Why Your Heating Not Working in Winter Might Start in Summer

Terry Matthews
Jul 10
3 min read

Terry Matthews from Smart Heat Experts, showing you how to save hundreds — Turning on the heating during the summer months, just for 5 minutes, could save you hundreds.

Ever felt like your heating system has a mind of its own?

That moment in November when the chill hits and… nothing. The radiators stay cold, the boiler makes a clicking sound, and suddenly, you’re frantically searching for emergency help.

It’s a common issue we see every year across Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, and surrounding areas. But here's the surprising truth.

Most winter heating breakdowns start in summer, when systems are sitting quietly, not doing much at all.

This blog shows you a simple tip that takes five minutes and could save you a cold night, a costly repair, and the stress of an emergency callout.

The Real Reason Heating not working in winter - Cold Weather

Let’s get straight to it. Your heating system has moving parts that rely on regular activity to stay in good shape. When left unused for months, they become stiff, stuck, or simply fail to activate.

Common culprits include:

Motorised valves and actuator heads
Diverter valves (inside combi boilers)
Secondary pumps for zoned systems
Programmable thermostats that haven’t been triggered in months

When the cold weather finally arrives, these parts are expected to spring back into life. But after lying dormant all summer, many of them don’t.

“My heating doesn’t come on even though the thermostat says it should.”“Our radiators won’t warm up but we’ve got hot water.”“Why does the heating always break when it’s cold?”

These are real quotes from real customers. The root cause? Lack of movement and regular use.

The 5-Minute Summer Habit That Could Save You Hundreds

Here’s the tip we recommend to every homeowner we work with and stop the heating from not working in winter and save £....

Turn your heating on for five minutes once a month during summer.

No tools. No apps. Just go to your thermostat and raise the temperature 2 to 3 degrees above the current room temp. So if your home is sitting at 18°C, set it to 21°C.

When you do this, it:

Activates the boiler’s heating circuit
Triggers valves and opens zone heads
Moves parts that would otherwise stick
Starts the pumps circulating
Wakes up your system gently and safely

After five minutes, simply turn the heating back off. Done.

What Zones Should You Activate?

To get the most benefit, include everything that’s part of your heating system:

All room thermostats (upstairs, downstairs, bathrooms)
Any individual towel rails
Underfloor heating zones
Heating mode on your combi boiler (even if it’s used daily for hot water)

A lot of combi boilers only move the diverter valve when switching to heating. If that pin doesn’t move for months, it may jam — and your radiators stay cold even though the hot water still works.

A Simple Routine That Prevents Big Problems

Think of this like giving your car a quick run every few weeks. You wouldn’t leave it unused for half the year and expect it to start without a hitch.

Your heating system is no different.

Benefits of this quick check:

Keeps diverter pins from seizing
Prevents zone valves from sticking
Allows pumps to spin up and circulate
Gives you peace of mind that everything is still working

All it takes is five minutes, once a month.

What If Your Heating Doesn’t Come On?

If your system fails to activate when you try this test, it may already need attention.

Here’s what to check:

Does the boiler show any error messages?
Are there strange sounds from the pump or valve?
Do only some zones work, or none at all?
Is the system running silently but producing no heat?

Summer is the perfect time to sort this. You’ll get faster bookings, avoid the winter rush, and likely spend less.

📞 Call Smart Heat Experts on 01444 672796or book a service online

Summer Heating Health Checklist

Use this once a month between May and September:

Raise thermostats 2 to 3°C above room temp
Let the boiler fire up for 5 minutes
Check all zones activate
Include towel rails and underfloor heating
Combi boiler? Turn heating on to move the diverter
If unsure, contact your local engineer early

Final Word From Smart Heat Experts

We’ve just completed our own summer system check. Every zone, towel rail, and underfloor loop ran perfectly, because we give the system a little nudge before it’s needed.

If you’ve never done this before, now is a great time to start.

It’s quick, simple, and could save you hundreds in callouts or part replacements later in the year.

And if something isn’t quite right, we’re just around the corner.

📞 Call 01444 672796 or book online now