Radiator - pipes rattling?

[Mojooo]

When we turn on the radiators (central heating) there is an ever so annoying noise seemingly coming from the pipes under the dloorboards

Its a bit like a rattle or dripping inside the pipe.

Obviously if it is just a pipe rattle not much can be done - could it be something happening inside the radiator itself casuing pressue to move the pipes?

Is the central heating system ALWAYS full of water? i was wondering if it might be new water being sent to the radiator everytime the central heating is put on but sounds inlikely...?

[Ferg]

It's most likely:

A radiator valve rattling.
A pump valve rattling.
Two pipes touching withing vibration range of the pump, or...
Expansion noise due to unlagged pipes in a joist notch. (Or, god forbid, through a hole in a joist...)

[Mojooo]

I'll try and trace where the noise is coming from

wouldnt surprise me if cheap parts were used when install so i spose things liek the valves may be the main offenders

[Mojooo]

Just had another listen and the one in my room certainly sounds like it is coming from inside the main radiator unit - though it could be the vibrations?

Last year I hit a pip with a drill and a guy came to repair it- he did do soemthing to all the radiadtoirs (turned the switch they all have at the top to drain them or something?) - i wonder if its a side effect of that maybe?

[Dupont666]

you mean use a radiator key to bleed the air out of the system, which could be causing the noise of the rattling

[Mojooo]

Dupont666 said:

you mean use a radiator key to bleed the air out of the system, which could be causing the noise of the rattling

Thats it

Could there be air bubbles in there causing rattling or something?

Dont really know anything about plumbing - how much of a mission will it be to bleed the system? will i need to turn the boiler off etc?

[fatvik]

+1 to Dupont666's suggestion. I had the same issue in the spare room and bleeding the radiator (not the entire system) sorted it out.

What you need is I think called a T-key (looks like a T). It fits onto the valve at the top of a radiator and allows you to turn the valve. Do this (slowly/gently) to the radiator in question (I'd also suggest going around and doing all the radiators) and if there is any air, it will "hisss" out, once you get water coming out turn the valve back to close it. The water that comes out may be very hot so be careful.

Good luck
FatVik

[Ferg]

Mojooo said:

Dupont666 said:

you mean use a radiator key to bleed the air out of the system, which could be causing the noise of the rattling

Thats it

Could there be air bubbles in there causing rattling or something?

Dont really know anything about plumbing - how much of a mission will it be to bleed the system? will i need to turn the boiler off etc?

There may be air, but it won't be causing rattling.

[timberman]

if you have air in the system it will normaly stop one or more radiators from heating up properly, but there's no harm in bleeding them anyway.

it could be down to sludge in your pump, pipes or radiators which would make the pump (assuming your on a pumped system) have to work harder and cause the vibration/noise your experiencing.

if so you could probably do with adding a sludge remover or trying a system cleaner, then add a scale inhibiter to make the system run better and last longer.

[King Herald]

Ferg said:

Mojooo said:

Dupont666 said:

you mean use a radiator key to bleed the air out of the system, which could be causing the noise of the rattling

Thats it

Could there be air bubbles in there causing rattling or something?

Dont really know anything about plumbing - how much of a mission will it be to bleed the system? will i need to turn the boiler off etc?

There may be air, but it won't be causing rattling.

Air in the bathroom rad used to make the system give off all sorts of noises in our old house. For some reason only the bathroom rad would fill with air, the others never did.

[bananapieface]

Could be something simple like minor subsidence has caused a joist to put strain on a pipe.

[Simpo Two]

Mojooo said:

When we turn on the radiators (central heating) there is an ever so annoying noise seemingly coming from the pipes under the dloorboards

Its a bit like a rattle or dripping inside the pipe.

If it's a clicking noise that starts when the heat starts flowing, then gradually slows down and stops, it's probably pipe expansion. My house has been doing it from new.

[Ferg]

Simpo Two said:

If it's a clicking noise that starts when the heat starts flowing, then gradually slows down and stops, it's probably pipe expansion. My house has been doing it from new.

...because the heating was installed by an incompetent.

[Simpo Two]

Ferg said:

Simpo Two said:

If it's a clicking noise that starts when the heat starts flowing, then gradually slows down and stops, it's probably pipe expansion. My house has been doing it from new.

...because the heating was installed by an incompetent.

Ideal Homes 1988. There was a housing boom and they couldn't build them fast enough, whch may be an answer. Actually I don't mind it - it makes it seem that the house has a heart (and lets me know the heating is working!)

[sploosh]

Try turning on and off the thermostat valve at each radiator - works in my house.

[King Herald]

Simpo Two said:

Ferg said:

Simpo Two said:

If it's a clicking noise that starts when the heat starts flowing, then gradually slows down and stops, it's probably pipe expansion. My house has been doing it from new.

...because the heating was installed by an incompetent.

Ideal Homes 1988. There was a housing boom and they couldn't build them fast enough, whch may be an answer. Actually I don't mind it - it makes it seem that the house has a heart (and lets me know the heating is working!)

Several years ago we moved into a rental house for a few months, and under the floorboards of one room was the most horrendous loud ticking/clicking every time the heating came on/off. You'd think someone was tapping on the floor with a small hammer!

After the first two nights of this I pulled up floorboards and found pipes jammed in cut-outs far too tight, and jerking back and forth under expansion/contraction. I cut the cut-outs a bit bigger, slipped some polythene milk bottle strips in between things, and the noise was gone.

How the previous occupant ever slept in that room is beyond me!

[Mojooo]

Just bled the radiators

I could hear hissing out of some of them. Some just dripped a little and others had a full on squirt of water. I think I will do them all again tomorrow..... If they are fully squirting water should I assume all air is out?

Conflicting reports on whether to do it just after turning the central heating off (most guides online say that) - but some people i have met in real life say to do it whilst the CH is on as that is the optimum time.


Noise hasn't totally gone but it will take a day or to know if it has had any affect at all.

Any newcomers have any thoughts?