Bleeding Radiators

natc

I know this has been put on the forum elsewhere, but some of my radiators are scorchio, a couple of them though are warm at the top and cold at the bottom. Ive only seen tips on bleeding radiators if the radiators are cold at the top and warm at the bottom.

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get them red hot again?!

Many thanks.:o

WestonDave

As I understand it if they are warm at the top and cold at the bottom its likely to either be that they are partly full of sludge (which would explain the cold at the bottom), or they are simply not being fed enough hot water from the supply. I would guess that if they are all the same age its more likely to be the latter and in any event its the easiest cheapest thing to solve - getting the sludge out is harder work!

Try turning the scorching radiators down or off which should force all the available heat into the cooler ones. If that resolves the problem you may need to balance your system better - which involves controlling the flow to the differing radiators so they all get an equal share. I'm sure if you google "balancing radiators" you will find a better explanation than I can probably put together - but in essence you will need to adjust the valves at both ends of the radiators to slow the flow in the hot radiators and release a bit into the cooler ones.

The other possible explanation is that your boiler isn't up to the job in these very cold temperatures but its probably better to look at other options before shelling out for that!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

WestonDave wrote: »

As I understand it if they are warm at the top and cold at the bottom its likely to either be that they are partly full of sludge (which would explain the cold at the bottom), or they are simply not being fed enough hot water from the supply.

Or the pump has failed.

natc

Thanks for your replies. I hope my boiler can cope, its not old, the boiler and radiators were fitted together 3 years ago, all brand new. I also hope they are not full of sludge!

Is it worth seeing if they need bleedin first? And then looking into balancing them? Is it worth getting a plumber out for or is this something easy enough for me to do myself?

ormus

make sure the pump is working first.
if thats ok, then most likely the rads are full of gunge. the system needs a flushing out.
in the worst cases, youll need a new rad/s.