No heating if the radiators stay cold
House not getting warm? Call 070 783 0224 or send us a photo of the boiler and thermostat.
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It's always at the wrong moment: the first cold evening, and the radiators stay cold. Or only a few radiators get warm. In this overview we go from the simplest to the most difficult, so you quickly know whether you can solve it yourself or should call a technician.
Short answer
If all radiators stay cold, first check whether the thermostat is calling for heat (batteries, programme) and whether the boiler has pressure and is not showing a fault. If only some radiators get warm, there's often air in the system or a radiator valve is closed. Hot water but no heating points more to the pump or three-way valve: that's a job for a technician.
- Top floor cold? Often air or pressure too low.
- One radiator cold? Valve or thermostat knob is stuck.
- Technician: call-out charge € 100 – € 165 excl. VAT (€ 121 – € 199.65 incl.).
Call me back
Leave your name and number and we'll call you. Prefer immediate contact? Call 070 783 0224 or message us.
All radiators stay cold
- Thermostat. Set it a few degrees higher than the room. Replace the batteries. Is it on a holiday or night programme? With a wireless thermostat, the connection to the boiler may have been lost after a power cut.
- Boiler. Is the display lit, is there a code, what is the pressure? In case of a breakdown or pressure too low: see boiler breakdown and boiler losing pressure.
- Hot water yes or no? If the hot water works, the boiler is firing. Then the heat is not reaching the radiators: think of the pump, the diverter valve or the thermostat not controlling the boiler.
- Summer mode. Many boilers have a setting in which only hot water is produced. After summer, this is sometimes still on.
A few radiators are not getting warm
- Air. Radiator cold at the top and warm at the bottom, or gurgling in the pipes: bleed the radiator. How to do this safely is explained at bleeding radiator. Then top up the pressure.
- Radiator valve or thermostat knob is stuck. Especially after summer, the pin under a thermostat knob sometimes gets stuck. Then no hot water enters the radiator.
- Top floor cold. If the pressure is too low, the water doesn't reach high enough. This is also a sign of air or an empty expansion vessel.
- Furthest radiator cold. The system is not properly balanced: radiators close to the boiler get too much, those at the end too little. Balancing solves that.
- Radiator leaking or old. See radiator replacement or leaking.
When the pump or three-way valve stops working
The central heating pump ensures the hot water circulates. If you can hear the boiler firing but all radiators stay cold, and the pipe near the boiler gets hot, the pump may be stuck. This happens more often after a period when the heating hasn't been running. The three-way valve, which switches between heating and hot water, can also stick. These are components inside the boiler; have them checked by a technician.
Do you have underfloor heating that won't warm up? That has a separate pump and manifold. See underfloor heating won't warm up.
What our technician does
- Read out. Code, pressure, burning hours and the thermostat connection.
- Check circulation. Pump, diverter valve, radiator valves.
- Bleed and top up. Where necessary, then check the pressure.
- Price for repair. If a part is needed, you'll hear the price first.
What does it cost?
| Item | Excl. VAT | Incl. 21% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out charge: first 30 minutes including diagnosis | € 100 – € 165 | € 121 – € 199,65 |
| Central heating boiler check-up | € 165,29 | € 200 |
| Adjust and commission central heating boiler | € 52,89 | € 64 |
| Expansion vessel 80 litres | € 110,74 | € 134 |
| Component (pump, sensor, ignition, diverter valve) | after diagnosis | you hear the price upfront |
Guide prices from the PandFix price list (October 2026). Call-out charge is additional: €35 excl. VAT (€42.35 incl.), emergency €65 excl. VAT (€78.65 incl.). Evening or weekend: surcharge €80 excl. VAT (€96.80 incl.). Materials and extra hours only by agreement. You will always hear the price before we start.
Questions about no heating
Why do I have hot water but no heating?
Then the boiler is working, but the heat is not reaching the radiators. Often it is the thermostat, the pump or the diverter valve. Check the thermostat first; the rest is for a technician.
Why does the radiator upstairs not get warm and downstairs does?
That is almost always air. Bleed the radiator and then top up the boiler pressure to the value in the manual.
After summer the heating doesn't work. How come?
A thermostat valve or the central heating pump can seize up after months of inactivity. The boiler may also still be on summer mode.
Can I free the central heating pump myself?
No, the pump is in or near the boiler. Leave that to a technician.
What does a technician cost for no heating?
The call-out charge of € 100 – € 165 excl. VAT (€ 121 – € 199.65 incl.) for the first half hour with diagnosis, plus travel costs. Parts only with your approval.
