Radiator problems

NewSue

I have a problem with central heating - radiators are hot at top, cold at bottom therefore the problem is not air even though I have bled them. One plumber said it was the pump even though it is a good quality one and under two years old - a second plumber said it was sludge in the system and needed flushed out with chemicals and could be up to £600! Anyone out there had this problem? Can you advise please?

Browntoa

can be sludge

I tend to take them off during the summer when it's warm and flush them out in the garden if i get this problem, cheaper than the "power flush" option

I had one that was particularly bad that is fine after i did this, it's just that the heating needs to be off as the pressure drops, if you shut all the other radiators off you won't need to bleed them either, just the one (ones) removed

plumb1_2

Yes it will be sludge in the rads, they will need flushing out, £600 is a bit on the top side, £300-£400 is a fair price.

a&akay

May also be the lockshield valve on the rad if you have one, usually the one with the smooth top. May be only just open. Swap the fluted one at the other end over with it and try opening it up anticlockwise a bit (but always close it slightly once fully open so you know how much open or closed it is). Swap the tops back over afterwards.
Also your pump may have a switch marked I II and III. If on I or II try turning it to III. You should hear more noise as the pump works harder. If this improves your heating in the rad it may a balancing problem (getting a suitable flow to each rad). If you have several heating legs in your house this can be a matter of trial and error as you adjust each lockshield valve to get this equal flow to each rad.

alictait

You could always give this a try - sentinel central heating sludge remover.
Sipposedly very good stuff and incidentally can be picked up very cheaply via ebay. Just pour it into one of your radiators (needs to be drained off) and follow the instructions.

HTH

P.s. I used a large syringe (friends a nurse) to put it in through one of the removable screws at the top of the radiator.

NewSue

Thanks to everyone for their replies. This is the first time I've used this site on the advice of my son. I am a woman living on my own and while I dont mind paying the going rate for anything I dont want to be ripped off just cos I am a woman alone! Taking off radiators is therefore a little beyond me (there are 16 on this system - two cottages knocked into one!) but I am keen to try the sludge remover. For that price I am definitely going to give it a go! Thanks again for this advice - didnt even know such stuff existed!

alictait

No problem Sue, If we can be of any more help dont hesitate to ask. Please let us know how you get on.

Take care

Ali

NewSue

Will do! I have to do something soon - freezing cold and snow is forecast!
Sue

NewSue

plumb1 wrote:

Yes it will be sludge in the rads, they will need flushing out, £600 is a bit on the top side, £300-£400 is a fair price.

Thanks for this - I knew that guy was sounding me out! Why is it so expensvie as I have been told that the flushing out equipment costs less than this and therefore it pays for itself with one paying customer!
Sue

plumb1_2

NewSue wrote:

Thanks for this - I knew that guy was sounding me out! Why is it so expensvie as I have been told that the flushing out equipment costs less than this and therefore it pays for itself with one paying customer!
Sue

Depends on where you live, days labour £150-£250 plus chemicals, and of course a fee for upkeep of equipment.

Cagey

£600/700 would seem to be the going rate to desludge a system. Pityyou arer on your own & not into DIY as I don`t think there is an easy way to clean out the system. Even draining it & refilling it is not simple but even that wouldn`t help.