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One radiator stone cold

11 replies

BadActingParsley · 12/10/2025 08:00

And the pipes into it. I think it’s the radiator at the end of the system if that makes sense. It’s the towel rail in the bathroom.

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Mrsoftandhisstrangeworld · 12/10/2025 08:01

You just need to open the side valve.

NainAGP · 12/10/2025 08:03

The last one in the system is the answer my plumber gave too. It was partially resolved when I turned off another one and then it did come on. Not ideal, but worth it in my case.

DoOneBetty · 12/10/2025 08:09

There are lots of helpful videos on YouTube on how to deal with this which may save you ringing a plumber. Have a look at a few of them to get some idea of how to fix it and have a go. Usually it is about balancing the system so messing around with other radiator valves.

We all had zones to work out which radiators came on first, second etc, we involved the children but they were teens.

Brenda34 · 12/10/2025 08:13

Check that both valves are fully open. It's so easy to turn them the wrong way 🤦‍♀️

Floranan · 12/10/2025 08:19

Check to valves on the radiator first, probably have but doesn’t hurt to check again.

being on the end I would say the either the pump isn’t strong enough for the amount of radiators you have or you simply have the valves set to high on all the others. Try turning the others down and see what happens.

you could have an airlock in the system, is this the first time you have it on this year ? If altering the valves don’t work try bleeding the system.

ACynicalDad · 12/10/2025 08:20

Might well be valves on an earlier radiator in the system or a lot of air in the system, start by bleeding them all.

user148984678942 · 12/10/2025 20:05

Did it work fine last winter? If so bleed the radiator first and if that doesnt work remove TVR and check if pin is stuck. It should go up and down.

DavidPeckham · 12/10/2025 21:38

Bleeding the radiator first port of call but if the pipes leading there are cold then possibly won’t fix. Second thing I’d do is shut off all the radiators in the house except for this one and see if that then gets it hot when you fire up the central heating. If it does then lots of videos on YouTube about then balancing the system. If it doesn’t then I’d probably take radiator off wall and put in garden to run a hose through it incase sludged up. If that has no effect then you’re into the realms of trouble shooting back through the system as hot water not getting to the rad.

BadActingParsley · 12/10/2025 21:42

the whole system got cleared of sludge 5 years ago when we moved in and most of the radiators and pipes replaces,the cold bathroom one was new then. I’ll bleed theM and then try balancing them. Wish me luck.

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PigletJohn · 13/10/2025 02:26

It probably doesn't need bleeding. A radiator that has air in it will be hot at the bottom (where the water is) and cold at the top (where the air is).

Bathroom radiators and towel rails are often turned off by people who consider heat to be an expensive luxury. Or sometimes to shut off a leak. So start by verifying that the valves at both ends are open. The lockshield at one end may have a cap over the spindle. You can take this off and use the knob from the other end. Radiator valves have spindles that are made of brass, which is a soft metal and easily damaged. So please do not use pliers or other tools. Use a radiator knob, if necessary borrowed from another radiator. It is never necessary to tighten or open a valve shut with great force hard against its stop. This may make it seize, or even break.

Radiator valves should never be opened to the max. If it does not heat up when both valves are opened, turn off ALL the hot radiators. This may divert the flow to the cold ones. If so you can balance the system, which is a different topic.

BadActingParsley · 14/10/2025 06:39

@PigletJohn and everyone. Thank you! Fiddled with the knobs….it was turned off.

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