Radiator question

another_casualty

Howdy !
After the shenanigans of last winter, I have got a maintenance contract with a company called reactive .

I have question s:
The radiatior in my living room has never been good since moving into my flat last year . Basically , it's only warm in places ( the top half and a tiny part on the left hand side ).

Now , the size is large as it's under the bay window ( 69cm across / 17 cm depth) .

I would imagine that a powerflush is required ?

What would be the best way forward , a new rad or a powerflush ?

I assume I pay for whatever's best .

How much would either outcome cost?

Is it best to buy rad , get it delivered and get reactive to fit it ?

Please advise

Thanks

neilmcl

Have you tried simply bleeding the radiator?

another_casualty

Thanks Neil. I haven't , but I had a few engineers in last year, and one of those did . The reason I had a few engineers in, was because of boiler issues when I moved into the property .

EachPenny

another_casualty wrote: »

Thanks Neil. I haven't , but I had a few engineers in last year, and one of those did . The reason I had a few engineers in, was because of boiler issues when I moved into the property .

If the top half is warm but the bottom cold, then it is unlikely the radiator will need bleeding. (that might be necessary with the opposite symptoms).

It sounds like insufficient hot water is getting to the radiator to heat it fully. This could be caused by:- a blockage, a valve being partially off, the circulation pump being insufficient, the boiler cutting out before the radiator is hot, too many radiators for the capacity of the boiler, or the system is not properly balanced.

Does the radiator warm up properly if you turn one or more of the other ones off?

another_casualty

Good question Each penny . I will try that tomorrow when it's warmer,and get back to you . The engineers from the 2 companies I dealt with regarding my boiler problem did mention that it may need to be changed but never committed to giving me a proper answer .
No surprise there ..

bob_a_builder

A number of possible solution's explained here

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=radiator+hot+at+the+top+cold+at+the+bottom

another_casualty

Thanks bob . Will check rest out tomorrow . I saw one video with an annoying womancomputer voice . It just said it could be caused by rust or sludge and a flush may do the trick . I'll look at some more as there was no definitive answer .

Le_Kirk

If it is only one radiator that is the problem, why carry out a power flush and risk moving any sludge to other radiators? Turn off the valves at each end of the radiator, make sure the heating is off, loosen the nuts on the valves on the closed side and drain the water out the radiator into suitably placed containers on towels. When empty (you should open the bleed screw to assist in drainage), remove radiator and take it outside and blow it through with a hosepipe. Reverse procedure to reinstall. Of course you will need to repressurise system (if closed system) or allow it to refill if gravity.

another_casualty

Okay , ...or not .

I had a look around all the radiators , and found the following :

Rad in hallway , cannot twist the control . Totally stuck . Heating ok , but not red hot continually .

Rad in bedroom , same problem as rad in living room

Rad in spare bedroom , hot but not great .

Rad in bathroom , brand new last year is now a heated towel rail so working as it should .

Rad in kitchen , fine except it's hot at bottom but not red hot

Some of the rads have childproof handles on them , from previous tenants .

So, it seems that all ( except the bathroom ) are underperforming .

Anyone know the next step?

beduth

Balance them. Turn them all off,then open furthest one from boiler.When that gets hot open next furthest and so on till all done.

another_casualty

I was going to balance them, but handles are missing from some radiators , and I'm in the process of looking for a wrench to twist the controls of some of them .

Thought I'd be proactive by ordering a few rad keys .
They came this morning , but for some reason there isn't a place on the top of the rads where the key normally goes .

I've inherited an annoying mess regarding the heating situation here .
The woman who owned this flat previous had let the place out and there are a few indications where they had children / babies .
Pita .
Oh well ..