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Why is my radiator making a noise?

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A radiator making unusual sounds like banging, clanking, or hissing, does not spell good news. When it is most efficient, your radiator must be like a noiseless entity, working away happily on its own, without so much squeak. If it is making random sounds out of the blue, you might wonder, “why is my radiator making a noise?” A noisy radiator is not ideal, but there are a few ways to troubleshoot this issue instead of buying a new one. Like everything in this world, radiators, too, can be a little imperfect. As you may have noticed, it may make some sounds sometimes, but these go away within a day or two without any intervention. There are several reasons for it to be making a sound. On the other hand, remember that you can always get the services of a boiler engineer, even for issues that may require special focus such as for a radiator repair London.

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Reasons for your radiator making a unusual noise

  • Gurgling Noises – If your radiator makes a gurgling sound, you are not alone. This is one of the most common sounds a radiator makes. As you might have guessed, the gurgling sound is caused by air bubbles trapped inside the hot water. You can fix this problem by ‘bleeding’ the radiator or letting the trapped air out.
  • Banging Noises – You can attribute the loud banging sounds from your radiator to boiler kettling. Kettling is more profound in areas that have a hard-water supply. In this water, limescale is common, and over time, it can build up within water pipes. As a result, the pipes of the central heating system become blocked. The force of the water trying to flow past the blockage is what you may perceive as a loud rumble or bang. It is important to remember that the root of this issue lies in the boiler and not the pipes themselves.

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How do I stop my radiator from making noise?

Regardless of how long your radiator has been making noises, it is best to find the cause of the issue. While noises can be fixed in most cases, they can also be symptoms of a serious underlying issue. If not fixed, the durability of your radiator will be affected, and you will have to invest in a new one. Here are some quick fixes you can try yourself before enlisting expert help. So, have you ever wondered about getting a power flushing service in London? Visit our homepage for more info.

At the same time, looking after your radiator’s wellbeing is important. Ensuring that you engage in ways that would help minimize any future issues will definitely lead to lesser problems to deal with. To get more insight, our blog on how often should you bleed your radiators will prove helpful.

Fixing gurgling noises

As mentioned above, the easiest way to fix gurgling noises is to let the trapped air out. To bleed your radiator, you can use the radiator key to loosen the valve on the radiator. You can hear the air escape. Once you are sure all the air has been let out, you can tighten the valves back again. Beware that the process can cause some water to spill out, so keep a towel handy.

Fixing banging noises

A limescale build-up is the most likely culprit behind banging noises. To remove the blockage and allow the water to flow freely, it’s best to seek professional help. They can help you flush out the whole system to clear the kettling and any other debris. This is an instantaneous solution, and your radiator will be smooth-running and efficient. If you own steam radiators and you have reason to believe that the banging is caused by trapped water, you must drain out the water. To do so, first, turn off the gas supply and boiler.

Then, turn off the intake valve and let the system cool down completely. After this, you can open the drain valve and pour the liquid into a bowl. Close the valve, and you can turn on the radiator once more. Speaking of noises, one of our blogs also sheds light on the same kind of thing, but when it happens to a boiler. So, read all about it on the article, why does my boiler make loud banging noise?

Fixing clicking noises

Unfortunately, there’s no easy fix to clicking noises, as there’s no way to stop the process of metal expanding and contracting. If you have an old radiator, this might be a sign to switch to a newer model made from better quality metal. A radiator is essential to a home, as it helps keep you warm and cosy in the bitter cold of winter.

Hence, it is essential to maintain it and keep it in good condition to last long. Contact a professional today if you are unsure about the sounds emanating from your radiator or if none of the fixes above worked. We can help you get to the root cause of the issue and help you answer, “why is my radiator making a noise?”.

Why is my radiator making noise when off?

The phenomenon of metal expansion and contraction can cause clicking, creaking, or groaning sounds by the phenomenon of metal expansion and contraction. When hot water supplied by the boiler comes into contact with the metal’s cold surface, the metal absorbs the heat and starts to warm up. The creak or groan is a sign of this process.

Once you turn the boiler off, the hot water cools down, and the metal cools down again. As it contracts, it might let off another creak or groan. These odd noises typically occur when you turn on the boiler or turn it off when the water first heats up or cools down. If you are someone who hadn’t faced any radiator problems before, then why not stay updated on what to look out for when it does happen? Our blog titled why is my radiator not working?, will give you more insight.

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