Category: Heating & Radiators

Short answer

Yes, radiator clicking or ticking is usually normal. It is most often caused by metal pipes and radiator panels expanding and contracting as they heat up and cool down. In most homes this is harmless, but persistent or loud clicking can occasionally point to valve or pipework issues.

Why radiators make clicking or ticking sounds

Radiators are made of metal, as are the pipes that feed them. Metal expands when it heats up and contracts as it cools down.

As your heating system turns on and off, this movement can cause:

• small clicks
• light ticking sounds
• occasional tapping noises

These sounds often come from the radiator itself, the pipes passing through floors or walls, or the valve connections.

When clicking is more noticeable

Clicking and ticking sounds tend to be more noticeable at certain times.

When heating turns on

As hot water enters a cold radiator, the metal expands quickly, producing clicking sounds.

When heating turns off

As the radiator cools down, the metal contracts again, which can cause ticking noises.

At night

Homes are quieter at night, and heating cycles often change, making normal sounds easier to hear.

Match the sound to the cause

The type and pattern of the noise can help explain what is happening.

Light, occasional ticking

• Caused by normal metal expansion
• Very common
• Harmless

Repeated clicking when heating starts or stops

• Pipes or radiator moving slightly as temperature changes
• Usually normal

Sharp or loud clicking from one spot

• Pipe rubbing against flooring or brackets
• Often not serious but may be annoying

Clicking combined with banging

• May involve valves or water flow issues
• Worth checking

Is radiator clicking something to worry about?

In most cases, no.

Usually normal if:

• The clicking is light and brief
• The radiator heats evenly
• The noise happens mainly when heating changes temperature

Not normal if:

• The clicking is very loud
• It happens constantly
• The radiator stays cold in places
• Other noises like banging or gurgling occur

What to check first (in order)

Before assuming there is a fault, check these simple things:

1. Notice when the clicking happens
   Does it only occur when heating turns on or off?
2. Check the radiator valve
   Thermostatic radiator valves can click as they open and close.
3. Check pipe contact points
   Pipes touching floorboards or wall openings can click as they move.
4. Check heating pressure
   Unstable boiler pressure can exaggerate noises.
5. Leave it alone
   Mild clicking is often just how the system behaves.

Why clicking radiators are common in UK homes

Clicking radiators are especially common in UK properties because:

• Many homes have older pipework
• Pipes often pass through timber floors
• Narrow pipe routes restrict movement
• Radiators cool quickly in colder weather

These factors make expansion sounds more noticeable but not dangerous.

When to get help

You should consider getting advice if:

• Clicking turns into banging or knocking
• The noise suddenly becomes much louder
• Radiators stop heating properly
• Boiler pressure changes frequently

If the radiator heats normally and the noise is mild, no action is usually needed.

Final reassurance

Radiator clicking or ticking is one of the most common heating noises and is usually nothing to worry about. As long as your radiator heats properly and the sound is occasional, it is a normal part of how metal heating systems work.

Internal links to add

• Why Does My Radiator Make Noise at Night?
• Radiator Banging or Knocking: Should You Worry?
• Radiator Gurgling Sounds: Causes and Fixes

Short answer

Radiators often make noise at night because heating cycles change, pipes cool and contract, water flow slows, and background noise drops. In most cases this is normal, but some sounds can indicate trapped air, pressure issues, or valve problems that are worth checking.

Why radiators are noisier at night

Radiators tend to make more noticeable noise at night for a few simple reasons:

• Heating cycles change
  Central heating often switches on and off more abruptly overnight, especially with timers or smart thermostats.
• Metal contracts as it cools
  As pipes and radiators cool down, the metal shrinks slightly. This can cause clicking or ticking sounds.
• Water flow slows
  Reduced demand in the system can exaggerate bubbling or movement noises.
• Your home is quieter
  Sounds that happen during the day become far more noticeable once everything else is quiet.

These factors together explain why a radiator can seem fine during the day but noisy at night.

Match the noise to the cause

The type of noise matters more than the fact it happens at night.

Clicking or ticking

• Caused by metal expanding or contracting
• Very common in older systems
• Usually harmless

Gurgling or bubbling

• Caused by trapped air in the radiator
• Often more noticeable when the system cools
• Usually fixable by bleeding

Banging or knocking

• Water flow hitting closed or partially closed valves
• Sometimes linked to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
• Not normal if loud or frequent

Hissing

• Pressure imbalance or valve issue
• Should be checked if persistent

Is it safe to ignore radiator noise at night?

In many cases, yes — but not always.

Usually safe to ignore if:

• The noise is light clicking or ticking
• It only happens briefly when heating turns on or off
• The radiator heats evenly

Do not ignore it if:

• The noise is loud banging or knocking
• It wakes you regularly
• The radiator stays cold at the bottom
• Boiler pressure keeps dropping

What to check first (in order)

Before calling anyone out, check these in order:

1. Listen carefully
   Identify whether the sound is clicking, gurgling, banging, or hissing.
2. Check boiler pressure
   Low or unstable pressure can cause unusual noises.
3. Bleed the radiator
   If you hear gurgling or bubbling, trapped air is likely.
4. Check the valve
   Especially thermostatic radiator valves in bedrooms, which can close aggressively at night.
5. Do nothing
   Mild clicking during temperature changes is normal.

Why this often happens in UK homes

Radiator noise is particularly common in UK properties because:

• Many homes have older heating systems
• Narrow pipework exaggerates expansion sounds
• Thermostatic valves are widely used
• Night-time temperature drops are common

These factors make occasional radiator noise normal rather than a sign of failure.

When to get help

You should consider calling a heating engineer if:

• Banging continues after bleeding
• Multiple radiators are affected
• Boiler pressure drops repeatedly

Otherwise, occasional noise at night is usually not a fault.

Final reassurance

If your radiator only makes mild noise at night and still heats properly, it is usually normal. Most heating systems make small sounds as temperatures change — they are simply easier to hear when the house is quiet.

Internal links to add (important)

• Radiator Clicking or Ticking: Is It Normal?
• Radiator Banging or Knocking: Should You Worry?
• Radiator Gurgling Sounds: Causes and Fixes