Ugh, it's that time of year again... temps dropping and my heating system decides to throw a tantrum. Last night it started making this weird banging noise every time it kicked on, and now the radiators upstairs are barely warm at all. Downstairs seems okay-ish, but definitely not as cozy as usual.
I checked the pressure gauge thingy (technical term, I know) and it's hovering just below the green zone. Tried bleeding the radiators upstairs thinking maybe air got trapped or something, but honestly didn't notice much difference afterward. I'm not exactly handy around the house, but figured I'd give it a shot before calling in someone who actually knows what they're doing.
Last year we had a similar issue and ended up paying quite a bit for someone to come out and fix what turned out to be something pretty minor. So I'm hoping maybe there's something simple I'm overlooking here? Like maybe a valve or setting I could check myself first?
If anyone's dealt with something similar or has any tips on what else I could try before biting the bullet and calling in a pro, I'd really appreciate it. Trying to avoid another hefty bill right before the holidays, you know?
Sounds like you're on the right track already—good call checking the pressure gauge and bleeding the radiators. If the gauge is hovering just below the green zone, you might just need to top up the water pressure a bit. Most heating systems have a filling loop (usually a flexible silver hose with a valve at each end) that lets you add water. Open both valves slowly, watch the gauge, and close them once you're comfortably in the green zone. That alone might get things flowing better upstairs.
The banging noise could be related to low pressure too, but sometimes it's just pipes expanding and contracting as they heat up, especially if they're not clipped securely. If topping up the pressure doesn't help, double-check your thermostat settings and valves on the radiators themselves—sometimes they get knocked or partially closed without anyone noticing.
I know it's frustrating, especially when the fix ends up being something annoyingly simple. But honestly, you're doing great troubleshooting so far. Keep at it, and hopefully you'll dodge that holiday bill this year.
"The banging noise could be related to low pressure too, but sometimes it's just pipes expanding and contracting as they heat up..."
Yeah, agreed—pressure's usually the culprit. But if topping it up doesn't quiet things down, I'd also check your pump. Had a similar issue last winter; turned out the pump was on its way out and struggling to circulate properly upstairs. Also, make sure your radiators aren't sludged up...that can cause uneven heating and weird noises too. Worth ruling out before you call someone in and get charged for something simple.
Good points about the pump and sludge build-up—both definitely common culprits. But before jumping into pump replacement, I'd also suggest checking the expansion vessel. If that's faulty or lost its charge, it can cause weird pressure fluctuations and banging sounds when the system heats up. Had a customer recently who replaced nearly everything else before realizing it was just a simple vessel recharge. Have you noticed if your pressure gauge spikes significantly when the heating kicks in?
If that's faulty or lost its charge, it can cause weird pressure fluctuations and banging sounds when the system heats up.
Interesting about the expansion vessel—I never even thought about that. My gauge does jump a bit when the heat first kicks on, but settles down after a few minutes. Is that normal or a sign of trouble?
