Radiators are not getting as hot

[debrao]

I have a Baxi boiler and 3 radiators downstairs and 3 upstairs. My radiators do not seem to get as hot as they used to. When my boiler is on high you can still touch the radiators comfortably. I have cover with british gas and on two occassions when I called them out they say it was down to the exceptional cold weather. Then on the second occassion I was told the system may need pressure flushing which would cost about £700 as there may be sludge in the system.
They drained a little water out which was clear.
I am not sure what I need to do so thought I would ask on here for advice. I hope someone can advice me PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

 

[darren17]

have you had any work on the system???
are the rads cold at the bottom and warm at the top
how old is the system???
when was it last cleaned

 

[debrao]

Other than heving british gas out on the cover I have had no other work done on the system. It is about 9 years old and i have had no faults so I have been lucky till now.
I have never had the system cleaned if by cleaned you mean the whole system washed out I think?????
At the top is a bit hotter than the bottom middle of the radiators, but the tops are still not as hot as they should be as with the boiler on full you can still hold a hand on it and it does not hurt,,, you know what I mean. Sorry i am not very technical about this.

 

[JohnD]

is it a pressurised system, or does it have a Feed & Expansion tank in the loft?

Is there a hot-water cylinder? If so, is it surprisingly hot?

Have you bled the radiators?

 

[debrao]

oh bow you are loosing me sorry.......
I know i do not have a tank in the loft so i am guessing it is pressurised.

Hot water cylinder???????? If that is also in the loft well no i do not have one.

 

[darren17]

the hot water cylinder is copper usually in your airing cupboard.
it is a pressurised system you have.
you need to check the pressure guage on the boiler it goes from 0 to 3 bar
it should be at about 1.5 bar when cold
your system needs to be flushed out and a chemical cleaner put in and allowed to dissolve all the sediment .
my e-mail address is on the forum

 

[sambotc]

Did BG check the gas supply to boiler. Would involve putting a test guage on the meter and/or boiler or taking a reading from the meter over a few minutes?

Could you get the model name/number off the boiler?

HTH Sam

 

[debrao]

no i do not have the hot water cylinder and the pressure gauge is always about 1.5 so I know that is ok.
Would it cost much to get the system flushed out and a chemical cleaner put in as I am worried I might get ripped off if that was the case.

 

[debrao]

I don't know if BG checked the gas supply to the boiler think they just tried messing with the vaulves on the left side of the radiator to try to increase the pressure to the upstairs. I have the manual and it says its a Baxi Combi 80e & 105e but not sure which one exactly.

 

[debrao]

sorry I must sound really thick but I am thinking of leaving BG cover and just get someone in to check the system as I think they are just not interested, but worried I might get ripped off.

 

[darren17]

you have water flowing around system so you could put in afernox f5 chemical restorer and open all valves on your rads and then leave it running on normal use for 7 days then all you have to do is drain system and flush out with clean water after that add a chemical inhibitor fill and pressurise and balance the system.
get rid of your bg cover as their prices are rip-offs
the average for a power flush is 300-400 max
you should get yourself a gas safe engineer no more than 250.

 

[debrao]

Thank you for your advice I was thinking about getting rid of BG more so now after what you said it would cost getting a gas safe engineer out. I dont think I will dare try to flush the system myself sounds a bit complicated to be honest.
But I am going to look into getting it flushed will ask around any who has had anyone out to make sure I get someone who wont try to con me.
Again thank you Darren and others for your patience and advice.