Is this problem unsolvable?

[RichardMaid]

Hi all

Gained some great advise on here about my 3 bedroomed Victorian semi, with its cold radiator down in the lounge. After a chemical desludging and balancing, it was hardly better, so have now fitted a new slightly bigger pump - Grundfos 15/60. It seemed to work a treat for a week, but radiators seem cooler downstairs again. The lounge is just not heating at all now.

One of the DIYers said chemical desludgers are not really worth it (maybe I'm so sludged up), a plumber told me jetting it on a system this old may give more leaks than solutions. Is the only answer to take off those lower radiators, at least in the lounge, and flush. I personally feel that high sludge resistance must be the issue. Am I likely to damage the new pump, which does clunk from time to time with sludge in the system? Cheers to everyone's invaluable help as always.


Richard

 

[EliteHeat]

Of course the sludge will damage the pump.

Take off all radiators in turn and flush outside as thoroughly as possible. Fit a Magnaclean to the return pipework to the boiler. Keep cleaning the filter and the problem will (or should) get progressively better over time.

 

[ChrisR]

Worth doing.

Remove rad, screw garden hose to rad valve and make sure water flows freely.

This needs two people:
Take rad into garden, 1/2 fill, and invert it a dozen times, each way if it's a double.

Empty, flush and see what colour the water is. Keep repeating until it's clear.

 

[Duzzer]

If a grunfos 15/60 won't circulate it then its in a bad way if their getting luke warm your getting some circulation and leaving a milder chem x400 or fernox restorer in may start to work but if their stone cold with all other rads that are working turned off then you'll need to repipe them unfortunately, but at least you'll have a system thats worth having

 

[RichardMaid]

With the other radiators shut down the lounge one does get very hot at the top, so I think there's work to be done on flushing. The use of a Magnaclean filter is I think a very sensible idea. Cheers guys as ever, much appreciated.

Richard.