HELP - tapping radiator is driving us mad :-(

[StevenUK]

Hi guys,

OK, so we had a new valiant combi boiler fitted about 14 months ago that was more powerful than the older one. When we had the older boiler there was still tapping in the radiators, but this new boiler has taken it to a new level.

What I have done to try and find the problem:

1) ripped the floors up (cut through the laminate, and lifted all the boards) and nothing is rubbing.

2) all radiators are bled, that is not the issue.

I also do not think expansion is the issue at all as the tapping goes on all day long.

The tapping is LOUD sometimes, and I have pinpointed it (I think) to a single upstairs radiator (our bedroom) that the noise is coming from. The noise is definitely a lot louder from this radiator, so when we hear the tapping elsewhere (quieter) I am sure it is noise transfer from this radiator.

The sound seems to be coming from the left hand bottom corner of the radiator, like somebody is tapping it with a spanner every minute or so, although sometimes it is not as regular, etc.

The radiator does not have thermostatic valves on it.

The radiator is one of those old steel ones with no fins at the back.

Any ideas what it could be? It is driving us nuts.

I was tempted to put that noise reducer stuff in, but it does not sound like an 'air bubble, type of sound', so I doubt it would help. It also does not sound like loose material in the radiator due to how loud the noise is.

Any ideas would be much appreciated, as due to me ripping up the laminate in 3 rooms my wife is about to kill me if I rip up any more!

 

[muggles]

Does the tapping stop if you turn the radiator off?

 

[HERTS P&D]

I had the same noise in my through lounge and I ended up pulling the whole ceiling down to find a pipe rubbing on a joist.

The wife didn't like the dust.

Andy

 

[StevenUK]

Does the tapping stop if you turn the radiator off?

Hi,

Thanks for reply. I know it sounds crazy, but the sound is still there when the radiator is off, coming from that left hand corner just not as frequent or as loud.

For example, after you replied I turned the radiator off, and the sound increased for about 2/3 mins then it goes quieter and does it a lot less frequent.

It's strange because if it was expansion it would stop once the heating is consistent at reached the desired temperature?

I am tempted to just change the radiator for a new one, with new connections to the pipe, etc.

 

[Dean744PiN5]

ticking can go on for hour after hour once the flow of heat has stopped, turn the rad off and leave it off for at least 24 hours to rule it out.

 

[RigidRaider]

Could also be a blob of solder dancing up and down in the flow of water in the vertical pipe though that will stop - as ours did - when you turn the flow down.

 

[StevenUK]

Could also be a blob of solder dancing up and down in the flow of water in the vertical pipe though that will stop - as ours did - when you turn the flow down.

The noise is far too loud for it to be a piece of solder. Even though the radiator has been turned off a few hours now, it is still making noises.

I doubt even a qualified heating engineer would find the answer to this, although I have often thought of posting an advert saying 'name your price to fix this'.