Home Emergency Book Vol 1 | Page 189

192
HOUSEHOLD EMERGENCIES

Central-heating problems

A hot-water heating system – which is composed of a boiler and circulator, radiators or baseboard, and an expansion tank – can stop working if the circulator jams, or if a radiator develops a leak or has air trapped in it. Dealing with these problems is usually straightforward. Use the action plan to identify the problem, then follow the instructions on the opposite page. Alternatively, call a plumber or heating specialist.
ACTION PLAN
START
What is your heating problem?
Are the timer and thermostats set correctly?
Is the circulator pumping water?
Single radiator not working
Yes
Yes
No radiators working
No
No
Radiator or joint leaking
ACTION
RESET THERMOSTATS OR TIMER
ACTION
TRY RELEASING AN AIR LOCK IN THE PUMP( see Circulator jammed, p. 193)
Is any part of the radiator warm?
Yes
Is the joint or the radiator itself leaking?
Joint
ACTION
CALL IN A PLUMBER TO FIX YOUR SYSTEM
No
Radiator
ACTION
SEAL HOLES IN
RADIATOR( see Radiator leaking, p. 193)
ACTION
ACTION
BLEED RADIATOR( see Radiator not working, p. 193)
REPAIR JOINT( see Radiator leaking, p. 193)
ACTION
CHECK VALVE IS OPEN( see Radiator not working, p. 193)