Plumbing advice needed.

[madandra]

I have a radiator that has a cold area (left hand side) I was going to change the whole unit but a neighbour said I could get someone in to flush the radiator out clearing all the gunk and thus giving us heat. So can it be done and who would do the repair, a plumber?


I need the radiator repaired as my clubs are in that cupboard.

 

[viscount17]

or a heating engineer, as they now call themselves, not all plumbers are good at it as my other half found out to her cost.
at a guess, unless they flush the whole system they'll have to take the rad out.
sure it's not just a bleed problem, took me weeks to get the air out after one plumbers visit and I ended up bleeding every rad in the system.

 

[bigslice]

what kind of heating system do you have combi boiler?
are you pretty good at diy?

 

[madandra]

Yeh we have a combi but I sell the tools, I dont use them.

 

[bigslice]

are the pipes going into the rad micro bore 8mm or 10mm diameter not 15mm. andhas any work been recently carried out on the heating system. when the heating is on try turning of all other rads to try and push heat into cold rad.

it is a bit hard to explain. but if the above doesnt work. i would put sentinel x400 sludge cleaner then x100.
need to go and do work any other questions pm me and will answer them this evening.

 

[Dodger]

Andy I had a number like this and had the system flushed out last winter and what a difference it has made to the heat.

Did it really need done,was the plumber making the most of my total lack of knowledge? Christ knows but it was a mate of a mate who did it and it cost peanuts and only took a couple of hours for them to do it.

 

[madandra]

Called a guy from Yell.com and wants £270 t flush the system, is that roughly what you were Al?

 

[John_Findlay]

Have a word with bigslice, Andy. He is a plumber. He even turned up in his van at Broomieknowe in case the course was flooded.

Does sound like one of the rads is full of debris but he'll give you best advice.

 

[Dodger]

£90 but it was mates rates.

 

[JustOne]

£90 but it was mates rates.

SCOTTISH mates rates... the real price was £80

 

[Smiffy]

When anyone in Bexhill mentions "plumbing" it's normally TENA LADY that get recommended.

 

[grumpyjock]

thought this would be more use
http://www.allaboutincontinence.co.uk/catalogue/browse.php?product_Category_ID=118&main_cat=1

 

[Farneyman]

Did you air the radiator with a radiator key. Its a yearly job with mine and makes a difference. Plus its free

 

[John_Findlay]

That only works when the cold spot's at the top of the rad, Fab.

 

[Farneyman]

Only seen left side no mention of top or bottom bt aye John that would only help if it ws the top unless your in the southern hemisphere...

 

[drawboy]

If you can see the pressure valve on the boiler (round dial ) check it is up to pressure, in the red. If not you should top up the presure with the supplied filling loop silver coloured hose attached to the boiler usually underneath where the pipes are, till it is showing correct pressure then bleed all of the rads until water comes out of each bleeding point make sure you retighten the bleeding nipples then check the pressure again it will have dropped. Re-pressurise again and re bleed again. If water comes from each rad without any air escaping it should be fine. Try this before going down the flushing route. The boiler manufacturers website should provide instructions for re-pressurising your system if you do not have the manual.

 

[bigslice]

or a heating engineer, as they now call themselves, not all plumbers are good at it as my other half found out to her cost.
at a guess, unless they flush the whole system they'll have to take the rad out.
sure it's not just a bleed problem, took me weeks to get the air out after one plumbers visit and I ended up bleeding every rad in the system.

plumbers can multi task and can call ourselves many names.
we dont all just splash about with water, sometimes we mess about with gas, sometimes it is rescuing buzz lightyear from being flushed down the loo. sometimes it is just lonely housewifes, whos husband is away playing golf

 

[viscount17]

or a heating engineer, as they now call themselves, not all plumbers are good at it as my other half found out to her cost.
at a guess, unless they flush the whole system they'll have to take the rad out.
sure it's not just a bleed problem, took me weeks to get the air out after one plumbers visit and I ended up bleeding every rad in the system.

plumbers can multi task and can call ourselves many names.
we dont all just splash about with water, sometimes we mess about with gas, sometimes it is rescuing buzz lightyear from being flushed down the loo. sometimes it is just lonely housewifes, whos husband is away playing golf

plumbers can multi task and can call ourselves many names.

not as many as we called him! had lots of fun finding out how to re-pressurise the boiler - he took the book with him!

I had to do it so often while bleeding the system I should now be entitled to call myself a plumber.

 

[bigslice]

its easy. can you tell the differnce between hot and cold water? (some east coasters cant)do you think you could eat a mars bar (or my favourite a snickers) while unblocking a toilet?

 

[CliveW]

Are the radiator feed and return on the same side? If so there is a plastic pipe in the radiator to aid circulation. This can sometimes come adrift and cause the problem you describe. To remedy it, seal the inlet/outlet valve and drain the radiator. Remove it from the wall and fish out the plastic pipe. Refit it by pushing it into the valve, reconnect the radiator, fill and bleed. Job done.