SOME radiators not working

[noordwykj]

Hi am very new here...

We have an old combi bolier - which we have had a few probs with here and there...only moved into house a year ago. Sorry if I sound a complete numpty...

The hot water is on constantly, as we have a small child. The heating, I have just put on a week or so ago and it comes as no surprise that only three out of the six are working. There is no pattern to them, some work upstairs, some work down.

I have bled all of them - only the towel radiator in the bathroom lets out any air, I then have to top up the boiler.

I have tried to isolate each radiator individually, but this hasnt worked either.

Help - does this mean I have to call in the plumber - I am hoping not - cause they charge a bloody fortune...In an ideal world I would get a brand new boiler and radiators too, but unfortunately it is way out of reach at the mo!!!

Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated. However, be warned I am mearly a blondie that is not so grreat at DIY - but I try my bestest...

Many thanks

Jo

 

[JohnD]

when you bleed the radiators, what colour is the water that comes out?

Have you tried balancing the radiators yet?

Do you know where the pump is?

What do you mean when you say "I have tried to isolate each radiator individually, but this hasn't worked either."

If you are concerned about cost of repair, start asking friends and neighbours if they have used a local plumber or heating engineer (not the same thing) in the last few years, and, if so, how pleased they were with his or her work and how reasonable the costs seemed. Then you will be in a better position than picking one at random from the yellow pages.

Often, if you happen to know someone in another trade (e.g. an electrician) he or she will have an idea of who is good in your area. People who do good quality work tend to hang together.

BG will usually do a good job (though it may take more than one attempt) but are quite expensive.

 

[noordwykj]

Hiya

Thanx for replying so quickly. Right, whe I said isolating radiators, this is what the last plumber told me to do...to turn each radiator down low on their thermostat and only have one up high. so have done that one by one - but to no avail.

dont know where pump is...is that with the boiler...

not too sure what balancing them out means - sorry - i really did mean I am a blondie....

oh and water is clear when it comes out during bleeding...

Thanks again

 

[JohnD]

when you turn five of your radiators off, does the sixth one get hot?

Each radiator will have an adjusting knob at one end, possibly thermostatic, and a lockshield valve at the other end which may look as if you can't turn it. But if you take the plastic cap off you will find it has a valve and spindle which can be turned to adjust the flow. Look for these. Don't attack them with a tin opener or adjustable spanner just yet or you may damage the spindles. Look at the other end of your rads and see if they all have thermostatic valves or if one or more has a manual knob.

If thermostatic valves are turned of during the summer they sometimes jam closed. When did your radiators last work?

the pump looks like this and will be wherever you have a lot of copper pipes coming together. It might be next to your boiler, it might be inside the casing.

 

[JohnD]

p.s. read http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37170

 

[noordwykj]

The sixth rad does not come on when the others are switched off. The pipes leading to it are not hot either. Have turned all the thermostats and the valves to the left of the radiator to.

The weird thing is - one of the non working radiators is making noises like it should be working - if you understand what I mean. It sounds like the ones that do work - like the water is moving through it. But the pipes are stone cold.

I believe the pump is actually in a cupboard underneath the stairs next to our gas metre - not easily accesable - but can be done.

 

[JohnD]

then the sixth rad either has a blockage, or one of its valves is turned off, or it has a thermostatic valve which has seized shut.

when did it last work?

has it got a thermostatic valve?

what has it got at the other end?

when you bleed it, does water squirt out forcefully?

 

[noordwykj]

Ummm

The thing is - it isnt just the sixth rad, there are three doing the same thing.

Um - yes I suppose it does come out quite forcably. They all last worked in March/April this year. They all have thermostats on one end and the valves with the plus and minus symbols on the other.

I really do appreciate your help...thank you

 

[JohnD]

work on one rad at a time

make sure the manual valve is fully open

read the link I sent

see if your TRV is jammed shut

 

[noordwykj]

right - one last question - how far should the pins in the valves move? are we talking minimal amounts here? Have got one working, it is on max but the rad feels very mild to the touch. The other rads - the pins are barely moving at all.

 

[JohnD]

the important thing is that it sticks out fully to open. Have a look at one of the rads that is working to see how far that is.

If you have a stuck one, try pushing it up and down to see if it frees off. Push only straight down, if you appply any sideways force it may bend or break off. It can take quite a lot of pressure to push down, you probably won't be able to do it with your thumb.

TRVs can be changed, but if you have never done one before it will probably take you all day as you may have to change some nuts if the old ones don't fit the new valve. If you ever do fit a new TRV, get a good one not a cheapo one. Although they can be quite expensive, it is nothing compared to the cost and inconvenience of having to replace it again (I have mostly got cheap ones in my house, but I don't mind if I ever have to replace one, and i don't screw them down in summer so they are less likely to jam).

If you post a pic of your old valves someone may have an opinion on them.

 

[noordwykj]

Well John

Thank you very much - I think I might just have cracked it !! Only took me most of the day...but I learnt something new!

They have all been blazing away....

Thank again

Jo