Valiant anti cycling function

[Diana1990]

I live in flat with 7 rads. All have TRV minus one, but obviously these are all due to the be changed next week. I can't imagine that there is sludge because all rads are boiling hot, there was some air in them but they've been bled. The only radiator with cold spot dead in the middle even after bleeding is radiator in my room, I didn't bother getting this looked at because it's going to be replaced. I counted the cycling function happened twice during last time heating was on which was Sunday morning and I had them in for about 2 and half hours. I noticed the symbol flashing. Not sure if it happened more then twice, but definitely twice.

Not sure what Zoning is? Also, I'm quite the whizz but I don't wanna muck around with the settings in installer mode, I only know how to reduce the time on the cycling function.

All rads are single panel

 

[Johntheo5]

Zoning is where you can programme different groups of rads to be on or off, in a 2 storey house like upstairs/ downstairs, but unlikely in your flat, you would see it on the programmer anyway.
7 single panel rads are unlikely to emit more than ~ 10kw and far less when the TRVs start throttling down, could easily be down to 3 to 4 kw so boiler (can't find its minimum output in the MIs but probably ~ 5/6kw) is bound to cycle. Two cycles in 2.5 hours is nothing to worry about IMO so the boiler may be performing perfectly well.
It certainly though wouldn't do any harm to set d.00 to say 15kw, you can allways return it to its previous setting, probably Auto.

 

[Diana1990]

My radiators look about 15yrs old and about 3 or the have some rust around the edges. I assume if there is anything in there the plumber will flush it prior to installing the new rads?

 

[Johntheo5]

The whole system should be thoroughly flushed through, also, a magnetic filter, if not there allready, should be installed in the return to the boiler, its to protect the boiler heat exchanger, so ask you plumber about this and ask him can he install one that also collects other debris, it will have another filter in it.

 

[Diana1990]

Zoning is where you can programme different groups of rads to be on or off, in a 2 storey house like upstairs/ downstairs, but unlikely in your flat, you would see it on the programmer anyway.
7 single panel rads are unlikely to emit more than ~ 10kw and far less when the TRVs start throttling down, could easily be down to 3 to 4 kw so boiler (can't find its minimum output in the MIs but probably ~ 5/6kw) is bound to cycle. Two cycles in 2.5 hours is nothing to worry about IMO so the boiler may be performing perfectly well.
It certainly though wouldn't do any harm to set d.00 to say 15kw, you can allways return it to its previous setting, probably Auto.

I wonder if that one rad that is ice cold in middle has some sludge in, which could also effect the cycling function? Also if notice in settings the boiler is at 18kw, saw it while filtering through to get to D2

 

[Diana1990]

The whole system should be thoroughly flushed through, also, a magnetic filter, if not there allready, should be installed in the return to the boiler, its to protect the boiler heat exchanger, so ask you plumber about this and ask him can he install one that also collects other debris, it will have another filter in it.

Magnetic filter are a must on all new boilers installed from 2022 onwards. This valiant boiler was installed Dec 2022

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Does all this indicate something could be wrong? My plumber will be here next Tuesday so he'll service at same time. But is there anything I should bring up? I know this function is standard and is meant to happen, but is it something that should always happen everytime there is heating on?

No, the anti-cycling, just normally means that your boilers output, is greater than is needed to provide the heat demanded.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Magnetic filter are a must on all new boilers installed from 2022 onwards. This valiant boiler was installed Dec 2022

One radiator blocked, sets alarm bells ringing. Your system ought to have been thoroughly flushed in Dec 2022. Perhaps that radiator was missed, or perhaps the flushing was never done. Either way, now would be a good time to ensure your system is flushed, and clean, and the missing magnetic filter fitted. Once done, make absolutely certain, your plumber adds inhibitor to the system.

Radiators having rusty outside corners, is not an indication of their internal condition, it can be caused by simply putting wet things on, to dry out. Never do that, it is bad for both the radiators, and for your home too, it is a prime cause of mould.

 

[Diana1990]

One radiator blocked, sets alarm bells ringing. Your system ought to have been thoroughly flushed in Dec 2022. Perhaps that radiator was missed, or perhaps the flushing was never done. Either way, now would be a good time to ensure your system is flushed, and clean, and the missing magnetic filter fitted. Once done, make absolutely certain, your plumber adds inhibitor to the system.

Radiators having rusty outside corners, is not an indication of their internal condition, it can be caused by simply putting wet things on, to dry out. Never do that, it is bad for both the radiators, and for your home too, it is a prime cause of mould.

I only moved into property July this year, so no idea what was done previously. There is magnetic filter there, gold brass one. It would legally need to have one as from July 2022 they were a must on new installs and this boiler was put in Dec 2022. I never ever add wet clothes on heater, never do that.

Why would one rad set alarm bells?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Why would one rad set alarm bells?

Well, a blocked radiator, even one, means there must be a considerable amount of debris in the system. It also suggests the system was given minimal attention when the new boiler was installed. Sorry, I misunderstood the fact that you had a filter in.

 

[Diana1990]

Well, a blocked radiator, even one, means there must be a considerable amount of debris in the system. It also suggests the system was given minimal attention when the new boiler was installed. Sorry, I misunderstood the fact that you had a filter in.

It heats around the outside but about a gap of like 30cm in middle doesn't warm, after heating on for 2hrs and it's barely luke warm. Definitely something there. It was serviced last year.

It'll be serviced next week along with the rads being changed. I'm sure he'll flush it out prior to installing the new rads and add that Sentinel thingy inside. If it's just that one rad blocked, why wouldn't the others get blocked??Means there is sludge sitting inside thag rad then? How would a plumber be even flush it out exactly to ensure there is no debris?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It heats around the outside but about a gap of like 30cm in middle doesn't warm, after heating on for 2hrs and it's barely luke warm. Definitely something there. It was serviced last year.

A boiler service, is not necessarily an entire system service. It could be as simple as checking the function and safety of the boiler.

 

[Diana1990]

A boiler service, is not necessarily an entire system service. It could be as simple as checking the function and safety of the boiler.

Funny, something odd just happened. As I'm talking about all this... The company who installed the boiler in 2022 contacted the agent who I dealt with when buying the property explaining a service is now due and to have it sorted soon to keep warranty intact. They obviously contacted previous owner who explained to this plumbing company to contact agent to pass info into new owner, me. Funny timing that. Going by that and fact they are reaching out to suggest service is due, speaks volumes for me. Doesn't it for you? Certainly wasn't done by cowboys thankfully.

In previous home I had one rad which did same thing even with regular service and flushing out, only way the problem was solved was when all the rad were replaced and never had that issue again. So it's either sludge in that specific rad or the rad itself is faulty...

 

[Johntheo5]

Anhow you have the opportunity now to campare the new with the old if you take those three readings (and any others you might think useful) as suggested in post #15 and again with the new rads installed.

 

[Diana1990]

Anhow you have the opportunity now to campare the new with the old if you take those three readings (and any others you might think useful) as suggested in post #15 and again with the new rads installed.

So I just go into installer settings while I CH on and check the info. I just don't wanna touch anything to change things.

So just go into settings and select d40 and d41 and note down the temp numbers?