Heating radiator question

clairet707

Weve finally managed to get the landlady to fix the boiler - apparently we were right all along and it was a simple fix

Though now its started getting really cold weve noticed the radiators in the living room arent working, weve mentioned it to the letting agent / landlady and she is adamant that the radiators were working when she moved out (sometime in March / April)

The radiators are cold at the bottom and warm (not hot) at the top, all other radiators in the house are hot. We have thermostatic radiators and all are set to 6 at the moment, weve checked the balance valve (?)

The letting agent are trying to get the ladnlady to fix it (I think they are getting sick of us ringing about it) but if she refuses - what can we do..

Ive mentioned to the LA about getting damp in that room if we cant heat it, we already have a dehumidifier (from our last place) but dont really want to be using it all the time and its getting to the stage where we cant use that room as its too cold

Cardew

You have obviously tried bleeding the system?

It sounds like some kind of blockage - possibly sludge.

The other thing to try is just unscrew the tops of the TRVs and take them off - using the big knurled nut - nothing will leak. Try the plunger in the valve to see if that is stuck. The plunger is a thin rod that has a spring pressure, they can seize and need freeing by exercising them.

macman

Does sound like sludge in the system. Is the whole system neglected?
You can insist. If she won't maintain her property, get a written quote for it to be flushed, have it done yourselves and withhold that from the rent. Just make sure you put it all in writing to her.

dogshome

Hi clairet707 - From your post I assume that all the rads work OK apart from the those in the living room - Before getting into debates about who will pay for Powerflushing which is not cheap, check the Thermo valves as Cardew has suggested, and also check for airlocks by:
Shut down all the radiators except just one of those in the living room, then run the heating for 10 minutes - If the open rad then heats up, open up the other rad in the living room and then shut the first rad. down, run the heating for another 10 mins and if the 2nd rad heats up you have cured the problem.- However when this type of airlock occurs it is due to a less than perfect pipe layout, and is likely to occur again, but if it does just do the Open/Shut routine again
Good Luck

clairet707

Yes thanks all, all other radiators in house work fine, nice and toasty

Will get Husband to try the suggestions tonight.. and will report back!:beer: