Noise from central heating.

justaquestion

Hi folks, One of the rads upstairs definitely needs to be looked at as cold, did try bleeding but its not that.

We have had bathroom refitted, but oil central heating was playing up before that, the rads not warm enough upstairs.

I can hear the water moving along the pipes upstairs. Is this normal or should I not be able to hear this?

Air in system you think?

Thanks for any advice.

Mr.Generous

More likely blocked up with sludge, it will need cleaning out - sometimes called a powerflush. Basically just draining and refilling but using mains pressure to push through the crud while draining down. British gas will do this for an extortionate fee should you wish. Some advise using a cleaner additive, or taking rads off and cleaning them out with a garden hose. If the sludge is really bad the pump is probably on its way out too.

When you do take off a rad its amazing how much crud is inside them, miracle it ever works really. Oh and especially if its plumbed with microbore (smaller 10 or even 8mm copper) rather than the standard 15mm.

You could just take the blocked rad off and clean it out, or if its in good condition it could just be one stuck valve. If it is bocked then the whole lot are going to need cleaning out. If its not been done for more than a couple of years its worth doing anyway. Don't forget to use inhibitor when you are all done, but not during ongoing flushing out. One half hearted attempt to flush out will disturb more crud and it will be worse than before you started.