Upstairs heating stopped working.

[Jamesdf5]

Hi there,

I wonder if someone could give me their experienced opinion on this issue please?

The upstairs heating in my house has stopped working. Only the bathroom radiator gets hot as normal but it's plumbed with the hot water.
Interestingly I had turn the water off at the mains prior to this problem. A couple of days later I noticed the upstairs heating not working. I'm led to believe that is just coincidence.
I have bled all the upstairs radiators except one in the upstairs hallway which will no longer bleed since this problem. I have check the valve on that rad and its depressing properly.

My plumber mate popped over and tried to clear any air blocks but that didn't help. He thinks the system may need sealing to remove the air and to check for leaks.

Any thoughts on the problem and this solution would be extremely welcomed.

Thanks

James

 

[Gray0689]

Is thee a zone valve on upstairs heating
I'd like to think your plumber checked but just in case

 

[SafeGasInstall]

+1

3 port valve fail on hot water position

 

[diamondgas]

Good suggestions above

If rad has stopped filling then it's possible that the ball valve in the header has siezed? won't stop the heating working though unless a lot of water has been allowed to evapourate/escape?

Just a thought ... Otherwise it's circulation, which could be a multitude of possibles

 

[Jamesdf5]

Is thee a zone valve on upstairs heating
I'd like to think your plumber checked but just in case

Yeah there is a motorised valve upstairs if that's what you mean? He's had to look at that previously and I'm pretty sure he checked it.

 

[Reg Man]

Could also be a blocked cold feed.

 

[Gray0689]

Yeah there is a motorised valve upstairs if that's what you mean? He's had to look at that previously and I'm pretty sure he checked it.

Open the motorised valve manually when heating is on and see if any rads upstairs heat

 

[Centralheatking]

Hi James ....you dont state what sort of heating system you have -
1. is it a combi which heats your hot water quite quickly ?
2. is it a system that has a small tank in th roof and an airing cupboard with
a copper tank ?
3. when you bleed the rads does any water come out ? if so where and on what level ?

I do not understand your plumber mate 'sealing the system to remove air'

let us know the info....................CHk

 

[stevetheplumber]

if its worked previously why would you want to seal it? does your mate wear a stetson? get someone in who knows what they are doing

 

[Dotty]

Of course we're all assuming there's water in the F&E tank. The OP turned the MWS off prior to the problem.

My thinking is crap in the ballvalve seat!

 

[Jamesdf5]

if its worked previously why would you want to seal it? does your mate wear a stetson? get someone in who knows what they are doing

yeah that's a bloody good point! Lets say mate of a mate. Free help is always nice to have if it's good help!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

is time for a new plumber we all think

 

[Jamesdf5]

Hi James ....you dont state what sort of heating system you have -
1. is it a combi which heats your hot water quite quickly ?
2. is it a system that has a small tank in th roof and an airing cupboard with
a copper tank ?
3. when you bleed the rads does any water come out ? if so where and on what level ?

I do not understand your plumber mate 'sealing the system to remove air'

let us know the info....................CHk

Hi,

It's an old boiler on a gravity fed system with a motorised valve up & down. It's a crappy old system but i cant change it.
Two tanks upstairs. One big (Cold) & one small (hot)
Immersion tank in airing cupboard.

Yes when i bleed the rads water comes out except the one thats no longer bleeding. Only a tiny fraction of air comes out. No water.

Thanks

 

[Jamesdf5]

Of course we're all assuming there's water in the F&E tank. The OP turned the MWS off prior to the problem.

My thinking is crap in the ballvalve seat!

Interestingly could it be an issue with the cold water inlet on the big tank?

He put a new one on for me because it was spitting out water and causing a leak through my ceiling.

 

[Dotty]

Please don't swear James.

 

[Jamesdf5]

Please don't swear James.

Apologies.

 

[erpkid]

yeah that's a bloody good point! Lets say mate of a mate. Free help is always nice to have if it's good help!

Unfortunately free help is seldom either free or really help. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

if you need help with the job , just let me know

i will be happy to come and get it done for you

 

[Centralheatking]

Its an old system and a bit clogged up - probably u/s but what i would do is shoot it up
with mains water. and give it plenty. here is what you do

1. find outside tap and connect with clip to inside m/t drain also with a clip open mt cock
and tap and give it a few squirts too see what happens - seal leaks then
2. Shoot it all up with mains water pressure big style . but be careful just do it in short bursts like
Croppie and I do ! go around the syetem and look for leaks.
3. If you go too far the overflow from the F & E tank will show outside

Turn heating on and off to operate pump - vent rads and any other mannual vents

A 'Blast from the past' tends to sort out most old systems Centralheatking

 

[Ermintrude]

Open the motorised valve manually when heating is on and see if any rads upstairs heat

See if pipes either side heat up , could be "ball locked "

 

[Jamesdf5]

Of course we're all assuming there's water in the F&E tank. The OP turned the MWS off prior to the problem.

My thinking is crap in the ballvalve seat!

Checked the tanks and both are full. Seen the cold one in action refilling.

 

[Jamesdf5]

See if pipes either side heat up , could be "ball locked "

I switched it to manual. It made no sound or appeared to do anything however i checked all the pipes around it and all are hot when it's on auto or manual.

The motorised valve is on the pipe that goes into the immersion tank. The pipe comes from downstairs and splits off prior to the motorised valve. One going into the floor pipes and the other going into the immersion.

 

[Jamesdf5]

if you need help with the job , just let me know

i will be happy to come and get it done for you

Thanks. I may well get in touch.

 

[Jamesdf5]

Its an old system and a bit clogged up - probably u/s but what i would do is shoot it up
with mains water. and give it plenty. here is what you do

1. find outside tap and connect with clip to inside m/t drain also with a clip open mt cock
and tap and give it a few squirts too see what happens - seal leaks then
2. Shoot it all up with mains water pressure big style . but be careful just do it in short bursts like
Croppie and I do ! go around the syetem and look for leaks.
3. If you go too far the overflow from the F & E tank will show outside

Turn heating on and off to operate pump - vent rads and any other mannual vents

A 'Blast from the past' tends to sort out most old systems Centralheatking

Not sure I totally understand what you mean.

Find my outside tap and connect with what type of clip?
Clip it to the inside 'mains tap?' Drain?
I assume using hose?
The open the cock and squirt?

 

[Reg Man]

I would be looking at the cold feed by now. Drain the system and see if the F&E cistern drains with it. If it does not, then cold feed is blocked normally where the pipe connects to the heating flow. Make sure you manually empty the F&E before cutting into the pipe.