upstairs radiators

[ajoint]

i have a combi boiler,a potterton combi 80,my upstairs radiators i noticed are not warming up,could it be the pump?only i went to the boiler and their was a kind of whining noise inside,idid also notice that the two pipes going into the rads were warm but not getting into the rads,thanks,ajoint

 

[stratplus]

I think if its the pump the downstairs rads would be cold with the upstairs warming by convection. If the pipes are warm to the rad could be a stuck valve. Is it just rad or all of them and are they trv's?

 

[Mike Jackson]

What's the system pressure like?

 

[AMGasServices]

Have you checked if there is air in the radiators ?

 

[stevetheplumber]

rads want bleeding and system topping up

 

[ajoint]

steve,i reply i have bleed the radiators upastairs and the system is topped up,one radiator is working ok the small bedroom the radiator is only half warm,and the other bedroom i bleed the rad, air came out or what i felt no more air came out of which water should of followed but nothing, rad is still cold,i heard some activity ie water circling,the rad valves are out of date just ordinary valves and not thermostatic valves.does the ststem need balancing?

 

[dancinplumba]

what is the pressure in the system ?

 

[ajoint]

what is the pressure in the system ?

dancinplumba,thanks,i topped up the pressure to just about 1 bar then bleed the respective rads and i have now nice warm radiators,i notice on the pressure gauge their is a red needle indicator is that the pressure in the expansion vessel that is on about 1.5 bar,?thanks anyway,al joint.

 

[Dannyparty92]

Red needle is what the pressure should be the black needle is the actual pressure.

 

[Dotty]

And that should be done while your system is cold.

 

[ajoint]

And that should be done while your system is cold.

croppie,why when the system is cold?ajoint.

 

[ajoint]

croppie,also how can i turn up the temperature in the boiler,i have got a room stat,set on 25 degrees c,which i think is enough but the rooms still appear cold,thanks,alan joint

 

[kay-jay]

croppie,why when the system is cold?ajoint.

Because water expands when heated

 

[kay-jay]

croppie,also how can i turn up the temperature in the boiler,i have got a room stat,set on 25 degrees c,which i think is enough but the rooms still appear cold,thanks,alan joint

Look for a dial on the front of the boiler and turn it up. This controls the boilers output and if its set too low your room.s will never get really hot regardless of what trvs are set to

 

[ajoint]

Look for a dial on the front of the boiler and turn it up. This controls the boilers output and if its set too low your room.s will never get really hot regardless of what trvs are set to

kayjay,i see their is a dial or knob that you turn behind the control panel,but how do you know what or how high it should be adjusted to,ie millibars,as it is a range rated boiler,according to the instruction manual it should 8 millibar range rated and 15 millibar maximum output.a joint.

 

[kay-jay]

I am talking about a user control on the front of the boiler or behind a dropdown panel do not under any circumstances mess about with anything else

 

[kay-jay]

Either look in the manual or post a pic of the front of your boiler

 

[ajoint]

kayjay,if i need to keep topping up my system then what is wrong with the system?ajoint

 

[ajoint]

kayjay,if it suggests a leak in the system is it likely to be on the cental heatinfg side or the domestic hot or cold supply would that effect the pressure?ajoint

 

[ajoint]

any one,if i have to keep on topping up my combi boiler does it mean i have a leak in the system?if so where on the heating side?or the domestic hot or cold?a joint.

 

[kay-jay]

Pressure drop is related to the heating. Most likely a leak but there can be other causes.

 

[jam1979]

tie a piece of tissue under each rad valve if its a leak u can tell if the tissue is wet u can also go out side and see if ur prv valve is letting water out this indicates either dodgy prv valve or expansion vessel lost pressure u need to check all possabilities

 

[ajoint]

tie a piece of tissue under each rad valve if its a leak u can tell if the tissue is wet u can also go out side and see if ur prv valve is letting water out this indicates either dodgy prv valve or expansion vessel lost pressure u need to check all possabilities

jam1979,i felt all the rad valves and the hallway rad is letting water slightly,would it effect the pressure that much,its not dripping,but you can feel moisture their,obviously i will have to change the valve,will i have to completly drain the system to do this?do i check the prv pipe with heating on or when it is off?as i have looked outside and cannot see any water discharging.thanks,al joint

 

[kay-jay]

jam1979,i felt all the rad valves and the hallway rad is letting water slightly,would it effect the pressure that much,its not dripping,but you can feel moisture their,obviously i will have to change the valve,will i have to completly drain the system to do this?do i check the prv pipe with heating on or when it is off?as i have looked outside and cannot see any water discharging.thanks,al joint

Check prv discharge by taping a plastic bottle to the pipe as it exits the property.
Do you have pipework under the floor downstairs? If so you may have a further leak there....

 

[ajoint]

kayjay,the prv pipe runs to outside which is not much pipework as my boiler is in the tool cupboard /shed attached to my porch as i come into the house so not that much pipework,but i will do what you asked,thanks,a joint.ps do i have to drain down the system completely to change the leaky valve?