Central Heating & Radiator Service in Crete

Central heating service and radiator repair in Crete: ready before the first cold night

Many houses in Crete, especially in Heraklion, the hill villages and the mountain areas around Lasithi, have central heating with radiators. Most of them run on an oil boiler, some on a gas boiler or a heat pump. Because the system is only used a few months a year, it stands still for the whole summer, and problems tend to show up on the first cold evening in November: radiators that stay cold at the top, a circulation pump that has seized, pressure that drops every day, a leaking valve or a boiler that simply will not fire.

I am Gino, a Belgian-certified plumber, electrician and HVAC technician with more than 20 years of experience, living in Hersonissos. A heating system is a mix of water, pumps, valves, controls and electrics, so it helps that I am qualified for all of them. I find the cause, whether it is air in the system, a leak, a faulty pump or a wiring problem in the controls, and repair it properly.

Besides repairs I service systems before the season, add or replace radiators, balance systems that heat unevenly and help you modernise with smart thermostats or a switch to a heat pump. For a heating breakdown in the middle of winter you can call me, also outside office hours, in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos and the villages around them.

What I do for your central heating

Service before the season

I check pressure, pump, valves, expansion vessel and controls in autumn, so the system starts without problems when the cold comes.

Cold radiators

Radiators that stay cold, warm only at the bottom or heat unevenly: I bleed, flush and balance the system until every room warms up.

Leaks and pressure loss

Pressure that keeps dropping means water is escaping somewhere. I find the leak at valves, joints or hidden pipes, with leak detection if needed.

Pumps, valves and vessels

Seized or noisy circulation pumps, stuck valves and a flat expansion vessel are common after a summer of standing still. I repair or replace them.

Adding or replacing radiators

A radiator in an extra room, a bigger one in a cold room or a towel radiator in the bathroom, sized and connected to your system.

Thermostats and smart control

Room thermostats, thermostatic radiator valves and smart controls, so you heat only the rooms you use and can switch on from your phone.

Don't see your job in this list? Contact me with your question: if it is in or around the house, I can most likely help.

Radiator and heating problems: causes and solutions

The faults I see most often in Cretan heating systems; a proper check shows which one applies to yours.

Problem	Likely cause	Solution
Radiator cold at the top	Air in the radiator	Bleed the radiator and check the pressure
Radiator cold at the bottom	Sludge and dirt in the system	Flush the system and add an inhibitor
Pressure keeps dropping	A leak or a faulty expansion vessel	Find the leak, check and recharge the vessel
Some rooms warm, others cold	An unbalanced system or stuck valves	Balance the radiators and free the valves
Banging or gurgling noises	Air, low pressure or a worn pump	Vent the system, restore the pressure, check the pump
No heat at all	Boiler, pump, thermostat or power fault	Step by step fault finding and repair

Get your heating ready before winter

A heating system that has not run for six months needs a little attention before it works hard again. A service in September or October avoids most of the breakdowns that otherwise happen on the first cold night. During a pre-season service I do this:

Check the system pressure when cold and bring it back to the right level.
Test the circulation pump and free it if it has seized over summer.
Check the expansion vessel and the safety valve.
Bleed all radiators and look for drips at valves and joints.
Test the room thermostat, timers and the electrical controls.
Run the whole system and check that every radiator heats up.

Repair, upgrade or switch to a heat pump?

Many older systems in Crete still have a good network of pipes and radiators, but a boiler that is near the end of its life. You then have a choice:

Keep and improve

repair pumps, valves and leaks
flush and balance the system
add thermostatic valves and smart control
service the existing oil boiler

Modernise

replace the old boiler with a heat pump
keep the radiators where they are suitable
replace some radiators with larger ones
no more oil deliveries or tank

I explain the options honestly for your house, and you get a fixed price for whichever route you choose.

Heating in mountain villages and holiday homes

In villages inland and around the Lasithi plateau winters are noticeably colder than on the coast, and a working heating system is not a luxury. There I pay extra attention to frost: pipes in unheated rooms, outdoor sections and systems in empty houses can freeze and burst on a clear winter night.

For holiday homes that stay empty in winter I can protect the system, set it to a low frost protection temperature or drain the vulnerable parts, and get it running again before you arrive. Owners abroad can let me know their arrival date, and I make sure the house is warm and the heating checked when they open the door.

Heat smarter and cheaper: combine it with

A heat pump instead of the old boiler

An air-to-water heat pump can feed your existing radiators and replace the oil boiler. In the mild Cretan winter it is often much cheaper to run.

Works with suitable existing radiators
No more oil deliveries
Can also make your hot water
Cooling possible in summer

More about Heat Pumps (Reversible)

Smart heating control

With smart thermostats and radiator valves you heat only the rooms you use, at the times you need. You can switch the heating on from your phone before you arrive.

Control from your phone
Room by room temperatures
Frost protection for empty homes
Lower heating costs

More about Smart Home Automation

Central Heating & Radiators Near You

Available across Heraklion and Lasithi, from Agios Nikolaos to near Rethymno.

Hersonissos Analipsi & Anissaras Malia Stalis Gouves & Gournes Mochos & Avdou Kastelli (Pediada) Heraklion Knossos & Archanes Arkalochori Gazi & Ammoudara Agia Pelagia & Lygaria Fodele Moires Tympaki & Kokkinos Pyrgos Sissi & Milatos Neapoli Agios Nikolaos Lasithi Plateau Elounda & Plaka Kritsa Istron & Kalo Chorio Pachia Ammos & Kavousi Ierapetra Anogia Bali Perama & Mylopotamos Panormo Margarites

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my radiator cold at the top?

There is air in it. Bleeding the radiator usually solves it. If you have to bleed it again and again, there may be a leak or a pressure problem in the system that needs a check.

How do I bleed a radiator?

With the heating on, open the small valve at the top of the radiator with a radiator key until water comes out instead of air, then close it. Check the system pressure afterwards and top it up at the filling loop if it has dropped.

What pressure should my heating system have?

Usually between 1 and 2 bar when the system is cold. If it keeps dropping, water is escaping somewhere or the expansion vessel is no longer working properly.

How much does a central heating service cost?

It depends on the size of the system and the type of boiler. I give you a fixed price before I start, and if I find a fault during the service I explain it and give you a price for the repair first.

Can I add a radiator to an extra room?

Yes, if the boiler or heat pump has enough capacity and the pipes can be extended neatly. I check both and connect the new radiator to your system.

My heating has stopped in the middle of winter. Can you come?

Yes. A heating breakdown on a cold night is an emergency, especially with children or older people in the house. Call me and I come as soon as possible, also outside office hours.

Can I keep my radiators if I switch to a heat pump?

Often yes, especially on the coast where winters are mild. Sometimes one or two radiators need to be replaced with larger ones. I check this before you decide.

Do you repair central heating in Heraklion and the mountain villages?

Yes. I live in Hersonissos and service and repair heating systems in Hersonissos, Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos and the villages inland, including the Lasithi area. Outside my free zone a travel supplement applies.

Related Services

Oil Boilers & BurnersService, cleaning and repair of heating oil boilers. Heat Pumps (Reversible)Efficient cooling and heating, and hot water with air-to-water systems. Underfloor HeatingComfortable, even warmth for cold Cretan winters. Leak Detection & RepairFind and fix hidden leaks behind walls and floors.

Central Heating & Radiators