My radiators sound like Niagra falls

[darrenh]

Hi all.

My radiators have recently started to sound like they have a stream running through them when the heating is on - so bad it is waking us up. I have tried to bleed them but it doesnt seem to be an air problem.

Any ideas? I always thought the expansion tank was supposed to keep them full of water such that you didnt hear this type of trickle.

The tank upstairs is quite full of dirt (not sure the technical term for it). Could the feed be blocked or something?

Also - how can I get the whole system cleaned out - someone told me you can get the insids flushed out or something? Is it expensive?

thanks

Darrenh

 

[JohnD]

I have tried to bleed them but it doesnt seem to be an air problem.

what do you mean "tried" and "seem"?

what happened when you bled them?

when you bleed the highest radiator in the house, does water squirt out vigorously?

and what when you bleed the lowest radiator in the house?

 

[JohnD]

I see you didn't answer the questions I asked you two months ago

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=724261#724261

is this the house with the oil boiler or is it the one with the gas boiler?
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=502919#502919

are all the radiators hot? all over? or do they have cold patches? which parts are cold?

 

[darrenh]

Hi John

Thanks for your help last time - I took your advice and ran the shower into a bucket - it didnt take me long to realise that my power shower could drain the tank in 5 minutes!

The house I have moved to is the oil system.

When I bleed the radiators they squirt vigourously (both lowest and highest).

Thanks

Darrenh

 

[JohnD]

you didn't reply about the radiators cold patches

from what you say your system is probably full of sludge. there are at least 4 ways you can attack this

powerflush (will cost some hundreds)
take rads off and hose them through in the garden
chemical clean
mains pressure flush
Magnaclean

the cheapest and easiest is the chemical clean so you might as well try that first. It will also loosen sludge and make any subsequent work easier. It will cost you £15 for the cleaner and £15 for the inhibitor which you add after cleaning. Sentinel X400 is very good for loosening sludge and their inhibitor is X100


If you can afford an extra £100 for a Magnaclean and can fit it yourself it will help a lot whatever method you use.

Bale out all the mud from your F&E and sponge it clean first. Fit a tight lid. Verify the ball valve works correctly or fit a new one. Find the drain cocks before you start. Look for any signs of leaks and fix them. See http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=116678&start=0

read the first few threads on http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=7 for background

it sounds like you might also have gas in the system. this might be due to corrosion but you seem to suggest none comes out when you bleed the rads.

 

[darrenh]

John

Can you give me some info on hoe you do the chemcial clean? Do you have to drain the system and then add it to the expansion tank?

Also. with the mains pressure flush, how do you do this?

Darren

 

[JohnD]

Can you give me some info on hoe you do the chemcial clean? Do you have to drain the system and then add it to the expansion tank?

See http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=116678&start=0 posts 2, 6, 8. 10, 11, 13

Also. with the mains pressure flush, how do you do this?

read the first few threads on http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=7 It's in FAQs no.5