Hi, with the weather now getting cooler, I've been checking the radiators around the house and have noticed a couple of issues on the 2nd floor. This is a loft conversion done many years ago and it consists of a large room with two medium sized radiators and an en-suite bathroom with a medium sized towel rail. The radiators are both fitted with Westherm Four TRV's, however one of them isn't working. The other radiator is working but isn't getting hot, only warm and the tower rail also isn't working in that it never gets warm.
To troubleshoot, I've turned up the thermostat in the hallway to force the heating on. Checking the radiators on the ground floor and 1st floor, they are all very hot.
Tried bleeding both radiators and the towel rail in the loft and water came out as soon as I opened up the bleed valves.
For the radiator that isn't working, I've removed the top of the TRV and the pin was down. Pulled it up with some plyers, then pushed it down again and it didn't pop up. Used WD40 on it and manipulated it with a pair of plyers, but no joy. Tapped the valve while it was pulled up as I assumed the pin wasn't connected to the washer in the valve, but unable to release it, assuming the valve is stuck closed. The other possibililty is the lack of water pressure given that the other working radiator is only warm, not hot!
The partly working radiator has a working TRV, the pin pops up and I can push it down easily. The supply pipe to the TRV is hot, but the radiator itself is only warm and even after removing the TRV head, with the pin up, the radiator doesn't get hot and stays warm. I've ensured the lockshield valve is open.
The towel rail doesn't have a TRV, just two valves, one which can be turned, but doesn't seem to turn very far; about 3 turns. The other valve (the lockshield?) requires a screwdriver in the end and I've fully opened it. Regardless of what position either valve is in, I can't get any heat into the towel rail.
The flow and return pipes to both the towel rail and the radiator with the failed TRV are cold.
It looks like I'll have to change the failed valve, but I'm not sure why one of the radiators is only getting warm and why the towel rail, or its piping isn't getting warm. Does this suggest an air lock/blockage preventing hot water getting to the radiators and the towel rail?
Any suggestions would be welcome.
To troubleshoot, I've turned up the thermostat in the hallway to force the heating on. Checking the radiators on the ground floor and 1st floor, they are all very hot.
Tried bleeding both radiators and the towel rail in the loft and water came out as soon as I opened up the bleed valves.
For the radiator that isn't working, I've removed the top of the TRV and the pin was down. Pulled it up with some plyers, then pushed it down again and it didn't pop up. Used WD40 on it and manipulated it with a pair of plyers, but no joy. Tapped the valve while it was pulled up as I assumed the pin wasn't connected to the washer in the valve, but unable to release it, assuming the valve is stuck closed. The other possibililty is the lack of water pressure given that the other working radiator is only warm, not hot!
The partly working radiator has a working TRV, the pin pops up and I can push it down easily. The supply pipe to the TRV is hot, but the radiator itself is only warm and even after removing the TRV head, with the pin up, the radiator doesn't get hot and stays warm. I've ensured the lockshield valve is open.
The towel rail doesn't have a TRV, just two valves, one which can be turned, but doesn't seem to turn very far; about 3 turns. The other valve (the lockshield?) requires a screwdriver in the end and I've fully opened it. Regardless of what position either valve is in, I can't get any heat into the towel rail.
The flow and return pipes to both the towel rail and the radiator with the failed TRV are cold.
It looks like I'll have to change the failed valve, but I'm not sure why one of the radiators is only getting warm and why the towel rail, or its piping isn't getting warm. Does this suggest an air lock/blockage preventing hot water getting to the radiators and the towel rail?
Any suggestions would be welcome.