Filling system after fitting new rads

obriener2054

hi guys

i swapped out two rads downstairs for new ones for my parents and am unable to refill the system for some reason

there’s a pressure gauge in the hot press with the line coming from a T on the mains into the big water cylinder in the attic .. the two valves above it I figured were the fill loop but found them to be open already

the boiler is a Baxi Solo 15 HE IE

theres no small tank above the main tank in the attic so assume it’s a sealed system

i can find any other valves otherwise

obriener2054

There’s a gauge above the boiler also

sorry about the orientation

Ubbquittious

Open the black nob beneath the guage in 1st pic? maybe tis stuck and give a gentle tap with a hammer

obriener2054

thats been open also the whole time

obriener2054

Anyone ??

before I call a plumber as it’s a very strange scenario

John.G

Opposite the black knob is a pressure setting screw, with everything opened up, slowly turn this CLOCKWISE until you hear water flowing, then when system up to pressure adjust to give a final pressure of 1.3/1.5bar, re shut other valves after top up.

obriener2054

maybe it’s blocked ... it’s very strange..

thank you though

John.G

The flow should be from left to right, are you sure that the gate valve (one with red wheel) is opened?, it should open/shut 3 to 5 full turns, also check the the arrow on the non return valve to the right of the lever valve is pointing left to right.

If still no joy, I would shut the gate valve and the lever valve and the black knob fully clockwise and remove that short section of copper pipe between the lever valve and the NR valve and crack open the two valves to check for water.

Presume you have mains water and that its not provided by a pumped system?.

obriener2054

aye it’s provided direct from the mains down this line

arrow is in correct orientation....

water should gush from the mains down it, I converted my own heating from an open to closed system last year after swapping all the rads and fitted a gauge and braided filling loop for pressure using the system ...

John.G

Are there any isol cocks on the braided hose??

Have you proved/disproved mains water flowing by removing that piece of pipe?.

obriener2054

The braided hose I fitted to my own system I mean....

no I’ve not removed that yet, didn’t bring the tools for that, just popped in after work

obriener2054

this is my parents system ... they had two nackered rads so I got new ones for them and fitted them

then went to refill and noticed the gate valve and lever valve weren’t closed since the system was replaced .... and haven’t been able to repressurise since

obriener2054

so it looks like I’ll have to break the line and see whether water is flowing to the auto fill valve...

are these known to give problems? Should I replace with a removable loop with gauge?

John.G

These PRVs or Auto fill valves should be eternally banned IMO because they mask any leaks the system may develop as they are normally set to 1.3/1.5 bar and you may have no indication until corrosion appears in one of the rads in the form of a pin hole.

They don't normally give trouble but you can either replace it if faulty or let it out and top your boiler using its pressure gauge and then shut off the gate & lever valves which IMO is the correct way to do it, of course you can also do this if you retain the PRV.

You did screw that adjustment screw (clockwise) on that PRV clockwise?? as it appears unwound to me.