Single Rad half is warm only

[ukjules]

I have a baxi800 boiler. 2 rads upstairs near boiler and 4 downstairs ending up in the bathroom which is the one that only heats up a few panels but both inlet and return pipes are hot.

Pressure 1.25bar.
Radiator - bled ok
Balanced all rads and the others are fine !!
(Balanced as best I can using my new Lazer scanner)

All rads bar the bathroom are old types with just the bleed valve on the top.

The bathroom one (downstairs) has 7 long panels 1.8m high , 400 wide . Flow is from the trv valve on the right to the lockshield valve on left. (I didn't install any of this )

It simply will never fully warm up.

So:
- I turned off all other rads at trv and lockshield. Exactly the same issue with just bathroom one on.
- TRV valve is not stuck
- both valves seem to work fine
I thus assumed it was gunged up. With the help on here I removed rad, flushed fully , zero gunge just clear water. Put back on , re pressurised and exactly the same issue (it might be slightly better)
(I did when rad off turn on valves to see if water was restricted .. it came out no issues)

So:
Where do I go next ?
I think the rad is far to big for the small bathroom. It's as if it holds too much water to heavy up quick ? The one in the hall next to it heats up instantly, this being just a 500×800 old one.

I actually want a cheap towel warmer far shorter one. I almost feel that simply buying a smaller one will fix it.

What's think ?

 

[oldbuffer]

1. Many of those vertical radiators are sensitive to which end is flow into the radiator and which is return out of the radiator.
2. This type generall have a baffle on the flow side which direct the water up the columns. Without this, water tends to flow straight across and not heat the radiator uniformly.
3. If there is not indication (perhaps on the back?) of required flow direction, you could try taking it off the wall and turning what is now the back to the front.
4. If it is too big for the bathroom, you can always turn it down on the lock shield valve.

 

[ukjules]

Thanks for info :
1 and 2 and 3:
What you describe seems to be what I am experiencing exactly. There is however no marks I can see on the rad stating flow side.
As said it's right to left and on the right is the trv valve.

I can't turn it really as the holding clips on in the reverse.

Way forward :
- is it worth swapping round the valves ? Something iv never done but I do have the tooling here now.
- I don't mind splashing out on a cheapish more normal rad, perhaps a short towel rad. This leaving valves as they are as I have two here that have tvr at the inlet and the seem to work.
Q) what is best practice for valves ? Inlet is the lockshield ?

Thanks for help !!! This site is awesome

4- I don't understand.... The radiator doesn't function. too big ? Yes it's big. Turning down lockshield does not help me.

 

[ukjules]

Just thought - The trv is on the flow side (which on this one is on the right)

So I assume that means it's set up ok ?
BUT
This clearly is a add on via a house extension it is as if the pipes are the wrong way round for this type of rad ?
The radiator needs the trv on the left but the pipes are wrong ?

 

[Madrab]

Those tubular designer radiators are usually crap, not worth the money unless they are really only there to heat a small room. So in this case a bathroom is probably the best place for it, though I would say it's a bit on the large side. With these designers rads the flow into the rad is usually on the left hand side. Going from cold which pipe heats up first left or right?

Would be much better off with a ladder towel rad of the same height and anything but chrome. Or for the best heat, a normal convecting type rad

 

[ukjules]

Thanks all. All noted.

The flow is from right to left. The right hand pipe heats up first where the trv is.
It looks like the pipe work is wrong .... For this rad. (This is good if is the case as it explains everything)

I think as I don't even like this rad , to get another and doing that I no longer fear at all now.

So ladder rad (not chrome) black ?
Or
As I need to heat up quick / speed a convecting rad. The bathroom is in a very poorly insulated extension.

 

[denso13]

The flow is from right to left. The right hand pipe heats up first where the trv is.
It looks like the pipe work is wrong .... For this rad. (This is good if is the case as it explains everything)

Mine are flow to the left, yes, yours could be wrong but hard to be definitive without knowing the make/model.

 

[denso13]

 

[ukjules]

Fully understand and it's all on me for a punt if I get another. But with what I've done it looks very possible !!

There is no make on it. I think it's a cheapo one.
I'll go to.my mega plumbing place and sort another rad and be sure inlet is to be ok on the right ....... This one is awful anyway and can't hang anything on it.

I will update post to the end.

 

[Tporter23]

Usually the vertical rads have the INLET on the left hand side
So if your flow is coming in on the right (right valve getting hot first from cold) my suspicions are it will be piped up the wrong way around causing the baffle inside to not circulate correctly , swap flow and returns around under floor should cure it if it’s get good circulation from both sides

 

[ukjules]

Yep understand could change pipes but that is beyond me as this time. Floor hard to pull up, copper pipe work id have to use push fit due to inexperience.

Don't like these tall slim rads. Not needed in my small bathroom.
A new one not massively expensive poss <80£
A functional small towel rad or normal one do the job .

But yes your right .... If I liked that rad and wanted to pull up floor that be way.

 

[Tporter23]

Yep understand could change pipes but that is beyond me as this time. Floor hard to pull up, copper pipe work id have to use push fit due to inexperience.

Don't like these tall slim rads. Not needed in my small bathroom.
A new one not massively expensive poss <80£
A functional small towel rad or normal one do the job .

But yes your right .... If I liked that rad and wanted to pull up floor that be way.

I’m an heating engineer and I always try and sway people away from wanting these kind of radiators due to these issues, you can not go wrong with just a standard white radiator convector from places like Screwfix - or them towel rails are cheap enough to buy - and will work regardless of direction of flow - get it out it looks way oversized for the room anyway, best of luck

 

[ukjules]

Thanks all great advice .
I'll post the result !! Something to look forward to !!