Best way to find blockage in heating system

Netexporter

When it is sorted out, don't forget the corrosion inhibiter.

markin

The basic way is open drain hose with the mains running and gently bang the rads with a rubber mallet, with the pipe i would keep tapping it with a screw driver, You never answered what size the pipe is, If its all 8mm you have low chance of clearing it other than replacing.

shefmarkh

Well good and bad news. Plumber has found a problem, which was a filter hidden in a wall that was likely never cleaned. Sorting that out got the radiators very hot downstairs now.

The bad news is that when the boiler manufacturer checked the boiler they replaced a part as a precaution, but did not test it because they said first any blockage must be removed from the system. I was told any engineer can then do the tests for us. But we have been told by a third party gas safe engineer they are not willing to test someone else's installed part, and that we have to go back to the boiler manufacturer. And they refuse to send anyone before next week to do the tests, meanwhile the boiler is labelled not safe to use and turned off. Have got it escalated to management, but no news yet.

Lorian

They wouldn't do safety tests because the manufacturer had replaced a part?

And do you have a picture of this hidden filter?

Seems like you are having bad luck with the system and the engineers.

shefmarkh

Lorian said:

They wouldn't do safety tests because the manufacturer had replaced a part?

And do you have a picture of this hidden filter?

Seems like you are having bad luck with the system and the engineers.

That correct, wouldn’t do safety tests because manufacturer replaced a part. After escalation manufacturer is sending engineer tomorrow.

don’t have a photo of the filter, sorry.

markin

Must have been really full to block up!

shefmarkh

markin said:

Must have been really full to block up!

well it was inside a false wall, so potentially its an original part on the system that has never been emptied since it was installed (so 40 years or so!) according to the plumber! No idea how he found it. Radiators went from luke warm to painful to touch after he removed it (system has filters elsewhere which were added in more modern times and are accessible, was told we don't need multiple filters).