Central heating nightmare!

[Jethro Tull]

My heating system always seemed to be working OK until I replaced a radiator. I thought I had drained the system, but when I went into the loft to refill the header tank I found it was still full. I tried to bleed the rads, some bled some didn't. I tried to bleed the pump to see if I could get some air out but nothing comes out of the central screw - no air or water. Also, I have noticed that the pump always seems to be running and is very hot to the touch. I turned off both water and heating but the pump still runs. It always seems to be running even when the heating has been turned off for quite a while.I realise this may not be connected to the air lock problem.

I know I have an air lock but with all these other anomalies I am overwhelmed by it all. I was thinking of trying to put a hose on the drain on one of the valves and forcing water back into the system to push out any air. I was going to close one valve on each radiator first. Will that do it?
I don't want to mess anything up so I thoughgt I would get some advice on it first.

 

[Elkato531]

Blocked cold feed. Usually occurs where the pipe from the F and E cistern joins the heating system. Will require that section of pipework cutting out and replacing. The pump will be running dry and won't last long. Turn the system off until problem sorted.

 

[Jethro Tull]

Blocked cold feed. Usually occurs where the pipe from the F and E cistern joins the heating system. Will require that section of pipework cutting out and replacing. The pump will be running dry and won't last long. Turn the system off until problem sorted.

Thanks for your response. Do you mean the pipe which from the header tank and goes into the boiler? Is this something I could do myself? Why does the pump keep running? If I force water into the system could that release the blockage?

 

[terryplumb]

Dont connect mains water. Pump running is a separate issue and can be looked at later. Firstly Sort out the blockage ,which will be somewhere on the pipework from the bottom of the f&e tank which feeds water into c/ heating system / boiler. If you have a strong magnet ,run it along the copper pipe ,it will be attracted by the blockage in the pipe which is invariably magnetite. Usually found near the first "T" on the pipework ,but not exclusively there. Isolate the electric supply to the boiler to stop pump from running ,if you havent already done so.

 

[lostinthelight]

Ive found the remains of a dead mouse blocking the outlet from the the f&e tank before now.

 

[Jethro Tull]

Dont connect mains water. Pump running is a separate issue and can be looked at later. Firstly Sort out the blockage ,which will be somewhere on the pipework from the bottom of the f&e tank which feeds water into c/ heating system / boiler. If you have a strong magnet ,run it along the copper pipe ,it will be attracted by the blockage in the pipe which is invariably magnetite. Usually found near the first "T" on the pipework ,but not exclusively there. Isolate the electric supply to the boiler to stop pump from running ,if you havent already done so.

Thanks again. I'll try that in he morning. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Mottie]

Before I changed to a sealed system, whenever I wanted to fill my drained or partially drained system, I needed to shove a piece of hose pipe in the connection to the system in the expansion tank and give it a blow to get the water moving into the system.

 

[lostinthelight]

Before I changed to a sealed system, whenever I wanted to fill my drained or partially drained system, I needed to shove a piece of hose pipe in the connection to the system in the expansion tank and give it a blow to get the water moving into the system.

If the blockage had come from debris in the tank I suppose there could be a danger of pushing it further into the pipework ?

 

[terryplumb]

Before I changed to a sealed system, whenever I wanted to fill my drained or partially drained system, I needed to shove a piece of hose pipe in the connection to the system in the expansion tank and give it a blow to get the water moving into the system.

That would be fine if you just had an air lock ,the op's f&e did not empty when he drained down ,unfortunately, he has a blockage and putting mains pressure down there aint a good idea in this instance.

 

[Jethro Tull]

Ive found the remains of a dead mouse blocking the outlet from the the f&e tank before now.

I have poked a long wire down it but the blockage seems to be quite a long way down. I'll try the magnet thing tomorrow. Maybe the mouse went deep, deep down? If I find one I'll give it a decent burial.

 

[Mottie]

That would be fine if you just had an air lock ,the op's f&e did not empty when he drained down ,unfortunately, he has a blockage and putting mains pressure down there aint a good idea in this instance.

Yeah, thinking about it now, it was airlocks.

 

[75pete]

It would appear that your blockage has just happened. It could be "soft" muck from the tank, as already said, at the tee connection.

So, before cutting out and replacing try this:
Have a look at FAQ, Boiler and Central Heating number 12

This post from Chris works! I've used it a couple of times, worth trying
Good luck
Pete

 

[Jethro Tull]

It would appear that your blockage has just happened. It could be "soft" muck from the tank, as already said, at the tee connection.

So, before cutting out and replacing try this:
Have a look at FAQ, Boiler and Central Heating number 12

This post from Chris works! I've used it a couple of times, worth trying
Good luck
Pete

Thanks, but where will I find that?

It would appear that your blockage has just happened. It could be "soft" muck from the tank, as already said, at the tee connection.

So, before cutting out and replacing try this:
Have a look at FAQ, Boiler and Central Heating number 12

This post from Chris works! I've used it a couple of times, worth trying
Good luck
Pete

Thanks but where ill I find that?

 

[terryplumb]

Where will you find what ??

 

[75pete]

He can't find FAQs
It at the top of the forum page in this section.