Whether you’ve had your central heating on recently or not, if you have a noisy central heating pump it won’t be a racket you’ve easily forgotten about.

Whether it’s a clicking, clunking, gurgling or banging sound, it’s not just the noise that’s going to end up causing frustration – A central heating pump behaving this way could be a sign that there is an imminent fault that needs a heating engineer’s attention.

This blog will take you through some of the common problems you may have with your central heating pump and how to get your heating back up and running – Without the clunks and bangs.

But first, what actually is a central heating pump?

What is a central heating pump?

When you want to heat your home, you turn the central heating on, or programme it to come on at certain times. When this happens, the hot water needs to get from the boiler around to the various radiators in your home. This is the job of the central heating pump.

Don’t let its size deceive you. This relatively small bit of kit has a big job to do – Keeping your home warm. To be effective, the central heating pump needs to efficiently pump hot water to all the radiators in your home and then back to the boiler.

If you’re wondering where you might locate your central heating pump, you’re most likely to find it close to the boiler. As soon as the boiler has heated up, it can pump the hot water around your heating system. You may also find it in your airing cupboard or under the stairs.

What is the cause of a noisy central heating pump?

Whilst it’s certainly annoying when a central heating pump makes a lot of loud noises, it’s even more frustrating if it leads to cold radiators and leaks.

It’s always a good idea to call a professional heating engineer at the first sign of any problems – Including new or loud noises. An expert in the industry will be able to identify the problem and get it sorted out for you.

These are some of the problems a noisy central heating pump could be shouting at you about.

An Airlock

An airlock can commonly cause your central heating pump to make a humming noise. This is when a build-up of air causes a blockage. If this is the case, you can try to release the excess air to stop the humming by turning the bleed screw on the heat pump.

*** Never carry out anything that you are not confident in doing. If you are in any doubt what to do, always call a professional heating engineer to carry it out for you.***

An incorrectly installed pump shaft

We can’t stress enough how important it is to hire a Gas Safe engineer to carry out any work that needs doing to your boiler and heating system. Not only does it ensure that the work is carried out safely, it also helps to avoid any problems caused by incorrectly installed kit.

If your pump isn’t installed properly, it could inhibit its performance. It needs to be fitted in a very precise horizontal position – Even if it’s the slightest bit off, it could cause problems. If you’re not sure that your central heating pump has been installed right, then call a professional heating engineer as soon as possible. If left to function incorrectly it will likely wear out sooner causing you more expense later on.

A dirt blockage

When your central heating is on, the water is circulating around the radiators. Whilst it’s doing this, it can pick up bits of rust, sludge and bits of debris which can build up over time and eventually cause a blockage. A blockage can be in any part of the heating system, including the central heating pump.

Signs that your central heating pump is blocked include your radiators heating up very slowly or not coming on at all.

This should be a simple fix by cleaning the blockage from the pump. However, if you don’t take steps to clean your whole heating system, you’ll likely find that you get another blockage, either in the heating pump again or somewhere else.

To make sure your central heating system and pump stay in top condition, hire a heating engineer to carry out a power flush. They will circulate chemicals around your heating system to clear the dirt and sludge.

Your heating engineer may also recommend a magnetic filter to be installed. This fits to your central heating system and collects bits of debris before it can cause a blockage.

The speed is set too high

Most modern central heating pumps come with speed settings to allow the adjustment of the flow rate. It’s important that this is set by a qualified heating engineer so that the setting matches your central heating system.

There are usually 3 settings – Slow to fast flow. If the central heating pump is very noisy, it may be because it is set too fast.

Before making any changes to the heating pump settings, check with a heating engineer. There may be a reason it was installed at that setting.

The fan could be hitting other parts

If the noise you’re hearing is a metal clanking sound, then it could be the fan inside the pump. They have an internal fan to stop them from overheating. A fault with the fan could cause the clanking sound, for example, a loose blade hitting other elements.

The seizing of internal parts

If you can hear a humming or vibrating sound, then it could be that one or more of the parts inside the heating pump have seized. Whilst a light tap could well be enough to get it running again, it’s more likely to be an installation problem or the build-up of dirt as above. If it’s either of the latter, you’ll need to contact a qualified heating engineer to take a look.

The pump overheating

Whilst it’s normal for a central heating pump to get a bit warm when it’s in operation, it shouldn’t ever be too hot to touch. If it does get too hot, it’s likely that there is a fault, possibly with the motor.

Sometimes, if your central heating has been off for a long period of time (like during the summer months) you can find that it overheats when turned back on. If this is just a one off, then it could just be that a part is getting stuck – A light tap will maybe be enough to free it and get it working again.

If however, it’s a recurrent problem, it could indicate you need to have your central heating pump replaced.

How can I fix a noisy central heating pump?

As we’ve just explained, there are various reasons why your heating pump could be making a noise. Identifying which fault is the cause can be tricky, so it’s always a good idea to call a heating engineer and let them do the hard work for you.

We have the knowledge and expertise to overcome the challenge of working out what the issue is, as well as how to go about fixing the problem.

Call Aura Heating

So if your home was noisy every time you turned your heating on last Winter, now is the time to get it sorted out. Get in touch with one of our local heating engineers today so we can get your central heating pump in excellent working order ready for the colder months. It’s time to say goodbye to the clanking and banging!

To contact us for a quote, head to our website. For more information on what else might be the cause of noisy central heating, head to our previous blog.