Pesky Central Heating...

[wa1978]

I'm having problems with my central heating and I hope someone can help...

I drained the system a few weeks ago to add a new radiator and move a couple around. All went pretty well. I went for the big switch on yesterday but it hasn't really worked out as I had hoped.

The f/e tank in the loft filled with water and gradually the downstairs radiators filled up (took about 8 hours to fill 3 radiators which seems like a long time to me). The upstairs didn't fill at all.

I drained the system again today and the f/e tank emptied pretty quickly. I rechecked all of my new connections and it all seemed ok. I started to fill the system again using the drain valve and a hose pipe - the downstairs rads filled in about 10mins and a bit of water made it upstairs (before the kitched started to flood and I had to turn off the hose) but the upstairs rads still aren't filling from the f/e tank.

I have tested the pump and that seems to be sloshing some water about, the boiler fires up for about a minute or two and then stops.

I keep checking on the f/e tank and the level is going down very slowly but only at about 1cm every 2-3 hours.

I'm assuming there is a blockage somewhere but where? I thought it might be the cold feed but the water drains from the system pretty quickly via the drain valve.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm getting desperate as the temperature is going down the mrs is running out of jumpers.

Cheers

 

[kevplumb]

View media item 667
bleed the pump lock mv in mid position

bit more info about the system would be an idea

 

[dextrous]

Could be an airlock in the upstairs circuit.

 

[wa1978]

Nice one. Thanks for those suggestions. Will look into them.

Sorry if my post is lacking info... I'm not sure what extra info would be useful (I can tell you lots about IT but not so much on plumbing ).

 

[bengasman]

Wouldn't hurt to stick a slow cleaner in like hyperflush, which can stay in for 4 weeks.

 

[wa1978]

Yeah, I had a cleaner in the f/e tank but since the thing wasn't filling I ended up draining it out to check that the tank would empty via the drain valve.

Now go inhibitor in the f/e tank and it looks like that will go the same way as it isn't filling the system.

Best £30 I ever spent... Grrr.

 

[dextrous]

When you drain the FE tank, it is clearly bypassing the upstairs circuit.

Is the upstairs controlled as a separate zone - ie is there a 2-port valve anywhere?

 

[wa1978]

Right then, I have been to bleed the pump. Nothing. Undid the silver screw and nothing came out. No water or air.

The pump is upstairs and since the problem seems to be that there isn't any water in the upstairs circuit I guess that isn't too surprising.

So, could be an airlock in the upstairs circuit - but how do you force water into the upstairs? I tried to force water into the whole system via the drain valve downstairs but after it filled the downstairs circuit it tried to flood my kitchen instead.

 

[wa1978]

As far as I can see there aren't any valves. Seems to be one continuous maze of pipes. With a pump in the middle.

 

[kevplumb]

Is the upstairs controlled as a separate zone - ie is there a 2-port valve anywhere?

View media item 11149

 

[wa1978]

Definately not one of those.

 

[BingoBongo]

can you post a pic?

maybe under the floor

does the f/e tank fill

 

[dextrous]

Is the upstairs controlled as a separate zone - ie is there a 2-port valve anywhere?

View media item 11149

I'm glad you can see where I'm going with this

 

[dextrous]

Ok - plan B. If you can get hold of a garden tap (one without the double check valve in it!) and remove one of the bleed plugs from the top of a radiator upstairs, then screw the tap into the radiator, then you will be able to connect a hose to this and a mains tap downstairs to enable you to force water into the pipework this way.

 

[bengasman]

Yeah, I had a cleaner in the f/e tank but since the thing wasn't filling I ended up draining it out to check that the tank would empty via the drain valve.

The cleaner will have done nothing. It only works when the system is hot and running.