Help (Chinese water torture)

[Daithi]

Hi guys,

I don´t know the first thing about the heating system I have or any of the apparatus so please treat me like a dummy.

British gas have just been and they sorted out a problem where a filter was blocked in the boiler which prevented heat reaching the radiator furthest away from the system. They have since left and now all my radiators are working at full heft.

However, they are all making the noise of water dripping down them. The sound is torturous. Can someone tell me is this going to settle down in a few hours or is there another issue that needs resolving?

Thanks,
Daithi

 

[chris watkins]

How is it now ?

 

[Daithi]

How is it now ?

Thanks for the reply Chris.

The heating has been on almost continuously for the past five hours. The sound ceases when the boiler hits the set temperature however starts up again with the boiler. So it is still making the noise when it has to do the work if you get me

 

[herbert]

I bet it's heat expansion noise

 

[Daithi]

I bet it's heat expansion noise

Thanks for the reply Herbert. Just so we are on the same page, it sounds like a tap running inside the radiator. The sort of sound that makes you feel like you need to go to the bathroom constantly. If it is that is it temporary or will I have to endure a sympathetic bladder?

 

[herbert]

It would sound like a dripping/tapping noise if it was expansion not a constant running nois. Not knowing what sort of system you have it would be hard to resolve

 

[Daithi]

Thanks Herbert. I am in rented accommodation here, any easy way to check this? Radiators aren´t typical either. They are look like Tubular Bells!

 

[Destroyer2813]

You talking about vertical coloum rads ?

 

[kay-jay]

Sounds like air in the system. Bleed the rads and report back.

 

[Daithi]

You talking about vertical coloum rads ?

I google search Vertical Column rads but I dont think these quite match the pictures i found. They are almost there are columns however they are not linked together directly but rather by one pipe. The one in the sitting room is about 140 cm long and has 6 cylinders. Its affixed on to the wall in an so the columns are upright.

Can I ask how to bleed a radiator? I would imagine this involves draining the radiators. Should I do it for all of radiators in the system or just the ones making the noise. Also, out of curiosity, can someone explain what exactly this does.

thanks,
David

 

[Koogatubac]

Sounds like they have turned some rad valves down to spread the heat to further radiators....turning the lock-shield valves down you can hear the flow of water more noticeably but only if you've got your ear to the valve :O

 

[kay-jay]

I google search Vertical Column rads but I dont think these quite match the pictures i found. They are almost there are columns however they are not linked together directly but rather by one pipe. The one in the sitting room is about 140 cm long and has 6 cylinders. Its affixed on to the wall in an so the columns are upright.

Can I ask how to bleed a radiator? I would imagine this involves draining the radiators. Should I do it for all of radiators in the system or just the ones making the noise. Also, out of curiosity, can someone explain what exactly this does.

thanks,
David

You need a bleed key. They cost less than a pound. At the top of each rads there will be a small nipple which you undo slightly with the key. Any air trapped in the rads will be released. Tighten the nipple when water and not air comes out. Turn off your heating before you do this to allow any air moving round the system to settle.