Where the cold patch sits on a radiator tells you almost everything about what's wrong with your heating system.
Cold at the bottom: sludge
Magnetite, a black iron oxide sludge, settles in the bottom of radiators over years of corrosion, blocking the flow of hot water. Older Birmingham housing stock with original steel pipework is especially prone to it.
Cold at the top: air
Trapped air rises, so a radiator that's cold across the top and warm below simply needs bleeding. That is a five-minute job you can do yourself with a radiator key.
Fixing sludge properly
There are three levels of treatment, depending on how bad the build-up is:
- Chemical cleanse and inhibitor dose for light contamination.
- A full power flush where sludge is widespread and multiple radiators are affected.
- Removing and flushing individual radiators where only one or two are blocked.
Preventing it coming back
A magnetic system filter plus the right level of inhibitor keeps a cleaned system clean, and it's checked as part of an annual service. If you'd rather not tackle it yourself, we cover Birmingham and surrounding areas, seven days a week.
Want it done for you?
If you want your plumbing or heating problem fixed professionally for you, contact Matt Plumbing & Heating today for fast, reliable service across Birmingham and surrounding areas.
