Ever considered the need to protect and maintain your radiators?
Whether you are aware or not, it is essential that you know how to protect and maintain your radiators. Radiators are often left unused for long periods of time (the summer). However, they are an investment are essential to heat your home so you would expect them to perform well and last for years.
Radiators need regular maintenance, just like the rest of your central heating system. It is also important to remember that any warranty on a radiator will be reliant on you protecting and maintaining your radiators with the right cleaners and chemicals. With that in mind, follow our simple guide on how to protect and maintain your radiators today.
How do I look protect and maintain my radiators?
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Check for leaks and cold spots
The first thing you will need to do is check for leaks and cold spots. Ensure the radiators have been on for at about an hour before hand. When looking for cold spots, check the top of the radiator first. Cold spots are generally caused by air accumulating at the top of the radiator and sludge that has settled at the bottom. If the radiator is cold at the top, you’ll need to bleed the radiator. You can vent the air out using the bleed nut which is normally fitted at the top of the radiator.
You can find more in our How to Bleed a Radiator blog post. Bleeding radiators is a simple task that most people can carry out themselves as a part of the general DIY maintenance that needs doing around the home. However, the sludge build-up will have to drained out of the radiator and thoroughly cleaned out. For this, you may prefer to get a plumber.
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Check the pipework
It is recommended that you check your pipework occasionally to ensure that it is in good working condition. Water pipes can decay over time, and joints can leak and start to cause problems. Begin by looking for the tell-tale copper build up at the seals and joints of pipes. Arrange for a plumber to carry out maintenance if you identify a potential problem.
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Check the valves
When it comes to the radiator valves, you'll find that each radiator has two valves attached to it. The first is a lock-shield valve that does not need adjusting once it has been set up correctly. There should be a plastic cap over the lock-shield valve which is there to dissuade you from altering the setting. The other valve may either be a manual valve or a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) which are for changing heat output of the radiator. Again, you may wish to change the settings on these valves if your room is either too hot or too cold.
Mr Central Heating Recommends:
Our tried and tested protect and clean products are amongst our customer favourites. Here are just a few for you to check out.
Adey MC1 Protector & Adey MC3 Cleaner
The Adey MC3 Cleaner is a rapid performing and powerful cleaner specially designed to remove system sludge and debris. It is the from the makers of the market leading MagnaClean® filter, removes both system corrosion and limescale deposition. Use it on both sealed and open vented central heating systems.
The Adey MC1 500ml Protector will not only make your more efficient but keep it free from sludge, air and corrosion and protect your radiators. It prevents both system corrosion and limescale deposition. Used for both sealed and open vented central heating systems. The new, stronger formula has undergone stringent testing in ADEY’s accredited laboratory. It has been designed to provide better, stronger and increased protection. The recommendation for dosing is one bottle per 100 litre system or up to 10 radiators.
Fernox F1 Protector & Fernox F3 Cleaner
The Fernox F1 Protector 500ml protects against corrosion and limescale in mixed-metal central heating systems. It stops frequent venting of radiators, prevents sticking pumps and boiler noise, and prevents cold spots in radiators preventing boiler breakdown and improving system efficiency.
The Fernox F3 Cleaner is a neutral universal cleanser for pre-commissioning new systems or restoring heating efficiency of existing systems. Easy to use even with the system running it removes sludge, limescale and other debris. Used in conjunction with the F1 protector, gas savings of up to 15% can be achieved every time you heat your room.
Why not check us out on Pinterest where you can find more top tips to protect and maintain your radiators. Or, if you need some home decor inspiration, come find us on Instagram.
