Our house was built in 2007 and we are the second family to live here - moving in in 2017. The central heating has been working fine - although the gas boiler is perhaps nearing the end of its life. But the boiler is not our current issue.
Last winter two of the radiators did not heat up and another radiator heats up very slowly. Hot water from the boiler for heating goes to a manifold and there is a manifold for the return. From the manifolds there are 10mm plastic pipes to and from each radiator.
On each problem radiator I have identified whether the blockage is on the flow or return by turning off the valves each end and unscrewing the pushfit elbows to see whether water escapes or not. I bought a very long length of flexible curtain wire and my attempt to unblock each radiator has been:
1. turn off the rad valve and lockshield
2. undo the elbow at the offending end of the radiator
3. pull off the pushfit elbow
4. push in as long a length of flexible curtain wire as I can
This has resulted in a little "crud" coming out of the radiator flow (or return) pipe, but only a dribble of water. Reconnecting the pushfit elbow and opening the rad valve and lockshield again tells me that I haven't solved the problem. The radiator still doesn't get hot.
Does anyone have any other DIY suggestions, or is it time to call in a professional to flush the pipes?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Last winter two of the radiators did not heat up and another radiator heats up very slowly. Hot water from the boiler for heating goes to a manifold and there is a manifold for the return. From the manifolds there are 10mm plastic pipes to and from each radiator.
On each problem radiator I have identified whether the blockage is on the flow or return by turning off the valves each end and unscrewing the pushfit elbows to see whether water escapes or not. I bought a very long length of flexible curtain wire and my attempt to unblock each radiator has been:
1. turn off the rad valve and lockshield
2. undo the elbow at the offending end of the radiator
3. pull off the pushfit elbow
4. push in as long a length of flexible curtain wire as I can
This has resulted in a little "crud" coming out of the radiator flow (or return) pipe, but only a dribble of water. Reconnecting the pushfit elbow and opening the rad valve and lockshield again tells me that I haven't solved the problem. The radiator still doesn't get hot.
Does anyone have any other DIY suggestions, or is it time to call in a professional to flush the pipes?
Thank you in advance for any help.