Towel rail not heating up properly at top?

wimbleQ

Hi,

We hope someone might be able to help us: we have a heated towel rail, the sort that is plumbed into the central heating system like a radiator would be.

Ever since it was put in it never heated up on the top "rungs" (it is ladder style). Recently fewer and fewer of the top rungs are heating at all, with the lower rungs being piping hot. Please does anyone know what the problem and solution might be?

It is a combi boiler which was fitted about 1.5 -2 years ago with no other problems with the boiler or other readiators that we are aware of.

Ta muchly.

WestonDave

Probably got air in it - bleed it by using a bleed key and opening the vent until air stops hissing out and water starts coming out.

Whether its right or not, I tend to assume that because the top of our towel rail is the highest point in our heating system, that is where the air collects - it certainly seems to be the only radiator that does it.

WestonDave

- should have said - bleed it when the system is cool and when you've done check the pressure on the boiler as it may need repressurising (you've just let something out of the system so it needs replacing with more water!)

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Go up in the loft to the F&E tank & make sure the water is at the correct level..

Its likely that the water level is dropping in your system.

(see below, ignore my post if you do really have a combi system)

WestonDave

F&E tank with a combi? I doubt it (to be fair its easy not to spot the combi reference in the OP) as they are normally closed systems.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

WestonDave wrote: »

F&E tank with a combi? I doubt it (to be fair its easy not to spot the combi reference in the OP) as they are normally closed systems.

Oooops.

Pressure & air then...


I was reading the high rad & lowering heat level.

:eek:

wimbleQ

Hello

Many thanks for the replies. Yes, definitely no tank as far as we know(!) (if there is it's new to us....).

Will try bleeding but just looked at it - at the top it has a sort of nut thingy on the top, one on each side. The one on the right hand side has a sort of screw slot thing in its middle - am I correct in assuming we just put a screwdriver in the slot and turn this in order to bleed? I can't see anywhere where a key should go and haven't got a key for it.

Apols for dimness!

Once this is figured out then we should switch the heating off, wait for it to cool down and then bleed. Then go to boiler and see if it needs to have pressure added? Have I understood this correctly pls?

Ta muchly again

macman

You just buy a radiator bleed key-pence at any plumber's merchants or DIY shed. It doesn't require a screwdriver. The bled valve's just a recessed nut on one end of the top rail.

keystone

WestonDave wrote: »

Probably got air in it - bleed it by using a bleed key and opening the vent until air stops hissing out and water starts coming out.

That's be right by my estimation.

Whether its right or not, I tend to assume that because the top of our towel rail is the highest point in our heating system, that is where the air collects - it certainly seems to be the only radiator that does it.

Nine times out of ten you'd be spot on.

Cheers

keystone

macman wrote: »

You just buy a radiator bleed key-pence at any plumber's merchants or DIY shed. It doesn't require a screwdriver. The bled valve's just a recessed nut on one end of the top rail.

Most bleed valves have a slot to take a screwdriver these days. Like this:



Cheers

roger196

Do not remove bleed screw, just undo it a couple of turns at the most. If water in rad still warm, you can feel this warm water rising as the air comes out. Have rag ready to mop up any water which does come out.
When boiler is next serviced, ask for water to be checked for enough inhibitor. This stops mould growth inside the rad which is a possible cause of the air. Also ask for automatic bleed valve ( or air vent) in the boiler to be checked for correct working.