TOM: There’s nothing worse than waking up to a cold radiator on a frigid morning but all that stands between you and a warm home might be a simple maintenance step. Hi. I’m Tom Kraeutler.
LESLIE: And I’m Leslie Segrete with today’s Money Pit Home Improvement Minute.
TOM: If only one section of your radiator refuses to heat up, trapped air may be keeping the water from flowing to that chamber. Use a radiator key to open the valve. Once it starts to spurt a bit of water, the blockage should be clear.
LESLIE: Now, there’s always a chance that paint or rust can make the valve hard to operate. If that’s the case, spray Liquid Wrench on the valve and work it back and forth gently with a needle-nose pliers to free it up. Then, release the air and reset.
TOM: If the problem persists, double check that both radiator valves are fully open and if they are, you’ve done what you can and the next steps are best handled by a pro. I’m Tom Kraeutler. For more Money Pit Home Improvement Tips, visit moneypit.com.
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