How to Fix a Radiator Heater

Hot water radiator

Radiator heaters use water heated by a boiler. The heated water is then circulated through a series of pipes to radiators in different locations in the home. Hot-water heating systems that aren't cleaned and maintained properly can lead to reduced efficiency and loud radiators. Repairing a radiator heater system will take at least several hours, but it isn't difficult and can be done by do-it-yourselfers with little experience.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver or valve key
• Towels
• Garden hose
• Wrench
• Elbow fitting
• Funnel
• Rust inhibitor

Instructions

How to fix a radiator heater

1. The solution to decreased efficiency, loud radiator noises or radiators that fail to heat properly is usually to bleed all the radiators in your house. Bleeding a radiator involves releasing trapped air from the hot-water system. Turn up the thermostat so the heating system begins to run. Go to the radiator at the highest point in the house and use a screwdriver, a valve key or, on some radiators the knob, to open the radiator's valve.

2. Hold a towel beneath the open valve. Water will come out of the valve; when it does, close the valve. Go to the radiator that is the next-highest in the house and repeat the bleeding procedure. Do this until you have bled all the radiators in the house.

3. Drain and refill the hot-water boiler to get rid of rust and sediment that reduces the system's efficiency and inhibits the flow of water through the system. Turn off the boiler's power at the main service panel and allow the boiler to cool for at least two hours. Turn the boiler's water supply off and attach a garden hose to the drain at the bottom of the boiler. Put the boiler's drain valve in the "on" position and open the bleed valve of the radiator at the highest point in the house. Drain water out of the boiler, through the hose and into a floor drain. When the water stops draining, open the bleed valve of a radiator closer to the boiler and continue draining water.

4. Locate the gauge or valve at the top of the boiler. When water stops draining out of the boiler, use a wrench to remove the gauge or valve. Place an elbow fitting in the hole where the gauge or valve was removed. Place a funnel in the elbow fitting and pour rust inhibitor into the funnel. Follow the instructions on the rust-inhibitor container to determine the amount to put in the boiler.

5. Replace the boiler's gauge or valve and close all of the radiator's bleed valves. Turn on the boiler's water supply. Bleed the radiators closest to the boiler when the water-pressure gauge on the boiler reaches 5 psi. Bleed the radiators farther from the boiler. Restore power to the boiler when the water pressure reaches 20 psi. Run the heating system by adjusting the thermostat and bleed all the radiators one final time.

Tips & Warnings

• Repairs to boilers and radiators can be smelly. If possible, keep the windows open while bleeding radiators and draining the boiler.

• Do not attempt to drain and refill the boiler without first turning the boiler's power off at the main service panel.

References

• rd.com

Resources

• This site provides more information about hot water radiator systems.