GETTA Help

Radiator cold at the top: what it means

A radiator that is warm below but cold at the top often contains trapped air, although repeated air build-up can indicate another system issue.

Likely causes

  • Trapped air limits hot-water circulation through the upper part of the radiator.

Safe checks you can make

  • Compare other radiators and note the boiler-pressure reading without opening or adjusting the appliance.
  • If you are not already confident that radiator bleeding is a normal user task for your system, leave valves and controls alone and arrange professional help.

When to stop and get urgent help

  • Stop if valves leak, pressure falls repeatedly or you are unsure how to restore correct system pressure.

How a heating engineer can help

  • A heating engineer can bleed and balance the system and investigate repeated air entry or corrosion.