The last rad. of the upstairs circuit is a drop-feed to the lower floor
(solid floor!). Rad. valves are bog-standard, c/h pump is in the return to
boiler, system vented, all other rads. properly balanced, system degunged
and inhibited so water runs clear. No air collects in rads.
This last rad. persistently fails after a few days. I can clear it by
shutting the rad. c/h return and allowing a fast drain from the hot feed
(luckily I fitted a combined valve/drain-cock some years ago). After about 2
pints of the hot feed have run off there is a rattling noise in the local
feed pipe (air bubbles I guess). After this I can return things to normal
and this rad. will work for 2-3 days before failing again. I\\\'m getting bored
with going through this palaver
My guess is that I have an air leak in the hot feed pipe run between the
last rad. upstairs and the drop fed rad. The next move will be to shift
upstairs furniture, take up some floorboards and inspect this pipe run. But
before I set about all this I\\\'m hoping wise fellas here will advise:
Is this a sensible diagnosis or have I missed something obvious?
Would 35-year old soldered joints go leaky in this way - i.e air getting in
but, as far as I can see, no water coming out?
If all this is true I guess I will need to drain the system and remake the
soldered joints?
(solid floor!). Rad. valves are bog-standard, c/h pump is in the return to
boiler, system vented, all other rads. properly balanced, system degunged
and inhibited so water runs clear. No air collects in rads.
This last rad. persistently fails after a few days. I can clear it by
shutting the rad. c/h return and allowing a fast drain from the hot feed
(luckily I fitted a combined valve/drain-cock some years ago). After about 2
pints of the hot feed have run off there is a rattling noise in the local
feed pipe (air bubbles I guess). After this I can return things to normal
and this rad. will work for 2-3 days before failing again. I\\\'m getting bored
with going through this palaver
My guess is that I have an air leak in the hot feed pipe run between the
last rad. upstairs and the drop fed rad. The next move will be to shift
upstairs furniture, take up some floorboards and inspect this pipe run. But
before I set about all this I\\\'m hoping wise fellas here will advise:
Is this a sensible diagnosis or have I missed something obvious?
Would 35-year old soldered joints go leaky in this way - i.e air getting in
but, as far as I can see, no water coming out?
If all this is true I guess I will need to drain the system and remake the
soldered joints?