Central heating chaos

[Hugh Jaleak]

'Big yellow thing' is your Hot Water Cylinder. Boiler will heat the water in the heating system, and the pump circulates it around, the 3 Way Valve then opens according to heat demand, and allows flow of hot water to either the Cylinder, Radiators or both.

If the upstairs Radiators are getting nice and hot, then it is a circulation issue with the Radiator pipework, nothing to do with the 3 way Valve, or anything else for that matter. Microbore is renowned for blocking, it either needs a proper clean out to allow full flow, or replacing with 15mm pipework.

What sort of Flush has been done? I doubt anything less than a Powerflush with a suitable machine will unblock the microbore.

 

[CMJB]

I think it was just a flush with chemicals going in and then draining them. So he came today but as the radiators were ok is most rooms except one that is stone cold we agreed to leave for Christmas and see how it goes over next few days.
Heating been on today. Radiators still hot but cooler in the bottom. The heating went like warm on some radiators upstairs which I’ve worked out is linked to upstairs towel radiator and babies bedroom so I checked and the babies one was full of air. Bizzare as yesterday none were. I wonder if there is a bit of sludge in pipes and it’s moving or getting better hence some radiators coming on??
I don’t want to disturb them but clearly still not as efficiently hot as they should but least I’m getting a bit more warmth. So not sure what to do. Defo don’t want to drain again.

 

[Tricky-Dicky]

Could we see pics of the new 'more efficient rads' please.

Did the heating work downstairs prior to your new rads being installed?

Try turning off the Towel Rail - any improvements?
Is most of the main pipe work in the airing cupboard in 15mm or 22mm?
If only 15mm could explain the poor flow.

 

[Johntheo5]

What is indexed setting on the black adjustment knob on the siLver automatic bypass valve (ABV)?, is the copper pipe on its RH side cool/cold when the boiker is running?
What is the make/model of the new circ pump, what mode/setting is it on, if not sure, post a photo of its LEDs while runing,

 

[dilalio]

What sort of Flush has been done? I doubt anything less than a Powerflush with a suitable machine will unblock the microbore.

And has it been done properly?
I do so many that customers claim to have had done before and get it working!

 

[CMJB]

Ok so I am not very technical so took photos of helps. The pipe is hot where my hand is if this is the e right place.
Also regarding radiators the new ones attached. Pipe shows a hole as this was where we had some small leaks when adding new ones.
Ignore the carpet in the room with old radiator as this is the one I moved in to. But you can see the pipes are bigger. I think he said 15mm upstairs they worked but given September I don’t really pay attention and some were too small for the rooms as the house had a gas fire that I assume they would have used in the 80s when it was buiit

 

[CMJB]

Upstairs old ones which were same downstairs

 

[Stuckinarut]

Radiator on photo is 10mm, and newer photo is 15mm. The automatic bypass is open a fair amount, but don’t think that’s entirely contributing to your issue. The only photo I see your hand on is a pump box - is this hot?

 

[CMJB]

I think it’s 8mm downstairs on the new radiator and 15mm upstairs from memory. Think he said about replacing downstairs to 10mm surface level from upstairs radiators. Is this the right place on this photo?

 

[Stuckinarut]

I think it’s 8mm downstairs on the new radiator and 15mm upstairs from memory. Think he said about replacing downstairs to 10mm surface level from upstairs radiators. Is this the right place on this photo? View attachment 366989

Yes that’s right, the flow from the boiler. What I have just noticed is the pipes teeing off before it.

 

[Johntheo5]

Upstairs old ones which were same downstairs
View attachment 366982

The ABV pipe I'm talking about is not the one where your fingers are, its the vertical copper pipe that goes into the ABV, on its right, feel that and see if its hot, also check the red index on the ABV, it looks to be set to its max of 0.5, 5M, IF it is, press the setting button briefly on the front of the pump until the green LED (top, constant curve 1) is illuminated, wait for say 5 minutes (boiler running), if the pipe doesn't cool down now then the ABV is either stuck open or the ABV is faulty. (The index in the ABV in the drawing is showing 0.1). When finished, reset the pump until the two yellow lights are again illuminated, press the setting button briefly, probably twice.

 

[CMJB]

Thanks. I will do this after Christmas because so far the heating in all but one radiator has come on downstairs the last few times. Some very hot. Some not so much but still warm (mostly up the top)
I also keep having to bleed the air out of the one radiator upstairs as it seems to get the air in it compared to the others. Not sure why.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I also keep having to bleed the air out of the one radiator upstairs as it seems to get the air in it compared to the others. Not sure why.

That is quite normal, and simply due to the layout of the pipes and radiators.

 

[CMJB]

Santa did not bring heating today
One radiator that has been working the last few days downstairs with all the others has decided to stay cold. I’ve not changed or done anything …. It’s like my radiators pick and choose what ones to go to. I don’t get it.