Radiator not heating up.

pauld

The last radiator on the pipe run in the house is not heating up. The odd thing, where the on off valve on the radiator goes down to floor is roasting hot but the radiator does not heat up.

Have bled the rad until the water rushed out, no change, rad is still cold. Is the rad knackered?h

Anything else I can do? Any plumber in Donaghmede on here?

Billy Bunting

Does it work if the others are turned off ?

pauld

Billy, no, unfortunately not, the heat is getting to the vertical pipe going into the floor but the rad refuses to heat up

Billy Bunting

Thermostatic rad valves ??

pauld

Do not think so, rads are probably as old as the house 1975

Billy Bunting

Ok, presuming you have radiator valves then one side you have a wheelhead valve that turns on and off the otherside you have a lockshield valve that is there to balance the system, you will need to remove the plastic head to this valve and try opening it up, see if that helps.

3ndahalfof6

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Thermostatic rad valves ??

This can cause many problems, like a ghost, no reason for it happening but it can be the cause, I have seen it before a few times.

pauld

As it is the last rad on the run is balance needed? I have been able to turn the balance one but no matter what position it in, the result is the same.


Thanks for your help so far, greatly appreciated.

chrislynch8

The rad should have two valves on either side. One you'd turn with the white cap, you'll need a vise grip or shifting spanner to turn the other. It just appears that one is valve is closed.

Billy Bunting

IF its the last on the system then it can be fully open on both sides, is it ?

pauld

Billy, I think it is, I have tried many variations of positioning the valves either side of the rad, the same thing, the pipe going from the floor to the rad is hot but the rad remains just above cold

Billy Bunting

Both valves need to be turned anticlockwise until fully open, this should take 4 or 5 turns, does it ?

chrislynch8

You have two valves on the rad. One to the left and one to the right. Hot water come in one and out the other. If one pipe going into the rad is hot but the rad is cold then either that valve or the other is closed or has some dirt stuck in it.

You said that you can bleed it until water is pissing out. If this is the case then the other valve is OK as water is getting into the rad. So maybe check that the valve above above the hot pipe is fully opened, try closing it and opening it again also.

pauld

Chrissy and billy thanks, I am glad I have been on the right track despite my total lack of knowledge!

The heat seems to stop just after the horizontal nut that goes perpindcular to the vertical pipe and the radiator

sullzz

pauld wrote: »

Chrissy and billy thanks, I am glad I have been on the right track despite my total lack of knowledge!

The heat seems to stop just after the horizontal nut that goes perpindcular to the vertical pipe and the radiator

Shut all the other rads and leave this one open fully let the heat circulate for a good while after it heats up . Has it ever heated for you.

pauld

Sulzz , yes it has, I am reluctant to turn everything else off for fear of fecking up the balance of the rest of the rads.

At this stage I think it would be of benefit to have a plumber phsyically inspect it, a shout out to any boardsies plumbers n donaghmede.

sullzz

pauld wrote: »

Sulzz , yes it has, I am reluctant to turn everything else off for fear of fecking up the balance of the rest of the rads.

At this stage I think it would be of benefit to have a plumber phsyically inspect it, a shout out to any boardsies plumbers n donaghmede.

By turning off the flow head ( the valve you use to turn a rad on or off) is not going to make a difference to the balancing of the system , you are not touching the lockshields , it's worth doing before you pay someone else to do it.

pauld

Sulzz, understood I will give it a try, if it works what does that mean the problem is?

sullzz

Just make sure you leave the other ones closed for a good while after the cold rad heats to allow full circulation , it could be anything from an airlock to a gunked up rad or pipework , hopefully just an airlock

demanufactured

Open the valve that has the hot pipe fully....
Take the plastic cap off and put it on the other valve..open this one a few turns....does the rad heat???

Billy Bunting

:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

pauld

Sullzz understood., thanks


Demanufactured, long name , I have tried that, the rad goes to about 2 degrees above cold

djoko27

I have the same probem - the two farthest rads are not very warm. The balancing valve in the hot press is open 1 full turn and the bypass valve is open between 1/4 and 1/2 turn. The two rads nearest the boiler are piping hot at 1/4 turn on the lockshield valves whilst the two farthest rads are luke warm when lockshield valves are fully open. I am at a loss what to do - any recommendations please?