magnet and as we have just learnt that sludge is mostly made up of rusted metals, as the water pumps around the system the sludge is attracted to the pump and gradually builds up, just like clogged arteries in a human causing the pump to slow down and in return give up. A dead or dying pump can usually be identified by warm radiators upstairs and cold/colder radiators downstairs.

Pipes - If we are to continue the analogies of the Body, the Copper pipes are like the arteries, and as the sludge passes the small remnants stick to the sides, gradually building unto each other. This makes the pump work harder, just like High blood pressure it increases the pressure within the system.

Motorised Valves - Allows you to Zone off areas in your home, giving you a choice to heat your hot water only and or separate the upstairs + downstairs so they can be controlled via room stat. It is controlled by an electrical actuator, which will open and close the valve if there is a call for heat, however sludge can seal the valve shut causing the actuator to burn out. This usually causes 1 area to heat fine and other areas to be stone cold. I.e. The Radiators all work fine, but the hot water doesn’t heat Up.

Expansion Vessels - Heat expands and when you have a sealed system there is no where for that expansion to go but burst pipes, break mechanisms, or worse blow holes in your system. So this is why we install an expansion vessel on your system, it is usually red in colour and has a rubber diaphragm inside which has an equal pressure of air on the other side. And as air is much easier to compress than water, it allows the water to expand without putting any extra strain on your components. The problem is when the particle get close to the diaphragm it irritates the rubber and causes it to rupture. Causing lots of issues with your pressure. Make sure you speak to your local engineer if this happens to you.

Radiators - wether you have convection or standard radiators if there is sludge in your radiators it is wasting money as the heat is not distributed correctly into your home it will be wasted in other areas and in return you will find heating your home to get more expensive.

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How To Prevent Sludge Build up?

1. Make sure you have inhibitor added to your system.

2. Identify and fix any leaks around the system.

3. Fit a Quality, Magnetic filter.

4. Flush your system every 5 years.

5. If Possible Remove Back boiler

Professional Flushing

We are happy to offer free advice and help to you, however if you prefer us to professionally clean your system or your system is to clogged for a DIY fix we can cleanse it for you. most customers ask to have a new pump and magnetic filter fitted while we are there. We are in the Ards peninsula and service the Peninsula, Bangor and Ards Areas.

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