Radiator Troubles

[brooky_agb]

Hi, I moved into a new house recently and we have found that about 40% of the radiators don't work. Can anyone help an idiot like me?

Some of the radiators have really hot pipes to them but they feel cold. I have bled them and clear water comes straight out. Whats wierd is that the valve is open fully and the thermostat to max. I have even taken it off and pushed the pin up and down a few times. Whats odd is that it feels red hot after the thermostat where the pipe goes to a T to circulate around the radiator.

Should I get it powerflushed and have all the valves changed. The oil boiler feeding it is over ten years old. When we first moved in the header tank was empty, if fixed it by wiggling the ballcock. One radiator in particular seems to have a little bit of air in every now and again but none of the others do.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

[DazzarGaz]

Sounds like the system needs to be balanced. There should be the required info in the FAQ for balancing rads.

Daz

 

[brooky_agb]

Wonderful.. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[bengasman]

Feel the rads on the lowest floor along the bottom when the system has been on for at least half an hour; if the middle is colder than the sides, it needs cleaning.

 

[brooky_agb]

Ok, I have turned every radiator on full throttle. The heating has been on for four hours. Going to make a note of the cold rads and experiment. Thanks for your advice.

 

[DazzarGaz]

If you turn off all the rads that are working, this will force the hot water into the ones that are suspect. If they heat up nicely then you've got a balancing problem.

 

[brooky_agb]

Great I'll try that.