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Hi all, we moved into a new apartment in the summer and now it's cold and the heating is on I've noticed that one of the rads is only getting hot on one side as shown in the photos.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be and what the solution is? Thanks in advance!

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What type of boiler?
Make and Model Please?
It could be a case of opening one of the valves a bit but we need to know what type of system it is.
 
Waters lazy, takes shortest route. That rads probably always been like that. Open the valves fully.
 
Agree with the above or there's a blockage in the 3rd fin
 
Thanks for your feedback.

The boiler is a Baxi Novanox 24/24F - (see added pic below)

The valve (on the top of the rad) is fully open.

I’ve heard the rad could need ‘de-sludging’, is this possible without fully removing the rad?

On a side note, from what I understand it’s not going to be air as this would cause the rad to be cold at the top and not on the side - but how do I bleed this type of rad? Do I undo the brass nut slightly at the valve ( as seen in the pic) to release the air?

Thanks in advance, much appreciated

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Have you tried opening the bottom valve 1/2 a turn more ?
 
On a side note, from what I understand it’s not going to be air as this would cause the rad to be cold at the top and not on the side - but how do I bleed this type of rad? Do I undo the brass nut slightly at the valve ( as seen in the pic) to release the air
I have found that the air only settles at the top if both valves are at the bottom. Yours are both on one side. Is there a vent point on the top left hand side of the radiator?
 
Might be on a fin
 
Not by looking at that rad mate. But you could be right. I bet it has always been like that and it is air locked. Give it a good whack and hope the cast doesn’t split.:p:p:p:D:D
 
Bottom left is the same as top left. Checked all the fins, front and rear, no additional valves etc.

Al I have to play with are the two valves as show in the photos at the top-right and bottom-right.

For the top-right, apart from opening and closing the valve, I don't see any available adjustments.

For the bottom-right I can adjust with an 8mm allen key

I thought the bleed valve was always at the top, am I wrong in this presumption?

Cheers
 
Yea normally always top or top side

Looks like it wasn't fitted from new

If you can't find one best get one fitted
 
Ok, thanks. Any pointers in the right direction for sourcing the correct bleed valve for this rad and fitting it would be much appreciated :)

Thank all!
 
Black iron reducer possibly from 11/4” down to 1/2” bleed point. (Vague description sorry) on my way out. Make sure they are sealed properly:eek::eek::eek:
 
I'm going to agree with the air camp. On the grounds that, while water is lazy and finds the shortest route, my limited experience with flow and return on same side of radiator is that, particularly on high water volume radiators, the hot water will settle across the top first.
If there is air, the water will splash about and not fully fill the radiator.

If fitting an air bleed valve as suggested does not cure problem, I have a private suspicion that you might need to close the bottom valve slightly in case water is running through too fast. Which makes little sense to conventional thinking, but, if you have to do this and it works, please do let me know.
 
Get a wire brush on a drill and scour off the paint on the top left joint, I can see a screw slot. That may be the bleed.
 
Turn off top valve, crack top nut slowly to release any air from the rad. Tighten up and open valve back up...you could also try turning off a valve on all you other rads apart from this one and see if it pushs all the air out.
 
Get a wire brush on a drill and scour off the paint on the top left joint, I can see a screw slot. That may be the bleed.
Bloody good shot Sir. Good eyesight Sir. Well done Sir. Didn’t see that one coming Sir.:p:p:p
 
...for sure

What about the idea of it need ‘desludging’, I could imagine one of the joints between fins being blocked, is there a way to check this or anything else I can try to resolve this issue?

Cheers all!
 
...for sure

What about the idea of it need ‘desludging’, I could imagine one of the joints between fins being blocked, is there a way to check this or anything else I can try to resolve this issue?

Cheers all!
I still think that your best option is to put a vent/bleed point top left of the radiator mate.
 
I’ve now tried turning off or down the other rads with the exception of this one where I’ve opened the Trv fully and closed in slightly the 'exit' valve and the middle fin is starting to feel warmer now, more at the bottom than the top. If this is dislodging and moving any 'gunk', does this get filtered out somewhere or does it just move around the system?

Cheers
 
Sounds like just air to me. If you left bottom valve open. Turn off top valve then crack open top nut where it fixes to the rad you may find it will release alot of air.(use a container of some sort tho. You will have some water)
 
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