New House Whistling Radiators

Chief

Hey folks, we are in our new house about 10 weeks now and LOVE it! We discovered a leak a number of weeks ago and the plumber came back and sorted it (re-welded a pipe). But since we've been here we've noticed the radiators all whistle loudly at times. We rang the plumber and he told us to bleed the radiators, we went round and did all that but still the radiators all whistle when the heat has come on for a while. Nothing is leaking from any of them as far as we can tell and all the thermostat valves on them are set to 1 or higher as we feel in each room.

Has anyone come across this before? Do we need the plumber back? Anyone I talk to laughs and says they have never heard of this. Thanks for any and all advice.

crosstownk

It may be the valves. Mine whistle (quietly) when the thermostatic valves are beginning to close. Try opening the valves fully and see if the whistle persists. If it does then it's most likely due to the valves restricting the flow as they close which is not something I'd worry about.

10-10-20

Yes, that's the problem alright.
The valves whistle when the hot water passes through them.
Adjust the valves somewhat (a tiny turn) and it should relieve the issue.

Chief

Thanks lads!

We have turned the stats, they have stopped whistling for a wee while, in fact the whistle moves on to other rads, but it's not a quiet whistle.. it is the sound of a Loud old fashioned boiling kettle and it wasn't there when we we're first in the house...

Thanks for the replies folks..

bertie1

When you bled the rads did you check the water pressure in the system , I lived in a house one time when where the rads kind of whistled when the water pressure in the system dropped down low , as soon as you bring it back up to about 1.5 bar ( when cold ) the noise dissapeared

Chief

What do I need to check the pressure? Thanks for the input btw

bertie1

There is normally a pressure guage on the system , if it is a gas boiler it is on the boiler , if it is oil it may be in the boiler house or the hot press ,or utility room depending on your plumber. A filling loop for topping up the systemis usually near by , but you need to find the guage first to see what it says.

crosstownk

The pressure gauge is usually close to the boiler. It should read around 1 bar when the system is cold - top up as necessary.

Always recheck the pressure after you bleed. Bleeding, while releasing trapped air, relieves system pressure.

Echelle

Should radaitors with thermostats fitted to them remain at the same heat when the thermstat is set to say 3? Or does the rad reach a certain heat, then switch off and then switches on again when temperature goes down? Maybe this is a stupid question?!!

crosstownk

Thermostatic valves do not increase heat - they limit it based on ambient temperature in the room. Ensure that there is sufficient air flow around the valve. When the air around the valve reaches a certain temperature, the valve then closes in a manner similar to you turning down the valve manually.