radiator output poor downstairs

[patricia88]

Hi
I have 5 radiators downstairs. 3 are fine, 1 is warm but not piping hot and the other (the furtherest away from the boiler/pump) barely heats at all. All radiators downstairs and most upstairs were replaced 2 years ago when I moved to this house. Have had a wheelhead attached to tank in loft and all radiators balanced and still no joy. Boiler swithed to 75%. When I turn off all other radiators the one with barely any heat operates perfectly. My plumber is suggesting that there is sludge in that radiator but another plumber said that I needed a high efficiency pump. Can anyone advise please? Also, is it reasonable for me to expect all radiators in house to be piping hot (excuse the pun)? Friends seem to have that luxury but maybe it ireserved for the lucky few.

 

[Bahco]

Also, is it reasonable for me to expect all radiators in house to be piping hot.

Extremely reasonable if you only have 5 radiators.

Read the FAQs on rad problems post no 8.

Suggest you balance and bleed first and if no joy suspect sludge.

 

[patricia88]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I have 11 radiators in total, so is it still reasonable to expect them all to be piping hot?
Radiators have all been balanced and bled. So must it be sludge then even if the radiators are only 2 years old ? Is a higher efficiency pump not a possibility?

 

[gas4you]

Could just be your pump is on the way out.

 

[patricia88]

Thanks Dave. As far as I know, the pump is working. I have looked at all the posts on problem radiators and it is never suggested that a higher capacity/efficiency pump would sort the problem. Do you think it is unlikely to be the issue? It seems logical enough that there imay be a problem with the capacity of the pump given that the cold radiator is the one furtherest away from it. Any further thoughts?

 

[gas4you]

The pump can appear to be spinning but not actually circulating properly.

If this pump as worked for years then if you replace it keep the same size.

Have you tried turning the pump speed to max?

 

[Agile]

Radiators have all been balanced and bled. So must it be sludge then even if the radiators are only 2 years old ?

We often hear customers saying that ! What it usually means if that they have PAID someone to do that!

It does not always mean that it has actually been done property.

I would never assume that anything has been done properly!

Tony

 

[patricia88]

No I haven't but I will try that thanks. When you say if I replace the pump I should keep the same size, shouldn't I get one with a higher capacity if the present one isn't doing the job? have only been in the house 2 years and it has been a problem from the outset so Im not sure if there ever was a stage when all the radiators were piping hot.

 

[patricia88]

You're quite right Tony, I did pay someone to do it. I also paid someone to fix a wheelhead to the tank in the loft and neither that nor the "balancing" appeared to make any difference. The only thing that makes a difference is if I turn all the radiators off except the one or two poor ones. When I do that, hey presto, they heat up like magic!

 

[richw]

The only thing that makes a difference is if I turn all the radiators off except the one or two poor ones. When I do that, hey presto, they heat up like magic!

That suggests that the system is fine, and your issues are either a poorly pump, or incorrect balancing.

What about if you turn down the lockshields on the hottest rads (close them fully, then open one turn) and fully open the lockshields on the coldest ones?

(before you do this, please note the current lockshield positions!)

 

[patricia88]

The only thing that makes a difference is if I turn all the radiators off except the one or two poor ones. When I do that, hey presto, they heat up like magic!

That suggests that the system is fine, and your issues are either a poorly pump, or incorrect balancing.

What about if you turn down the lockshields on the hottest rads (close them fully, then open one turn) and fully open the lockshields on the coldest ones?

(before you do this, please note the current lockshield positions!)

Thanks for that but it has already been balance. I forgot to mention that my boiler and pump are at the bottom of my garden ( a good 22 - 25 meters from the house) and the radiator which is cold, is the furtherest away from the boiler. Not sure if that is relevant.