Central heating n/w

[Jelevents]

Ok I have a Baxi wall mounted in kitchen hot water tank in airing cupboard on landing and pump valves etc located here, expansion tank in loft open system.
Boiler has been kettling tried additive slight improvement then downstairs rads cold upstairs ok, grundfos pump started making weird noises so replaced with Wilo pico no better, still getting hot up cool down 4 rads upstairs 2 down. Have tried bleeding,balancing, turned all up off and down got hot but only while up was off. Am going to try Fernox flush additive as water is very black.
Questions... Should flush cure...is the kettling causing problem...what setting should the pump be on to the left or right...why does the cold feed pipe from loft get hot sometimes as well as the expansion....also if the pump is switched onto 3 or above makes loud grinding noise, so sounds like air to me?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Armo74]

Try taking the rads off and flushing them with a garden hose, then add a chemical cleaner like X400. It's also best to get the crud out of the feed and expansion tank as well trying not to let any fall down the cold feed pipe.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I would be looking at the pipework around the expansion/cold feed connections to the system as well, particularly if you have an air separator fitted. These can block solid with crud, only solution is to cut out affected sections and either clean out manually or replace. Photo of pipework around this area may help if you're unsure.

 

[Jelevents]

I would be looking at the pipework around the expansion/cold feed connections to the system as well, particularly if you have an air separator fitted. These can block solid with crud, only solution is to cut out affected sections and either clean out manually or replace. Photo of pipework around this area may help if you're unsure.

Thanks I have a separator will have a look at weekend after I've drained here are some photo's

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• Jelevents
• 25 Feb 2015
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• Jelevents
• 25 Feb 2015
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• Jelevents
• 25 Feb 2015
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• Jelevents
• 25 Feb 2015
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• Jelevents
• 25 Feb 2015
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[xr4x4]

See if a magnet will stick..

 

[Jelevents]

See if a magnet will stick..

Thanks Paul
If it does then indicates blocked valve I presume?

 

[Cgas]

See if a magnet will stick..

Thanks Paul
If it does then indicates blocked valve I presume?

Just cut that separator out...they are a nightmare for blocking. Yes put magnet onto area by separator.

 

[Jelevents]

Try taking the rads off and flushing them with a garden hose, then add a chemical cleaner like X400. It's also best to get the crud out of the feed and expansion tank as well trying not to let any fall down the cold feed pipe.

Is X400 the best thing to use or X800 I was planning on running it for a week the flushing out again, not power flush

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I think X400 is the stuff, X800 is for use with powerflushing machines. No chemical will dislodge a solid blockage though. I would be making sure all pipework is clear, (including the air separator) before adding any chemicals.

 

[Agile]

X400 takes 4-6 weeks.

X800 take 2-4 hour but should really be flushed out after 24 days. It also seems stronger.

But neither will move solid deposits containing calcium deposits.

Tony

 

[Jelevents]

Update!
Thanks for the pointer on air separator, drained system down took off the t piece from the separator so I could check inside and it looked fine but in the t piece Bingo! Blocked almost solid, cleaned out, took the downstairs rads outside and flushed out, refilled system, drained, flushed refilled with x400 bled system fired it up and..................
It's never worked so well, all rads hot, pump on lowest setting, boiler stopped kettling and have had to turn it's stat down from 3 to 1, so very happy.
Thanks for all the advice.

 

[xr4x4]

Good work..!

 

[Madrab]

Remember X400 is a cleaner. You need inhibitor as well.

 

[Jelevents]

Yes I'm going to drain and flush this weekend and refill with x100

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Might be wise to leave the X400 for another week, let it have maximum effect before draining it out. I filled mine back up, ran it for a couple of hours, then let it cool down before draining and refilling again. Did that a couple of times, once the water came out clear, refilled and added the X100.