Find why the thermostat is not bringing the radiators on in Birmingham
We assess the thermostat demand, heating zones and accessible controls to establish whether the fault is in the control path or radiator system.
Booking fee plus hourly labour — the price is confirmed before any work starts.
What this costs
| Booked 14+ days ahead | £25 booking fee £85 per hour |
|---|---|
| Booked within 48 hours | £100 booking fee £65 per hour |
| Same-day call-out | £220 booking fee £45 per hour |
The booking fee secures the visit. Labour is then charged by the hour, so you only pay for the time the job actually takes.
Booking fee £25–£220
£25 + £85/hr booked 14+ days ahead, £100 + £65/hr inside 48 hours, £220 + £45/hr same day. Agreed before we arrive.
Covered under Thermostats
Heating & Radiators › Thermostats — one of 22 documented jobs in this section.
Same-day thermostat not controlling radiators
Urgent jobs can often be booked for today. Ask when you book and we will confirm the slot before you pay anything.
15 service areas
Birmingham, Coventry, Dorridge and 12 more across the West Midlands.
A room control that appears active but leaves radiators cold can point to a zone or circulation issue as well as a thermostat fault. We check how heat is being requested and delivered, then explain which work is appropriate.
What the symptoms can tell us
The thermostat may send a heat request that is not reaching a zone valve, receiver or heating control. In a multi-zone home, another room may heat normally while the affected zone remains cold. Radiators can also be cold because of a circulation problem, closed or faulty valve, air, sludge or a wider heating fault rather than the thermostat. A schedule or mode may prevent a demand even when the displayed target looks high. Note whether every radiator is cold or only selected ones, whether another zone works, and whether pipes or controls show a change when heat is requested. This pattern is more informative than simply turning the thermostat up.
Checks during the visit
The engineer reviews the thermostat setting and demand, then checks the relevant receiver, programmer and zone-control response where accessible. The pattern of radiator heating is considered alongside the control indication to locate whether the issue appears before or after the heating circuit is activated. Suitable electrical and water-side checks may be undertaken within the defined scope. Radiator balancing, flushing or extensive pipework changes are not implied by a thermostat visit and may require separate assessment. On a gas boiler, gas-side work is excluded; if signs point to combustion or flue safety, that work is referred to a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Repair choices and limits
If a control setting or accessible electrical connection is responsible, an agreed correction may restore the zone demand. A failed thermostat, receiver or valve actuator may need compatible parts, checked against the existing system before replacement. If heat is being delivered but radiators remain cold, a separate water-side diagnosis may be required. The thermostat alone cannot remove air, clear a blockage or repair a circulation component. The engineer will distinguish those options and agree scope and cost before broader work. There is no promise that all radiators will be operating after an initial diagnostic visit.
Electrical and heating safety
A thermostat is a control device, not permission to work inside a boiler. Maintenance Men handles thermostat controls and suitable electrical or water-side heating faults within scope, but does not carry out gas work or open a gas boiler to adjust gas components. If symptoms suggest a combustion, flue or other gas-side safety concern, stop using the appliance if advised, leave it unopened, and arrange a Gas Safe registered engineer; an urgent gas smell is not a routine booking. Do not remove covers, probe live terminals or bypass a control. The engineer will explain any limit before proceeding.
Booking, price and next steps
The booking is for the stated diagnostic or defined thermostat visit, not an automatic promise that every fault can be fixed in one appointment. Booking fee is paid when booking; the hourly labour rate depends on how soon you need the visit. The full cost for the agreed work is quoted and you approve it before work starts. Any required replacement control, wiring materials or other parts can be identified and quoted separately; parts are not assumed to be included. Availability, compatibility and access may affect the next step. Book online and include the thermostat make and model, heating system type if known, symptoms, and anything already checked.
After the visit
Keep a note of which radiators heat and when, and use only normal thermostat settings while awaiting assessment. Do not drain radiators, remove valve heads or bleed a system if you are unsure; water and pressure conditions can vary. If a leak or electrical hazard is present, keep clear and report it. Once work is completed, check each affected area over an ordinary heating cycle and contact us with any radiator that remains cold or heats unexpectedly.
How the price works
We charge a booking fee to hold your slot, then an hourly rate for the work itself. The fee changes with how soon you need us; the hourly rate changes with the slot you choose. You approve the price before we start, so there is no surprise on the invoice.
Booked 14+ days ahead
£25 booking fee
then £85 per hour of labour
Best value. Book the slot now, pay the smallest booking fee.
Booked within 48 hours
£100 booking fee
then £65 per hour of labour
For jobs that can wait a day or two but not a fortnight.
Same-day call-out
£220 booking fee
then £45 per hour of labour
Urgent problems: standing water, no heat, no power, leaks.
Book the slot
Choose the window that suits you and pay the booking fee. That holds your place in the diary.
We diagnose on site
The engineer confirms the cause and tells you what the job involves and how long it should take.
You approve, we work
Nothing goes ahead until you agree the price. Labour is then charged per hour at your slot rate.
A room control that appears active but leaves radiators cold can point to a zone or circulation issue as well as a thermostat fault. We check how heat is being requested and delivered, then explain which work is appropriate.
What our customers say about our heating & radiators service
5 out of 5 from 10 reviews
Fast, tidy and friendly
Booked the £220 booking-fee slot on Tuesday and got a message confirming the time the same morning. The cause was explained, the price agreed before any work started, and the job was done in about 46 minutes. Clean and tidy when they left.
Job: No Heating from Boiler
Turned up when they said
What I appreciated was being told what was actually wrong before anyone started. Sorted in under 46 minutes and the invoice matched the quote to the penny.
Job: Expansion Vessel Fault
Exactly what was quoted
I had put off sorting this for months because I expected a runaround. Quoted the booking fee plus hourly rate upfront, stuck to it, and actually found the underlying cause rather than just clearing the symptom. Worked neatly and hoovered up afterwards.
Job: Airlock in Hot Water System
Book Thermostat Not Controlling Radiators
Tell us what is happening and choose a slot. If you are not sure this is the right job, use the diagnosis panel — it narrows the problem down before you book.
- Booking fee confirmed up front
- Hourly labour, agreed before work starts
- Same-day slots for urgent problems
Questions people ask about thermostat not controlling radiators
Straight answers to the things customers ask most often before booking.
Can I turn all the radiator valves fully open?
Use only normal user adjustments if you know how the valves work, and record their starting position. Do not dismantle a valve or drain the system to test thermostat operation.
How will you check the radiator control?
The engineer checks thermostat demand and relevant accessible receiver or zone controls, then compares that response with the radiator-heating pattern. Further water-side work may need a separately agreed scope.
Do you do gas work if the boiler is involved?
No. Maintenance Men does not carry out gas work. Suitable electrical or water-side heating faults may be assessed; gas-side or combustion concerns are referred to a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Why are some radiators warm and others cold?
The pattern can indicate a zone-control issue or a separate radiator, valve or circulation problem. The thermostat's role must be distinguished from water distribution before choosing a repair.
How is the visit charged?
The booking fee is paid when booking and the hourly labour rate depends on how soon you need attendance. The full cost is quoted for your approval before work starts; parts and materials are quoted separately.
Need thermostat not controlling radiators sorted in Birmingham?
Book a slot in the diary and pay only the booking fee up front. We confirm the rest before we start.