Why isn't my radiator heating up?

housebuyer143

I need some help. I have a radiator that has worked perfectly until the last few weeks, now it's stone cold when the others are hot. 

I turned all the radiators in the house off thinking an airlock and it worked and stays on but the next time you fire up the boiler it's not working again.

I tried the airlock thing again and now it isn't working even when doing that, just stone cold while the pipework going to it is burning hot.

Any suggestions here? I haven't done anything different to make it play up like this.

Le_Kirk

Does it have a TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) at one end?  If so is it open; might it be stuck in the closed position?  Is the radiator up or down stairs? Have you bled the radiator system recently?  Did air come out when/if you did?

housebuyer143

Le_Kirk said:

Does it have a TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve) at one end?  If so is it open; might it be stuck in the closed position?  Is the radiator up or down stairs? Have you bled the radiator system recently?  Did air come out when/if you did?

Its downstairs and its the one in the house that does not have a thermostatic value but I have turned both sides open fully and its made no difference. Bled it and there is no air coming out.
The last time I did the air lock thing, I could feel a tiny tiny bit of warmth at the bottom, but could not get it to heat up. 

ThisIsWeird

Remind us - is this a 'vented' system, with a small F&E tank in the loft?

Something to try: Shut off each valve in turn*, and try bleeding the rad with the other one fully open. Allow a good amount of water to (hopefully) squirt out.

Compare the squirts for either side.

* For the lockshield valve, you should note the spindle position before adjusting it, so you can return it to its original position if needed.

maydin

there is definitely air in your system try taking the air out, otherwise it would not heat.

plumb1_2

Isolate the rad, take it off and flush it out.

housebuyer143

ThisIsWeird said:

Remind us - is this a 'vented' system, with a small F&E tank in the loft?

Something to try: Shut off each valve in turn*, and try bleeding the rad with the other one fully open. Allow a good amount of water to (hopefully) squirt out.

Compare the squirts for either side.

* For the lockshield valve, you should note the spindle position before adjusting it, so you can return it to its original position if needed.

Thanks, it's an  unvented cylinder.. I'll give that a go.

housebuyer143

maydin said:

there is definitely air in your system try taking the air out, otherwise it would not heat.

How do I get the air out? I have bled all the radiators to no avail.

Le_Kirk

How old are the rads/system, could it be sludge as @plumb1_2 suggests?

ThisIsWeird

housebuyer143 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Remind us - is this a 'vented' system, with a small F&E tank in the loft?

Something to try: Shut off each valve in turn*, and try bleeding the rad with the other one fully open. Allow a good amount of water to (hopefully) squirt out.

Compare the squirts for either side.

* For the lockshield valve, you should note the spindle position before adjusting it, so you can return it to its original position if needed.

Thanks, it's an  unvented cylinder.. I'll give that a go.

Your DHW is provided via an unvented hot cylinder? Which means you do not have a large CWS tank in the loft? 

The CH system is separate, tho', so could be different. Q - does your boiler have a pressure gauge?

housebuyer143

Le_Kirk said:

How old are the rads/system, could it be sludge as @plumb1_2 suggests?

It's 20 years old and I would be surprised if the previous owner maintained it well. Would the sludge stop this from heating? I might look to power flush them and see if that helps.