The boiler is hot and the radiators are cold

Cats don't sleep on cold radiators.

The efficiency of the entire heating system directly depends on the performance of the boiler. Malfunctions of the main heating equipment negatively affect the efficiency of the home heating circuit and lead to excessive energy consumption. That is why any breakdowns, even the most insignificant ones, are given special attention. People’s experiences are understandable if the boiler is working and the radiators are cold. After all, this not only reduces the level of comfort in the house, but also entails expensive repairs. To properly solve a problem, you need to understand its essence. Only a specialist can correctly determine the reasons why the boiler does not heat the batteries. Also read: “Why do radiators heat poorly?“.

Boiler malfunctions

Typical problems with the operation of heating equipment:

malfunction of the built-in pump;
the heat exchanger is clogged;
The three-way valve does not work.

If the boiler is working and the radiators are cold, experts recommend, first of all, assessing the technical condition of the main heating element. More specifically, determine whether the circulation pump built into the device is working. This part is an invariable attribute of modern equipment and is designed to increase the efficiency of its operation. Very often, after a long period of inactivity in the summer, the pump can become clogged or become covered with a layer of limescale. As a result, it does not remove the heated coolant from the heat exchanger in a timely manner. The boiler is boiling, but the radiators are cold.

It is strictly prohibited to independently repair such complex equipment as a boiler. In this case, either a specialist from the service center or a repairman with the appropriate certificate or permit is called to your home.

Experts do not recommend using ordinary tap water as a coolant, as it is hard. When the coolant temperature increases, dissolved salts settle on the heat exchanger. As a result, the following problem arises: the boiler is working, but the radiators are barely warm. Scale reduces the thermal conductivity of the heat exchanger, so the water in the circuit does not heat up, although the heating element constantly works with excessive energy consumption. You can fix the problem by changing the coolant and cleaning the heat exchanger. This video will help you understand how to clean the heat exchanger correctly:

A double-circuit boiler heats water, but does not heat the radiators. Here you need to pay attention to the serviceability of the three-way electric valve. It is responsible for switching the bypass from heating circuit maintenance mode to DHW and CO mode.

Before making a heating register with your own hands, familiarize yourself with the technical base.

Why can't antifreeze be used for radiators? The answer is here.

Scale deposits inside the heat exchanger

The heat exchanger can be clogged not only with combustion products, but also with scale and limescale that forms with each portion of water entering the boiler. Scale is formed as a result of heating hard water.

Inside the heat exchanger, solid deposits of salts turn into a kind of insulator, reducing heat transfer from heating. The larger the scale layer in the heat exchanger, the worse the heat transfer from fire to water will be, because heat will not be able to penetrate a thick layer of solid deposits. This significantly reduces the energy efficiency of the entire system and the boiler stops reaching the desired temperature.

To remove scale, the heat exchanger must be removed and descaled using a special acid. As a preventative measure, it is recommended to maintain the operating temperature in the boiler.

Traditional methods for descaling include the use of ordinary table vinegar (3-10% acetic acid solution). Table vinegar is poured in equal parts with water, the solution is left to interact with the scale overnight. Cationation and reverse osmosis methods are also used.

Problems with the heating circuit

The pump must be selected according to the requirements of the heating circuit.

Malfunctions in the operating mode of the heating circuit are not always associated with a malfunction of the main heating element. If the boiler works, but does not heat the batteries, the reason must be sought in the wiring itself.

List of main heating circuit malfunctions:

the filter on the return line or the needle tap (Maevsky tap) is clogged;
insufficient power of the circulation pump;
the rules for installing a heating circuit with natural circulation have not been followed.

Any of the above problems must be resolved before the start of the heating season. Otherwise, the room may be left without heat for several days, since the repair involves completely draining the coolant.

So, why doesn’t the boiler heat the batteries if everything worked fine over the previous years? The reason is a dirt plug that has formed on the heating circuit filter and completely blocks the coolant flow. It can be solved simply - the water is drained from the pipes or its circulation is blocked using bypasses, and the filter is cleaned. To prevent a recurrence of such a situation, it is necessary to completely replace the coolant with parallel flushing of the entire circuit.

Moscow. Hotlines for heating issues. Where to call

What numbers to call for questions?

heating season in Moscow?

If you have any questions about the beginning of the heating season in Moscow, or any problems directly with the heating itself (for example, poor-quality heat supply to the house when the radiators are barely warm), then you can call the numbers below - this is city “hotlines” dedicated specifically to resolving such issues.

For questions about the onset of the heating season, as well as for all other problems with heating, utilities, complaints about poor-quality heating supply to the house, you can call here:

These same organizations also accept all kinds of comments on issues of electricity supply.

If they cannot resolve your issue or communicate with you incorrectly, then you can also call here:

Yes, hotlines for heating issues are open in Moscow. For example, if you live in the Central Administrative District, then

If in the Eastern District, then

Find out more about all the hotline phone numbers by district here.

In addition, there is another line that operates 24 hours a day.

Residents usually have questions, especially at the beginning of the heating season. You can ask them by calling the Hotline:

Do not forget that you are not the only one dialing this number, but a very large number of people, so you can often hear short beeps on the phone. In order not to overload the line with your question, first try to resolve it with your management organization or dispatcher, and only after a refusal or an unsatisfactory answer, dial these numbers.

Of course, if residents and citizens have questions about the new heating season, they can call the hotlines. For example, these are the phone numbers.

» Hot phones » regarding heating, electricity and hot water supply:

» Hot lines » Moscow Housing Inspectorate for heating problems in the districts:

For any questions regarding heating in Moscow, please contact:

The Moscow Housing Inspectorate recommends calling the hotline if you have cold radiators, the house is cold despite the heating being turned on, and for other questions regarding the heating season in Moscow.

As far as I know, the issue of turning on the heating this season is no longer relevant. Residents of the capital have waited for the warmth; their square meters are now heated. To be honest, it's very early in the year. But such conditions are dictated by the weather outside the window.

But questions may arise during the heating season itself, as well as in subsequent seasons.

There are hotline numbers for these purposes.

I don’t know how easy it is to call these numbers and get comprehensive information, but there are numbers where you can call.

There is also a “hotline” in the Moscow Housing Inspectorate, where the phones are available 24 hours a day. Here are their numbers:

The article was written based on materials from the sites: www.energo-konsultant.ru, kvartirgid.ru, zakon.wiki, www.msk.kp.ru, www.bolshoyvopros.ru.

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Why are the radiators cold when the boiler is running?

Low efficiency of the heating system can be the result of malfunctions of both the circuit itself and the main heating element. In the case of a heating device, it is necessary to pay attention to the three-way valve, the functionality of the pump and the technical condition of the heat exchanger. Typical problems for heating wiring are a clogged filter, insufficient power of the circulation pump and lack of slope of the pipes of the circuit with natural water circulation.

The heating system is a complex structure consisting of several elements combined into one circuit and put into operation through a chain reaction.

But it happens that the system fails and the water in the batteries becomes cold. The reason for this may be problems with the return line.

What happens when hot water is turned on simultaneously at two points of intake

The scheme becomes more complicated if, while using hot water at one point of intake, it becomes necessary to turn it on at another point, for example: when the shower is turned on in the bathroom, it becomes necessary to wash your hands in the toilet washbasin. In this case:

the rate of hot water use increases sharply, its consumption increases,
weak pressure of hot water appears;
the flow of cold water into the boiler increases,
a drop in the temperature of the boiler heat exchanger leads to the fact that the water temperature at the first intake point ceases to be comfortable,
a few seconds are required to turn on the boiler automation for heating,
a few more seconds for both users at two points of collection to be able to use water at a comfortable temperature.

All this time, both users cannot fully use hot water. It arrives intermittently. The unproductive consumption of water, which goes uselessly into the sewer system, increases sharply.

What if one of the users turned off the water? In this case, the consumption of hot water drops sharply. A temperature jump occurs on the heater of a double-circuit gas boiler. As a result, the temperature of hot water increases sharply at the point of intake that continues to operate. The user cannot fully use the water; it goes down the drain until the automation on the boiler is activated and water at the required temperature begins to flow to the user in a stable manner.

What is return in a heating system?

The return is a coolant located inside the heating system. During operation, it passes through all heating devices and gives off heat to them. Then, already cooled, the coolant returns to the boiler , where it is heated and begins a new cycle.

Photo 1. Heating diagram with a circulation pump and expansion tank. The arrows show the movement of the coolant.

water and antifreeze act as a coolant . It is put into operation either naturally (under the influence of gravity) or forcibly (using a pump).

Use an expansion tank

In winter, when the boiler's heating circuit is activated, any activation of hot water results in the heating circuit being turned off so that the hot water supply circuit can turn on. In the summer, when the boiler's heating circuit is not activated, each turn on of the hot water leads to the gas boiler turning on.

Often the user opens the hot water tap to simply rinse his hands. The boiler turns on or switches, hot water flows through the pipes. But the user may simply not wait for it, washing his hands with cold water.

Meanwhile, frequent and useless turning on and switching of the boiler “eats up” its operating life. A possible solution is to install a small expansion tank. It is installed in front of the water heater. If there is such a tank, for the first time after turning on the tap, hot water enters the pipe exclusively from the water heater due to the increase in pressure in the tank. Thus, in case of short-term use of hot water, there is no need to turn on and switch the boiler.

It is recommended to use a tank designed for hot water supply. Using a tank intended for heating will cause an odor because its membrane is made of rubber.

Causes of problems with return flow in the batteries of a private or apartment building

There are several reasons why the return flow is not warm enough or even cold. Common problems are:

insufficient water pressure in the system;
small section of the pipe through which the coolant passes;
incorrect installation;
airiness or contamination of the system.

If a problem with cold return occurs in an apartment, then the first thing you should pay attention to is the pressure. This is especially true for rooms on the upper floors . The fact is that the principle of operation of the return flow is to quickly and continuously circulate liquid through the system. And if its speed drops , then the coolant will not have time to push out cold water and the batteries will not heat up.

Procedure for contacting executive services if the batteries do not heat up

What are you paying for if the batteries are cold?

It was determined that the radiators in the apartment were not heating. Where to contact? First of all, they call the control room of the company that supplies the home with heat. It can be either a state or private company. The consumer must record the date and time of submitting the application, its number and the operator who accepts it. Next, the application is processed within a day. Based on the results of its processing, a technical worker is sent to the site.

He is obliged to inspect the thermal circuit of the house and measure the temperature in residential premises. Based on the data received, an inspection report is drawn up. Its copies are made, one of which remains with the home owner. The report is reviewed by the house maintenance company within 3-7 days. However, the established deadlines are not always met. If utility services do not fulfill their direct responsibilities and the radiators in the apartment still do not heat up, where to complain? Next, based on the rule of a reasonable time (according to Article 314 of the Civil Code), you need to prepare a claim act based on the report on the temperature measurements taken.

If the batteries are cold, how to write a statement? A lawyer can help you with this matter. However, the claim act must indicate that heat supply services are not provided properly. The claim act is printed in two copies. One is transferred to the heat supply company, the second remains with the consumer. It is marked with the date the claim was sent. The document can be sent by registered mail. As a rule, utility companies react to such statements very quickly. But if the radiators in the apartment do not heat up, where to turn next?

What problems arise in the apartment due to cold return

Violation of the return flow entails certain problems and troubles.

Firstly , in this case the batteries do not heat up properly , or even do not work at all. Accordingly, the room itself becomes cold, which is certainly not encouraging.

Secondly dissonance occurs of the supply and discharge of liquid.

This entails the accumulation of condensate on the walls of the boiler, which begins to react with carbon dioxide released from fuel combustion. The consequence of this process is the formation of acid, which corrodes the walls of the boiler , thereby destroying it.

After the start of the heating season, you can often encounter the problem of uneven heating of radiators. The most common solution is to de-air the system using a Mayevsky tap or other techniques. Unfortunately, some owners of apartments and private houses are faced with a situation where they have vented the air, but the radiators remain cold. Let's figure out what options for eliminating the problem exist and how to apply them.

Heat exchanger fouled by soot

During long-term operation of the boiler, combustion products are deposited on the surface of a plate, bithermal or fire-tube heat exchanger. Due to the layer of soot, the fire ceases to be in direct contact with the walls of the combustion chamber, heat transfer from the source decreases, the boiler does not heat up as efficiently and does not reach the desired temperature.

To solve this problem, you need to clean the heat exchanger. Considering that soot settles on the walls along with resin, tar and ash, cleaning the combustion chamber after it has completely cooled is not so easy. For quick and effective cleaning, you can contact specialists. Professionals use special equipment to remove soot:

the “Streamer” complex (electric discharge method) is an effective procedure that allows you to remove a fairly thick layer of combustion products without damaging the heat exchanger;
use of a high-pressure pump (hydrodynamic method) - quick removal of small deposits, the combustion chamber does not even need to be removed;
booster for chemical washing. This method is effective if the heat exchanger is very dirty, and the deposit of soot and tar is old and cannot be removed in any other way. The disadvantage of this option is the risk of reducing the service life of the combustion chamber.

All these methods involve additional expenses. To remove combustion products yourself, you can use one of the common methods offered by experienced professionals. For example, heat the surface of the chamber using a hair dryer and use a regular spatula to remove soot.

Reasons for the battery not heating up

Air locks are the main reason for insufficient or uneven heating of radiators, but there are other reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon. These include :

Poor circulation of coolant through the system pipes.
Incorrect battery connection (for example, when the supply is connected to the bottom hole and the return to the top).
Clogged inside the pipes and the battery itself.

Let's consider each possible option in more detail.

Use a recirculation pump

The best option is that the water heater is located in close proximity to the hot water intake points. The closer it is, the faster the hot water enters the tap, the more efficiently it is used. If this option for installing a water heater is not possible, then it is recommended to install a recirculation pump.

The pump is installed in the section between the water heater and the hot water intake points, ensuring the slow movement of hot water through the pipes. In addition, if you install a heated towel rail in this section, it will perform its direct function at any time of the year, regardless of the operation of the heating circuit of the boiler.

Insufficient water pressure in the system

As you know, all heating systems are divided into two main types: gravity (gravity) and forced. In the latter case, a water pump is installed, which drives the coolant through the pipes, thereby ensuring uniform heating of the radiators throughout the house.

In the gravitational scheme, movement is achieved due to the difference in density of cold and hot water. In this case, the boiler should be installed at the lowest point, and the expansion tank at the top. This option for installing a heating system can answer the question of why one battery is hot and the other is cold. The thing is that hot water warms up radiators located in close proximity to the boiler, while those located far from it lack coolant movement and do not heat up.

Balancing valve

Privately owned houses have the greatest variety of heating systems. Cases of two or three branch structures are not uncommon. In this case, as in the above cases, the tendency of the liquid to take the shortest route naturally remains. The longest arm may have no circulation at all or very weakly expressed. The heat transfer of such a link will be the same - small, absent. The battery will not heat or heat poorly.

Incorrect battery connection

Incorrect or ineffective connection of the radiator is also the reason for its poor heating. The best option is to supply water to the top hole of the battery and exit through the bottom. In this case, both connections must be on the same side.

Options for connecting the battery to the system

The cross method involves the return outlet on the other side of the radiator. This is also an efficient option that allows only 2% heat loss. There are other connection options, but they have more noticeable losses.

Incorrect radiator connection

An incorrect connection can completely deprive you of heat . This includes the case when the supply is installed in the lower hole, and the outlet in the upper. If such installation errors occur, they should be eliminated as soon as possible.

What happens when hot water is turned on at one point of intake

The double-circuit boiler is set to maintain a certain temperature in the hot water supply circuit. When you turn on hot water at one of the points:

For some time, cold water continues to flow from the tap, which was standing in the pipe before it was opened,
the boiler heats up, and a certain time is required for it to reach the set temperature,
after a few seconds, the heated water enters the pipe and begins to move to the intake point,
a few more seconds are needed for the hot water to reach the point of intake,
an additional few seconds are necessary due to the fact that the incoming water seems too hot to the consumer, and he adjusts the water supply with the mixer.

Thus, at least a few seconds pass from the moment the hot water tap opens until the water supply starts at a comfortable temperature. The further the water intake point is from the boiler, the longer this period of time.

All this time, the user cannot fully use the water and it will be that the boiler does not heat hot water normally. He waits until water arrives at a comfortable temperature. Meanwhile, water at a temperature that is not comfortable for the user simply goes down the drain.

Unproductive water consumption can range from several liters to tens of liters, depending on how far the water intake point is from the boiler.

Efficiency of the proposed method

At a relatively low cost, installing a water heater, expander and pump allows you to:

save up to 25 thousand liters of water per year if a family of four lives in an apartment,
use water at a comfortable temperature even if several water intake points are operating simultaneously,
reduce gas and electricity consumption,
extend the service life of a double-circuit boiler.

One of the best in terms of price-quality ratio are Korean gas boilers Navien. These units have a lot of advantages, are quite reliable and inexpensive. However, during the operation of Navien gas boilers, malfunctions also occur. Let's look at what they are connected with and how to eliminate them without resorting to the help of specialists.