Boiler owners across the nation are getting their systems ready for the winter season. Many have already have their yearly maintenance checks performed, but if you haven’t allowed the unit to run for several hours, you could be missing a common problem that could disrupt your comfort once the really cold weather begins to set in. The typical cleaning of a boiler doesn’t involve this particular system check, and unless you have had this problem before, you may be baffled as to the cause. The problem usually manifests itself as one or two radiators or baseboards that just don’t get hot. Everything may look like it is running properly, but before you run out and start replacing the radiators you need to bleed your boiler first!

Why Don’t My Radiators Work?

            When you shut down the boiler for the summer, some systems, especially older units, will develop air pockets. These gaps in the water flow cannot pass through the boiler and therefore, the water in that part of the system will not be heated and the room that the radiator or baseboard is in will not get warm. You have to eliminate these air pockets and the way to do this is by bleeding the system. » Read more: Taking Your Boiler Out of Hibernation