Bleeding radiator, central heating stops working

[Mike 1986]

Hi everyone. I've got a recurring problem with my central heating that I'm hoping someone can help me with.

I live in a two floor flat - ground floor has the kitchen and garage, everything else is upstairs. The boiler is in the garage , is branded "Main" and has no controls apart from a reset button. Upstairs there is a cupboard with the heating control panel (hot water and heating), water pump, a large insulated tank with what I believe to be an immersion switch attached, what looks like an expansion tank (but no pressure gauge), and a ~20 litre open top tank with a ballcock valve at the highest point in the system.

The radiator in the living room regularly runs cold. Whenever I try to bleed it, the central heating stops working for the next 12 hours or so. The boiler refuses to ignite and the pump becomes very noisy. I assumed this was because the pressure needs to be topped up but there is no fill loop and no pressure gauge anywhere on the system, so I can't.

I'm concerned A) the radiator shouldn't keep filling with air this regularly (every few months) and B) the central heating shouldn't stop working for hours every time I bleed the radiator.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[JohnD]

photos of the components will help.

Is there a tank about 2ft x 1ft x 1ft anywhere? With a ball cock like an old WC cistern? Does it have a layer of mud at the bottom? Is there any water in it?

 

[dilalio]

Need photos so we can see exactly what setup you have.

 

[Madrab]

How new is the system? If you have a 20Ltr open topped cistern - is there a pipe that runs up and bends over the top and into it, you may have an open vented CH system? The HW cylinder may be unvented hence the EV without a pressure gauge - is it white/blue?

 

[dilalio]

And... Its all gone quiet over there...