How to Repair an Electric Radiator When the Heat Disappears
Electric radiators are amongst the most reliable heating implements in the world. They rarely break and it’s only when they lose out in efficiency to newer models that they need replacing. One of the most common complaints when something does go wrong is a lack of heat. It is also one of the most difficult problems to diagnose. The problem is that no heat can be caused by a variety of issues. It is not as easy as simply spotting the problem and fixing it in a few minutes.
In this article, we will give you an in-depth look into what can cause the heat to disappear and how you should go about fixing it.
What Causes a Lack of Heat? : Electric radiators often lose their ability to produce heat for a number of reasons. Most of the time, you can put the problem down to the following things:
- loose or disconnected wires - tripped circuit breakers - blown fuses - wrong thermostat setting - defective heating element - obstructed airflow.
As you can see, there are many potential problems and many potential repair options. Unless you are a professional, we always recommend contacting the experts at Electric Heating Supplies (EHS) for help with it. You do not want to cause further damage through a botched repair.
The Easy Fix : To start with, look at the thermostat setting. You’d be surprised at how many people call out a repairperson when the only problem is they have not had the thermostat switched on. Make sure you have not made this common mistake.
Another easy fix is with disconnected wires. These wires connect the unit to the central system. It might be a case of the wires simply coming loose. Turn off the heating system and power, and put the wires back in. It doesn’t take an expert to be able to do this.
Electrical Problems : In the case of a tripped circuit breaker, you have to reset the circuit breaker. To do this, you will have to find your electrical service panel, which could be under the stairs. You’ll see that one of the switches is now in the ‘Off’ position. Switch it back on again to solve the problem. If it keeps tripping, this represents a deeper electrical problem, for which you will have to call a professional to sort out.
A blown fuse sometimes goes hand in hand with a tripped circuit breaker. You will need to replace the fuse with the right one. Unless you know about the appropriate fuse, call someone to help you.
Defects and Positioning : Electrical heaters work by drawing air into the heating element. If there are any obstructions, you can starve it of the air it needs. Make sure curtains and other nearby objects are not obstructing the openings in the radiator. It might be a matter of simply removing the obstruction.
If none of the above works, you could have a defective heating element. You will need to replace the heating element, which is a big job and requires the touch of a professional.
