Hot flow and return pipes, hot upstairs rad but cold rads downstairs

[Mark Garland]

As in the title, the flow and return pipes both get hot when the heating is turned on, yet only the upstairs radiators get hot.

I am very puzzled by this. Even turning off all thermostatic valves upstairs, none of the downstairs rads get hot. Our plumber says there must be a blockage looking for a second opinion. Not sure how there can be a blockage if the return is still hot.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mark

 

[Riley]

I don’t think anyone mentioned zoning? Could be

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I don’t think anyone mentioned zoning? Could be

should have two stats then, but worth a check good shout

 

[Harvest Fields]

I don’t think anyone mentioned zoning? Could be

Correct. We didnt? How big is the house?

 

[Mark Garland]

Correct. We didnt? How big is the house?

Sorry for the delay, is a 3 bed terraced.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Sorry for the delay, is a 3 bed terraced.

Be surprised if it is zoned then. But stranger things have happened.

 

[Riley]

Ah well that was my offering

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Ah well that was my offering

is a cracking point

 

[Mark Garland]

Be surprised if it is zoned then. But stranger things have happened.

Pretty sure it isn't from memory. They mentioned possible zoning if wanted but we chose to keep it simple. Also, only one thermostat was given to us.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Ah well that was my offering

All goes into the mixer mate. Always worth pointing out.

 

[DAVE01]

All goes into the mixer mate. Always worth pointing out.

Most of the new valiant boilers you can on the boiler Display give so many KW to heating and hot water just check this . if the heating has not been used in summer most times the pump gets stuck free this up with big screwdriver I have also seen the nut behind the chrome screw on pump turn but the impeller stays put? As with Most of the new Boilers Valiant. Glow- worm. Worchester 30 CDI you can Map the Pump you should look at this as well . I think you should be ok if you are only touching the wet side of system To put it another way if AAV went in boiler and water flooding every were and in order to stop this you could turn off isolation valves I know what I would do

 

[Harvest Fields]

He cannot legally take the case of the boiler and integral pump no longer work like that.

 

[Mark Garland]

Most of the new valiant boilers you can on the boiler Display give so many KW to heating and hot water just check this . if the heating has not been used in summer most times the pump gets stuck free this up with big screwdriver I have also seen the nut behind the chrome screw on pump turn but the impeller stays put? As with Most of the new Boilers Valiant. Glow- worm. Worchester 30 CDI you can Map the Pump you should look at this as well . I think you should be ok if you are only touching the wet side of system To put it another way if AAV went in boiler and water flooding every were and in order to stop this you could turn off isolation valves I know what I would do

Not a gas engineer myself mate so think I will leave the internals alone as advised but thanks anyway.

 

[Mark Garland]

Right, the problem is solved!

We had a gas engineer over for about 45 minutes trying various things. He put the boiler into service mode and closed all upstairs rads. Nothing got hot downstairs. He recommended a power flush.

Few days later a different engineer from the same company called me about the power flush and suggested it may be an air lock. He suggested there may be an air release valve somewhere upstairs but I didn't know where it could be.

He came over, had a look at our pipework. Mentioned an airlock is very likely as it goes up and over so is quite prone to that happening.
Put the boiler into service mode again and whacked the pressure right up and turned the pump up (was on auto before). This fixed it, suddenly heard all the air moving in the system and voila, heat downstairs. Shouldn't happen so easily now either.

Very pleased as saved a £500 power flush which wasn't even needed!

 

[Mark Garland]

That would be awesome mate. It’s always nice to get some feedback. It’s easy to forget us once it’s been fixed. UNTIL NEXT TIME

Updated mate, thought I would tag you so you see the solution, cheers for your help on this.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Glad you got it sorted in the end

 

[Harvest Fields]

Awesome news mate. Glad it is sorted and you saved money. It’s nice to get feed back, it doesn’t happen often. As you saved £££s I hope that you gave him a drink?

 

[Mark Garland]

Awesome news mate. Glad it is sorted and you saved money. It’s nice to get feed back, it doesn’t happen often. As you saved £££s I hope that you gave him a drink?

We sure did, he got a nice tip