radiators not filling up

[stormice]

Hello! Please can anyone help. thr radiators seemed cold this morning so i drained some water off the bottom of the radiators to see if there was any sludge etc. (probably the wrong thing to do!). the bradiators wont now fill up , i have the air values open on the upstairs ones but they arnt filling up. any ideas? the extansion tank is full but not seeming to drain into the radiators , cheers richard

 

[gas4you]

Sounds like you have the classic cold feed blockage. The cold feed pipe will be blocked at the point where it tees into the rest of the system pipe work, hopefully in your airing cupboard next to the HW cylinder.

 

[stormice]

thanks for that ive tried a water vac to see if it clears.

im now getting a noise from the boiler and banging then air comes out of the radiator for a while the stops - any ideas?

thanks

richard

 

[JohnD]

you haven't cleared the blockage yet. You will know when you have cleared it because water will then squirt forcefully out of the radiator bleed vents. Once you have cleared it you can add a mild desludging chemical like Sentinel X400 and circulate it for 4 weeks before draining and rinsing. It is no use adding a chemical when you already have a blockage because it will be unable to circulate.

Don't run the boiler or pump if they are not full of water. If they have air in them they may be damaged and anyway will not work properly.

Have you read the FAQ?

 

[gas4you]

You need to cut out the offending blocked tee piece and replace.

Then you could do as John suggests.

 

[namsag]

Could even try the most basic thing first and check thet the header tank actually has water in it and the ball valve is not stuck.

 

[JohnD]

the extansion tank is full but not seeming to drain into the radiators , cheers richard

 

[namsag]

put that down to few pints this evening

 

[gas4you]

Can't wait till tomorrow night then

 

[namsag]

Tomorrow wont be too bad as will have mrs with me and saving my self for the 12 hour session on new years day.
She has been pre warned she asked me earlier what time are you going out new years day .
Answer between 12 and 1 so what time you back in , answer between 12 and 1 .