Drained system & refilled, downstairs rads are all cold

[jackm]

Hello,

When removing a radiator yesterday one of the pipe's was very corroded and cracked slightly causing water to start coming out. So I drained the whole system, put in a new section of pipe, then allowed the system to refill with the heating and water switched off. Now all of my rads downstairs are cold, upstairs were fine after a little bleeding, I've also bled all of downstairs but there wasn't any air in them at all. So they appear to be full of water but its all cold.

I've got a baxi back boiler, can anyone please help?

many thanks, Jack

 

[jackm]

anyone? I have looked at some other websites all of which diagnose a broken pump but all was working fine before I drained the system so I don't think it is this. Any help at all appreciated.

Thanks again, Jack

 

[hi-spec plumbing heating]

sounds like your downstairs rads are airlocked, maybe in the drop down pipework from upstairs.
shut all upstairs rads to push full flow downstairs.

 

[jackm]

thanks for the reply, I will give this a go.

 

[ChrisR]

I bet it's sludge, blocking the lower rads. or pipes to them.
See the faq - mains flushing.

A botchy way which often works is to get access by taking a small downstairs rad off. The older valves had 3/4 unions washing machine hoses would fit, as would the garden hose tap adaptor.

Connect a couple of washing machine hoses together (using a 3/4 "nipple") and maybe use garden hose(s). One in and one out is useful. Connect to garden or WM tap.
You might find the water goes up into the f/e tank and overflows it, so check that's in good order first, but usually it just comes back out from the other rad connection from the one you're going in at.
Close all rads bar one and work your way round.

If it doesn't help then you may need a full powerflush, which will cost you a few hundred £.