Luke Warm Radiators

Nobleck

Please could someone offer some advise as to how i could rectify a problem i have.

My downstairs radiators in the living room are luke warm,the pipes going into the Rads are fairly hot to the touch(but the outgoing pipes are only warm),
I have tried opening and closing the valves(i haven't got TRV's) and i have also tried Bleeding the Radiators. Also i have run the pump at full speed to try pushing the water round quicker(this helps a little but if i leave the pump on full speed the header tank eventually overflows).The Radiators upstairs and in the kitchen are fine.
All good advise would be greatly appreciated, by the way i haven't got a combi boiler and don't need any comments relating to using Corgi registered tradesmen.
Thanks.

ariba10

Turn off all the hot ones and see what happens to the cold ones, then report back.

Nobleck

Ok m8, i've done that and now the rads are hot top and bottom in the living room. What next?

gallygirl

I think they need balancing.







Whatever that means but I had this problem any my engineer fixed it by balancing them .

Sorry to hijack, but how do you bleed a chrome towel radiator - no obvious valve?????

Nobleck

Thanks, Your chrome towel rad , at the top left/right hand side there my be a slotted screw head try undoing that slightly to bleed it.(i had the same problem last year lol).

Nobleck

So is balancing the Radiators easy? if so hows it done?

ariba10

The water in the system has several ways it can go but it will always try to go the easiest way.

It is not that there is a problem with the cold radiators but it is too easy for the water to go through the hot ones.

If you go to the hot rads and turn the balancing valve ( The one opposite the one you turn the rad on and off with) Turn it off and then open it again about half a turn.

It is just a case of balancing.

Let us know how you get on.

Nobleck

The only problem i have with doing that , is that i turned off both sides because the covers on the valves both had the on / off arrows on them.
Would i be right in assuming that the left side is Rad on/off and the right side is the balancing valve?
Sorry i'm an Electrician not a plumber

ariba10

It will not matter which one you make the on and off.

You need to know in your mind which one is which, then you use one to balance and the other to turn on and off.

When you have it sorted take the plastic handle off the one you nominate as the balancing one and then you will not upset it when turn the rad off.

Sorry for the delay in answering but I am doing another job at home and have to keep going offline.

Nobleck

Great advise after a bit of tinkering about, i think i've got them more or less set up as they should be , probably saved a small fortune as well.
Thanks very much

gallygirl

And my towel rail is hot, thanks nobleck!!!


Oooohhh, I gave the right advice, and now I know how to balance them as well!!!!!

OK, so about rewiring my house.......