help pls- 1 radiator not working

[lokkar]

hi,
Have got one radiator in a 4 bed property which is not working. It is an old style boiler and the pipes around it are not warm as well.
This does not have any area to release pressure.
any pointers pls .

thanks

 

[Elkato531]

Are you sure both valves are open? If they are, it could be an airlock. When radiators are fed by pipes dropping down from the ceiling they can sometimes be prone to airlocking. You can try turning off other rads that do work so that the pump is only pushing water to the problem rad. This should force the airlock out. You'll hear some gurgling and the rad should then work. Open up the other rads afterwards.
The rad should have vent screws at the top of each panel either at one end or on the rear face of the panels. However, if was just a venting problem, I would expect the pipes to be hot.

 

[lokkar]

Are you sure both valves are open? If they are, it could be an airlock. When radiators are fed by pipes dropping down from the ceiling they can sometimes be prone to airlocking. You can try turning off other rads that do work so that the pump is only pushing water to the problem rad. This should force the airlock out. You'll hear some gurgling and the rad should then work. Open up the other rads afterwards.
The rad should have vent screws at the top of each panel either at one end or on the rear face of the panels. However, if was just a venting problem, I would expect the pipes to be hot.

anticlock wise both is open right.. and there is no air vent screws on this at all.. tried finding under over back and front.. not sure which brand it is ..
and yes the pipe not getting warm is another issue ... will still try the above method to see if it works. .

 

[Elkato531]

Anticlockwise to open yes. There will be vent points somewhere otherwise the rad could not be filled when installed. Check the ends carefully. It may be that the vent screws have been snapped by overtightening in the past. If that's the case, its new rad time.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

and there is no air vent screws on this at all.. tried finding under over back and front.. not sure which brand it is ..

They are called 'bleed screws', and all radiators have them, no exceptions.

 

[lokkar]

this is something i am unable to find on this ... as seen in the photo.. the edges have a connection .. this is like panel radiator with 2 panels attached..
any pointers where this screws can be pls ?

 

[Elkato531]

The rad should have vent screws at the top of each panel either at one end or on the rear face of the panels.

Post pics of the top ends of the rad.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

this is something i am unable to find on this ... as seen in the photo.. the edges have a connection .. this is like panel radiator with 2 panels attached..
any pointers where this screws can be pls ?

They are always in an upper corner of radiators. They could be on the edge of the panel, or round the back. Just feel around for it, with your fingertips. I assume you do know what a bleed valve/screw looks like?

This site might help you identify the bleed screw - https://www.bleedscrews.co.uk/

 

[Madrab]

Old round top rad by the looks of it - can be tough getting the bleed screws out sometimes.

If they aren't just traditional type bleed valves on the end of the rad then they are usually one of 2 other places - either on the back of the panel at the top - or are recessed into the end of each panel.

Worst case is to get easi bleed valves and cut them into the rad

 

[lokkar]

Old round top rad by the looks of it - can be tough getting the bleed screws out sometimes.

If they aren't just traditional type bleed valves on the end of the rad then they are usually one of 2 other places - either on the back of the panel at the top - or are recessed into the end of each panel.

View attachment 357781 View attachment 357782

View attachment 357784


Worst case is to get easi bleed valves and cut them into the rad

found them.. they are the last image type marked in red.. phew... so will bleed the radiator out and close all others.. the worrying part is that the pipe near it are not worm as well.. may be blocked from somewhere ?

 

[Madrab]

Could be blocked - or the valves on the radiator need to be opened more.

 

[lokkar]

ok, so i think the issue is different.. we had replaced the boiler to combi this summer.. and may be the plumber didnt connect one pipe after removing the hot water tank... below is the photo attached of the work done.. if the bottom left pipe needs to be connected somewhere pls ?

the thick pipe is hot .. the thin pipe is cold...

 

[lokkar]

anyone pls any pointers

 

[ChrisJP]

The cap on that pipe doesn't look new so it seems unlikely that the plumber installed it, or forgot to connect it. However, without knowing where the pipes in you picture actually go it pretty hard to offer any other advice, especially regarding why pipes might be hot or cold.
Are you suffering any failing with your new combi system that has prompted your concern about the capped pipe?
If your heating system is working OK I wouldn't be too concerned about the capped pipe.

 

[lokkar]

all the radiators are working fine... it is just that when i bleed the non working radiator... new water is not being filled in at all.. so worried that it might have a seperate connection which the installer forgot and capped it out