Plumbing Advice - radiator problem

kellya_3

I am getting a new sunroom built. The plumber arrived last week and installed two new double radiators. He tapped of the feed and return pipes (both 15mm pipes) of an existing radiator in another room. The new radiators are about 4->5 metres away. He also lowered the pipe work about half a foot to the new radiators. When he turned on the heating, the new radiators remained only luke warm after two hours. The radiator he tapped off, was extemely hot (top to bottom).

He then tired to balance the system and also installed a new 6m water pump, the new radiators did improve somewhat but they were only warm (not hot) at the top and cold at the bottom. The feed pipe to the new radiators are always extremely hot but the return pipe is cold (or only slightly warm).

My concern is that he has dropped the pipework below the level of the existing radiator pipework. Pressure is obviously an issue, will the return pipe on the new radiators not struggle to push the water back up to the return on the tapped raditor? Anyone have any advice? Anywhere I can get an independant plumber in NI to check if the work is correct?

P.S. Plumber is returning next week

jjd

Rather than going and getting his work 'checked' it may just be best in the first instance to explain your problems and concerns to the plumber. If he doesn't know there is a major problem he can't fix it!
He may be able to resolve the problem easily or realise that he has made a mistake and fix it.


If he doesn't fix it you may be in a position to hold back payment until fixed, hoping that you haven't already paid him!

Wookey

kellya wrote: »

I am getting a new sunroom built. The plumber arrived last week and installed two new double radiators. He tapped of the feed and return pipes (both 15mm pipes) of an existing radiator in another room. The new radiators are about 4->5 metres away. He also lowered the pipe work about half a foot to the new radiators. When he turned on the heating, the new radiators remained only luke warm after two hours. The radiator he tapped off, was extemely hot (top to bottom).

He then tired to balance the system and also installed a new 6m water pump, the new radiators did improve somewhat but they were only warm (not hot) at the top and cold at the bottom. The feed pipe to the new radiators are always extremely hot but the return pipe is cold (or only slightly warm).

My concern is that he has dropped the pipework below the level of the existing radiator pipework. Pressure is obviously an issue, will the return pipe on the new radiators not struggle to push the water back up to the return on the tapped raditor? Anyone have any advice? Anywhere I can get an independant plumber in NI to check if the work is correct?

P.S. Plumber is returning next week

The problem could be several things, simplest could be a straight forward blockage in the pipe where dirt/stone chipping has entered and is restricting the flow of water. Rather more serious potentially would be that the tee connections haven't been taken of at the best place, where the existing pipework was connected into is it at the end of the piping run? Its very hard to tell when a plumber goes into an existing dwelling to gauge what pipe size runs to where and how many rads are heated from it, there could be several rads piped from 1/2" copper before it reaches to where your conservatory pipes have been connected into, for 3 rads i would be looking to connect into at least 22mm/ 3/4" piping at least. There are several ways round this, changing your system to a pressurized system or if possible run 2 new pipes from the boiler to the conservatory, there are added dangers in changing an older system over to a pressurized one so be warned.