Defective Heating

[rachael_stewart]

Our radiators are cold downstairs (in basement) and the ones upstairs are hot nearest to the boiler and get cooler the further away they are.

We have had the system drained and flushed but this has not improved the situation.

Do you have any ideas as to what needs doing?

Thanks ever so much

Rachael

 

[weareleeds]

Has it been flushed thoroughly by using a machine (takes approx 5-6 hours for an average 8 rad system has it been balanced correctly

 

[chrishutt]

Is the pump working? What speed is it set on?

 

[rachael_stewart]

A plumber flushed the radiator with non acidic solution on two separate occassions (apparently there was alot of brown stuff coming out so he thought the pipes may be slightly coroded and so he used non acidic as opposed to acidic). On the second occassion the solution was left in the system for a week before it was drained again. He did not use a machine, he simply used the header tank to get the solution into the system. Should a machine have been used??

He has also tried turning off all the radiators upstairs to get some heat downstairs. This did not really work. There was a small amount of heat in the pipe to the radiator but not enough to get to the radiator.

He has also suggested it might be related to the fact that the pipe size downstairs is too small.

He seems to have given up now which is a nightmare as we can't really use downstairs as it is too cold.

The pump is on setting 3 but I don't think it will go up any higher. Perhaps we need a new pump or a more powerful pump?

All ideas gratefully received.

Thanks ever so much for your help

Rachael

 

[JPC]

is the pump working ? there is a screw at the side of the pump...can u open it and see if its turning inside ?
or feel it and see if its vibrating a little and can u notice the change in vibration if u chance the pump speed.

 

[corgiman]

Have you tried turning down the radiator valves on the rads that are working to try and force the water to rads that aren't, crude form of balancing

 

[ChrisR]

See the section
"before you ask a question please read this"

DO IT!

 

[bab]

did he not take off the rads in the basement & try drawing water through the valves until hot & clean. then he could of took em out side to give em a good flush out.

 

[corgiman]

Ok in doing that he has upset the balance of the system, that needs to be restored by restricting the flow from the rads that are working well this will force the water to the rads that aint

Also it could be a airlock try turning off ALL the ards that are working and turn on the heating see if this clears it

 

[Agile]

Seems to me to be a typical case of someone who does not bother to properly assimilate the problem and just pours some chemical into the header tank and goes off with a pocket full of notes.

Last seen riding into the sunset singing "eio eio yippy eio".

Tony

 

[corgiman]

true but it does sound that he did not return the balnce to the system when he popped the rads back on dont it?/

 

[rachael_stewart]

I think we have sorted it. It seems to be related to the 3 way valve which is also not working properly. We have moved this with a spanner and bobs your uncle we have heat. We are just not sure about whether we need to replace the whole 3 way valve or the actuator or what???

 

[corgiman]

Nice one

Sorry I kept going on about shutting off rad valves, I didnot read your original post properly

d'oh

 

[bab]

If its a white headed valve they r prone to stiffnes & if oiled & well turned until finger loose then as long as the syncron motors ok it may operate fine. what make of valve is it. some u can change just the motor others the complete head,

 

[rachael_stewart]

Its a sunvic dm. The actuator is white but the valve looks brass??