Heating, noises from pipes increasing

twopenny

This place is made of paper and 2x2 but the location great. 


If there was some sort of valve that was allowing something to run back when it shouldn't that's the effect. Also sounds like the freezer does with expansion.
Guess I'll have to wait till the leg nerve untraps itself and investigate. 
So far today no noise. It's warmer

macman

Airlocks, rather than 'air vents'?
Why are you even allowing these guys across the threshold?

ThisIsWeird

twopenny said:

Well he came, really is a nice well intentioned guy. But I put my foot down and said no noise from the boiler so he nipped in the loft and checked both water and expansion tank ballcocks.
His mate was trying to sell me a combi, repeatedly. Driving a black Mercedes and insisted on getting someone from the company he uses to see about him doing the bathroom. Needless to say he won't get that job even though I'm desperate.

The suggestion from the mate was were there air vents above the boiler - the pipes in the loft.
What the heck are airvents through a simple boiler and pipe work please?
It's been running fine till recently.

I couldn't wait to get rid of this mate, my guy didn't look to relaxed either and they were 2hrs late.

Air vents - I presume - are there to trap any air caught in your pipework, and it can be released manually or automatically, depending on type. Usually fitted at the highest points of the pipework, for obvious reasons. 

I trust they tried bleeding them whilst they were up there?

twopenny

Thanks again for making this clear.

So air vents are a normal thing.

Last night (it's mostly a few hours in) it was noisy and a different noise I've heard as a one off occasionally - sounded like something empty trying to draw in 'something' unsucessfully into a chamber but it's brief.

I'm thinking that there is air in the pipes between the expansion tank and boiler.

He did check the ballcock but it could be that it isn't opperating on occasion and closing fully/correctly.

There doesn't appear to be air in the radiators but yes, I thought that would be a start. Trouble is I've been unable to move the 'nut' required. A previous plumber said they were always difficult on these radiators. I tried again but they are immovable.

Tonight I'll turn the heating off half way through the evening, let it settle, and start up again to see if that can be a temporary fix while it's not too cold here.

Macman, this happens. People try to 'invite' their mates to do work they turn up on visiting and those mates seem to invariably be those agressive ones who need work...and there's a reason for that.

My 90 yr old neighbour had someone she used regularly for a leaking radiator and annoyed words were 'why do you old people only want small jobs done. He's off my list too. But the nice guy who comes to me popped over to do it for free when he should have gone home.

plumb1_2

Is your hot water pumped or gravity circulation 

twopenny

Ummmmm the guy said he thought it was the pump.

So I'm guessing it's pumped.

macman

Given your RGI's performance so far, I wouldn't be relying on anything he says, or 'thinks' it might be.
Your best advice is to get someone in who is qualified and can do proper fault finding.

ThisIsWeird

twopenny said:

Thanks again for making this clear.

So air vents are a normal thing.

Last night (it's mostly a few hours in) it was noisy and a different noise I've heard as a one off occasionally - sounded like something empty trying to draw in 'something' unsucessfully into a chamber but it's brief.

I'm thinking that there is air in the pipes between the expansion tank and boiler.

He did check the ballcock but it could be that it isn't opperating on occasion and closing fully/correctly.

There doesn't appear to be air in the radiators but yes, I thought that would be a start. Trouble is I've been unable to move the 'nut' required. A previous plumber said they were always difficult on these radiators. I tried again but they are immovable.

Tonight I'll turn the heating off half way through the evening, let it settle, and start up again to see if that can be a temporary fix while it's not too cold here.

Macman, this happens. People try to 'invite' their mates to do work they turn up on visiting and those mates seem to invariably be those agressive ones who need work...and there's a reason for that.

My 90 yr old neighbour had someone she used regularly for a leaking radiator and annoyed words were 'why do you old people only want small jobs done. He's off my list too. But the nice guy who comes to me popped over to do it for free when he should have gone home.

Air vents are a normal fitment especially where there are pipe runs which go 'up' and then 'down'. Eg, if your boiler was at ground floor level (which it is) and the rads were ditto (which they are) but the pipework went via the loft space (yup), then you'll see that any trapped air would end up in the loft part and might not be able to escape or be pushed all the way down to a radiator so it can be bled from there. That's all an air vent is - a type of 'bleed screw'. Some are manual, so need to be physically opened to release any trapped air, whilst others are automatic.

The bleed screw in your radiator is a normal type, so ideally required a bleed screw key - do you have one? The white collar is a neat addition that can direct the resulting jet of water in the correct direction where it can be caught. That white part should be able to rotate freely tho' stiffly, and won't release water by itself. It seems to be pointing ok - towards the front and down. So fit a rad key, and try and open the bleed screw. :-)

twopenny

Yep, tried that but can't release any of the screws. Way too tight. I used to do it regularly in my old house.

The house has been empty for 15yrs but I've had the heating tended to . It's worked brilliantly for the 3 I've been here until recently. 

I'll have to get someone else in but easier said than done.
I'll get them to look for an air vent again. If there is one that should help with the cost.

I'm also concerned that the system seems to keep running even after it's turned off. 5mins after 2hrs, 20mins after 6 but the boiler isn't firing.

Still got probs with the leg but a little better, many try climbing into the loft with a neighbour present tomorrow if I can't get anyone before the weekend now I know what to look for. The net should give me a picture. Difficult because the rafters etc are so small.
I can get in probably but not out so if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm still up there 

ThisIsWeird

Yes, bleed screws can be tight. Once released, you can always give them a smear of sili grease or copper ease ( temp shut off both rad valves, and water should stop coming out after a while. For lockshield, count exactly how open it is so you can return it to there).