Took a rad off and now nothing works!

orlaanne · 16-03-2014 11:33AM #1

We are getting some renovations done on our house. Last year we replaced the entire heating system and the boiler was replaced with a warmflow utility 90.

Last week the builders took off the rad in the kitchen to move it and when they put it back on the rads downstairs stopped heating up.

Their plumber has been out twice to try balancing and bleeding the system (I think) but to no avail. Downstairs would only heat when upstairs rads were totally closed but now it won't even do that!

I tried to check the pressure and it seems ok but I've no clue what to try next and the plumber seems equally clueless..

K.Flyer · 16-03-2014 06:56PM

Sounds like a circulating pump issue to me. But hard to say not being there.
Also motorised valves stuck, balancing valve on the cylinder and malfunctioning room stats would also be on the list.
When the new system was put in, did they say that a new circulating pump fitted?

scudo2 · 16-03-2014 07:10PM

orlaanne wrote: »

We are getting some renovations done on our house. Last year we replaced the entire heating system and the boiler was replaced with a warmflow utility 90.

Last week the builders took off the rad in the kitchen to move it and when they put it back on the rads downstairs stopped heating up.

Their plumber has been out twice to try balancing and bleeding the system (I think) but to no avail. Downstairs would only heat when upstairs rads were totally closed but now it won't even do that!

I tried to check the pressure and it seems ok but I've no clue what to try next and the plumber seems equally clueless..

Replace plumber.

greasepalm · 16-03-2014 07:15PM

i presume the system is primed as in water on ,system off go round each rad in turn and vent as it sounds as air is in system,system would have been drained for rad removal.

http://www.wikihow.com/Bleed-a-Radiator

alancar89 · 16-03-2014 11:49PM

Sounds like a zone valve not opening fully. If you have a zone valve for downstairs try put it into manual by moving the slider on side until it locks open.

Sir Arthur Daley · 16-03-2014 11:52PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I tried to check the pressure and it seems ok.

How have you deduced this?

corkgsxr · 17-03-2014 02:33AM

Iv been caught a few times with weak pumps after draining a system

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 11:22AM

corkgsxr wrote: »

Iv been caught a few times with weak pumps after draining a system

But at least you and any good plumber can fault find.
OP / Orlaanne says her plumber is clueless. Hence my recommendation to :
Replace plumber.

murphaph · 17-03-2014 12:52PM

corkgsxr wrote: »

Iv been caught a few times with weak pumps after draining a system

Why does draining the system show up a weak pump?

Cerco · 17-03-2014 01:05PM

I would guess it is the refilling that shows up the weakness.

corkgsxr · 17-03-2014 01:06PM

murphaph wrote: »

Why does draining the system show up a weak pump?

Cant push the air round the system to the rads.

Op how old is the pump and what brand.

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 01:13PM

WikiHow wrote: »

How have you deduced this?

I actually think now I might have been wrong here, if red needle and black needle are not aligned that means loss of pressure right?

Thanks for amazing suggestion Scudo, can't believe I never thought of that... Plumber is subcontracted by builder and I think he knows at this stage he needs to get someone else. I'm not shelling out for it.

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 01:16PM

corkgsxr wrote: »

Iv been caught a few times with weak pumps after draining a system

It's not the pump. New boiler was fitted less than a year ago. I tested it out by turning on and off rads in usual configuration we would have to test theory that pump was never strong enough, still not heating downstairs.

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 01:41PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I actually think now I might have been wrong here, if red needle and black needle are not aligned that means loss of pressure right?

Thanks for amazing suggestion Scudo, can't believe I never thought of that... Plumber is subcontracted by builder and I think he knows at this stage he needs to get someone else. I'm not shelling out for it.

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, but it's quite hard to fix heating systems by text to householder/non plumber and not give wrong information that could end up been a lot more dangerous.
Most plumber here each proberly have over 20 years experience,and so a good plumber in your house should easley find and fix your problem.

My safety advice was to get another plumber, you said the one you had was clueless.

Also see it from our side please.we don't want to cause more of a problem but we genuinely do try to help.

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 01:45PM

scudo2 wrote: »

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, but it's quite hard to fix heating systems by text to householder/non plumber and not give wrong information that could end up been a lot more dangerous.
Most plumber here each proberly have over 20 years experience,and so a good plumber in your house should easley find and fix your problem.

My safety advice was to get another plumber, you said the one you had was clueless.

Also see it from our side please.we don't want to cause more of a problem but we genuinely do try to help.

Why didn't you say that then instead of "replace plumber"? It definitely came off sarcastic. I might not be a plumber but I would at least like to understand what's going on.

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 01:59PM

orlaanne wrote: »

Why didn't you say that then instead of "replace plumber"? It definitely came off sarcastic. I might not be a plumber but I would at least like to understand what's going on.

Sorry you picked it up wrong.

At the time I hadn't the time for a long explanation, so " replace plumber " was the obvious safe answer which also got 6 other agree/thank votes.

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 02:03PM

scudo2 wrote: »

Sorry you picked it up wrong.

At the time I hadn't the time for a long explanation, so " replace plumber " was the obvious safe answer which also got 6 other agree/thank votes.

I'm not stupid, it's an obvious step but it's a bank holiday weekend so I thought I would try find out more if I could.

Never mind. Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions.

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 02:14PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I'm not stupid, it's an obvious step but it's a bank holiday weekend so I thought I would try find out more if I could.

Never mind. Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions.

Is upstairs and hot water working ok ?
You mentioned downstairs not working.

Billy Bunting · 17-03-2014 02:25PM

orlaanne wrote: »

Why didn't you say that then instead of "replace plumber"? It definitely came off sarcastic. I might not be a plumber but I would at least like to understand what's going on.

You obviously dont frequent the P&H forum too often, you got given a reply, you jumped to presume, move on. :P (sarcastic smiley) :rolleyes:

timmy4u2 · 17-03-2014 02:29PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I'm not stupid, it's an obvious step but it's a bank holiday weekend so I thought I would try find out more if I could.

Never mind. Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions.

:rolleyes:

Sir Arthur Daley · 17-03-2014 02:51PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I actually think now I might have been wrong here, if red needle and black needle are not aligned that means loss of pressure right?

It would appear you have a sealed system, yes the two should be aligned when cold, did you try topping up the system?

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 03:16PM

WikiHow wrote: »

It would appear you have a sealed system, yes the two should be aligned when cold, did you try topping up the system?

I'll try that, thank you.

K.Flyer · 17-03-2014 04:06PM

WikiHow wrote: »

It would appear you have a sealed system, yes the two should be aligned when cold, did you try topping up the system?

How do you know what the red indicator is pointing at?
It could be pointing at 3 Bar and you have advised the O.P. to align the two pointers when increasing the pressure!

@ O.P.
The pressure on your boiler should be approx 1.25 bar when cold. Ignore the red pointer.

Sir Arthur Daley · 17-03-2014 04:12PM

K.Flyer wrote: »

How do you know what the red indicator is pointing at?

I dont, good point. One would imagine it would be set by plumber originally, we dont know its set at 3 bar either.

K.Flyer · 17-03-2014 04:17PM

orlaanne wrote: »

It's not the pump. New boiler was fitted less than a year ago. I tested it out by turning on and off rads in usual configuration we would have to test theory that pump was never strong enough, still not heating downstairs.

What make / model boiler has been fitted?
Just because a pump was new a year
ago, does not mean its still working properly.
I have had new pumps fail within hours of installation.

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 05:09PM

WikiHow wrote: »

I dont, good point. One would imagine it would be set by plumber originally, we dont know its set at 3 bar either.

Impersise information and advice can be dangerous.

We don't imagine or take anything for granted on P&H when we give advice.

Boilers are to dangerous and the chances of a serious accident/injury/death, is to high to take chances.

Sir Arthur Daley · 17-03-2014 06:38PM

scudo2 wrote: »

Impersise information and advice can be dangerous.

I completely agree with you, i was doing my best to help the OP.

We don't imagine or take anything for granted on P&H when we give advice.

We seem to have overlooked the possibility that the gauge may be faulty and not be showing the true reading

Boilers are to dangerous and the chances of a serious accident/injury/death, is to high to take chances.

+ 1

orlaanne · 17-03-2014 08:33PM

I think I'll just leave well enough alone. Current plumber has been give one last chance for tomorrow and then I'm getting my own person in. Any recommendations via pm for someone in Dublin 15 much appreciated.

scudo2 · 17-03-2014 11:52PM

orlaanne wrote: »

I think I'll just leave well enough alone. Current plumber has been give one last chance for tomorrow and then I'm getting my own person in. Any recommendations via pm for someone in Dublin 15 much appreciated.

If you can.
Please let us know how you got on.
Thanks.

greasepalm · 18-03-2014 02:17AM

i just checked my gauge fitted beside immersion my red dial is set at 1 3/4 bar and the black is low 0.5,i also got a gauge above boiler reading 1.as i get a weep in system it gets topped up.

alancar89 · 18-03-2014 08:19PM

OP any updates??

Took a rad off and now nothing works!

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