Radiator/fireplace questions
Discussion
Just need some thoughts on the following really:
1) Two upstairs bedrooms with single radiators just don't really warm up. I've regularly bled the radiators and they still don't fully heat up. I think the radiators have gone and I will replace with new double heaters.
2) Most of my radiators don't really warm up at the bottom, just the top. Whilst it could be that I only check before I turn them on and off could there be a different problem? Ive tried to bleed them on several occasions and I don't think it's a problem with excess air.
3) I'm looking to replace an old gas fire. Any thoughts on replacing with another gas or should I go electric?
1) Two upstairs bedrooms with single radiators just don't really warm up. I've regularly bled the radiators and they still don't fully heat up. I think the radiators have gone and I will replace with new double heaters.
2) Most of my radiators don't really warm up at the bottom, just the top. Whilst it could be that I only check before I turn them on and off could there be a different problem? Ive tried to bleed them on several occasions and I don't think it's a problem with excess air.
3) I'm looking to replace an old gas fire. Any thoughts on replacing with another gas or should I go electric?
Just been doing this at a rented flat, fitted new thermostatic radiator valves, still could not get radiators hot after refilling system, so purchased wet & dry vac to suck sludge out of each radiator, appears to have worked/helped. If one has the equipment, then power flush isalways the best option.
I had a new boiler fitted this Feb gone and it'll get it's first service on it's anniversary. I got the system flushed at the time and some pretty sophisticated anti lime and slush system is fitted to it.
Interestingly, the two radiators that I did replace both work properly. Also both were single and are now double and nicely warm the room up.
Interestingly, the two radiators that I did replace both work properly. Also both were single and are now double and nicely warm the room up.
1. It sounds as if your system needs balancing, you've got an airlock or the valves have gone going to the radiator.
Do the pipes get warm coming to the radiator? If they do and the radiator doesn't, then it could be a dodgy valve.
It might also be an airlock. Turn on the heating and wait for the rads to start warming up. Turn off any rads that are getting hot. Hopefully this will push any airlock out as you chase the heat around the house. If the two dodgy rads get warm, then bingo.
If they never get as warm as others, then you may need to balance the system starting with the hottest ones, the ones that warm up first. Turn the lockshield off and then open a few turns. The ones furthest away from the boiler should have the lockshield opened more than the ones nearest.
2. Radiators that get hot at the top and have a cold spot at the bottom tend to be full of sludge build up. You mentioned that you had a new boiler fitting back in February and a system flush was carried out. This should have disrupted and removed a lot of the sludge, but it seems that you still have a lot left.
You can either.....get them back in to redo it. Or add a system sludge remover into your system and circulate for a few weeks, maybe a month, then drain the system and refill. Or take off each radiator in turn and flush them out with a hosepipe.
Do the pipes get warm coming to the radiator? If they do and the radiator doesn't, then it could be a dodgy valve.
It might also be an airlock. Turn on the heating and wait for the rads to start warming up. Turn off any rads that are getting hot. Hopefully this will push any airlock out as you chase the heat around the house. If the two dodgy rads get warm, then bingo.
If they never get as warm as others, then you may need to balance the system starting with the hottest ones, the ones that warm up first. Turn the lockshield off and then open a few turns. The ones furthest away from the boiler should have the lockshield opened more than the ones nearest.
2. Radiators that get hot at the top and have a cold spot at the bottom tend to be full of sludge build up. You mentioned that you had a new boiler fitting back in February and a system flush was carried out. This should have disrupted and removed a lot of the sludge, but it seems that you still have a lot left.
You can either.....get them back in to redo it. Or add a system sludge remover into your system and circulate for a few weeks, maybe a month, then drain the system and refill. Or take off each radiator in turn and flush them out with a hosepipe.
Cheers guys. Will check re microbore. I do have a sludge system fitted when it was replaced - I'll dig out the manual and check how to clean it.
I'll also look at air chasing as that's s good idea but I suspect it's dirt in the radiators as these two look to be the oldest. However, I'm surprised as I had some suprisingly able guys who replaced the boiler.
I'll also look at air chasing as that's s good idea but I suspect it's dirt in the radiators as these two look to be the oldest. However, I'm surprised as I had some suprisingly able guys who replaced the boiler.
Just a quick note on radiator sizing.
Putting in radiators which are vastly oversized makes balancing them much more difficult/critical which can lead to flow rates which are too slow and dangers of sludge build up in the return and pumping over. In turn this will shorten the life of ferrous components in the system.
If radiators aren't heating the room make sure that they are operating at the correct temperature. Too many boilers in this country are turned down to 3.....
Putting in radiators which are vastly oversized makes balancing them much more difficult/critical which can lead to flow rates which are too slow and dangers of sludge build up in the return and pumping over. In turn this will shorten the life of ferrous components in the system.
If radiators aren't heating the room make sure that they are operating at the correct temperature. Too many boilers in this country are turned down to 3.....
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