Couple of problems.

[kdidymus]

Hoping somebody may be able to help.

I have a Vaillant boiler which is about 3 years old. Just before the winter kicked in I drained down the system as my installer had shown me (switch off boiler, twist red release knob under boiler until water begins to drain out and then open bleed valves on radiators to empty them). I then closed all of the bleed valves, returned the red knob to its closed position and pulled the black lever underneath the boiler to recharge the system. Usually when I do this there is a fairly loud hiss as the mains water charges up the system and it takes about 3 minutes.

THIS time however, there was a bearly audible hiss and the rads took about 2 hours to recharge. Any ideas why?

Also, I have ONE cold radiator in the house. This one has never been as hot as the others but now it's warm only at the top. Somebody suggested it may be the left hand valve (i.e. not the TRV) but I'm not sure. Prepared to replace both valves AND take the rad off the wall to flush it but would like to avoid this if possible. Any ideas what could be wrong?

Many thanks in advance.

KD.

 

[Bahco]

Read this

 

[kdidymus]

Bahco.

Thank you. I'll let you know how I get on.

KD.

 

[gas4you]

Firstly you NEVER drain a boiler/system via the prv

It sounds as though you may have an Ecomax boiler. If so there are 2 small black levers to open under the boiler to top it up.

 

[kdidymus]

Gas4you. Thank you. The guy who fitted the system actually advised me to do it that way. And he was Corgi registered. The fool!

What position should the two black levers be in during normal use please? You see, in order to top up the boiler I only have to activate ONE of them. I'm concerned they might not be in the correct position.

I take it then that I should drain the system using a hosepipe connected to the lowest radiator?

 

[mattylad]

WHAT!

A Registered Corgi person has given bad advise?

Noooooooo I cannot believe it.

 

[kdidymus]

Okay. One problem solved. One to go.

ONE radiator is stone cold. The rest are boiling hot and toasty.

The rad concerned is upstairs and has a TRV. I have taken the TRV off and the pin inside moves freely up and down. I've actually left the TRV off for the time being just to be on the safe side.

When I turn the bleed valve, even when the system is on and HOT, I only get COLD water out of it. It's at pressure but the bled water is cold.

We've got a massive problem with condensation on the wall behind that rad too. Is this linked?

Could somebody please explain how it is possible that cold, mains pressure water is coming out of the bleed valve when the system is hot?

Does the water flow from the boiler IN through the TRV and out the other side or does the water come from the boiler in through the other side and OUT through the TRV?

Is this likely to be sludged up rad or something more serious?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

KD.