Blocked feed from F& E

[jase158]

Hi Guys

My mate has been at a house all day as he replaced a radiator yesterday, turns out the feed from f and e is blocked, he has tried tracing it and it goes under floor boards, i.e.

He tried putting mains down it, still no luck. I have said I will push with power flush machine for him for cost of chemicals and diesel to help him out, but bit worried as don't think it will clear it as mains is 2-3 bar and power flush is 1 bar.

any advice please?

 

[mfgs]

Best off tracing it, it nearly always blocks up where it joins the heating pipework. Trace it and cut it out is the best option.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

as above if you cant trace it see if its viable to cut a new cold feed in else where

 

[Best]

Yes, usually blocked at tee or close to it, but that could be few ft away. Mains pressure won't clear solid blockage as can be like a lump of coal! If you can't get at blockage, but have opened pipework near it, try a car speedo cable or similar to push through pipe as very strong & flexible & can go around bends. Wash pipe out later. A quick fix, I hope.

 

[jase158]

Yes, usually blocked at tee or close to it, but that could be few ft away. Mains pressure won't clear solid blockage as can be like a lump of coal! If you can't get at blockage, but have opened pipework near it, try a car speedo cable or similar to push through pipe as very strong & flexible & can go around bends. Wash pipe out later. A quick fix, I hope.

would need to be a very big cable as seems like it is 3-4 metres away at least,

 

[Best]

would need to be a very big cable as seems like it is 3-4 metres away at least,

Maybe get speedo cable from a very large car then! LOL!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

removed old system last week and the new cold feed was tee to vent pipe just as it comes out of the F&E tank .....strange but it was working
anyway i took all the scrap out 🙂

 

[BLOD]

removed old system last week and the new cold feed was tee to vent pipe just as it comes out of the F&E tank .....strange but it was working
anyway i took all the scrap out 🙂

Combind feed and vent is quite common and usually works well.

 

[Best]

Maybe floor would need lifted if that's poss. Chemicals prob slow to do much. Could fill from mains temp. Sealed heating hard to beat!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Combind feed and vent is quite common and usually works well.

i took the old feed pipe as it was 22mm and could not leave it in as my scrapy will tell me off 🙂, was solid block not even screw driver could clear it out !
will recomend cut and repair on this occasion or tee in to the vent pipe as it comes out of the f&e

 

[Magicplumb]

Assuming the system is fully pumped and depending on the boiler type. You could always convert the system to sealed system by adding an expansion vessel with all the other necessary equipment.

 

[tamz]

I love sludged up pipes. The are worth so much more in the scrap bag :lol:

 

[WHPES]

My opinion - cap off the F&E and convert to sealed system if the tee is inaccessible.

 

[RoryD]

Have used footpump (with a made adaptor) and cleared temporarily such blockages, but as everyone else has said it must be cut out. He can back fill down the vent toget 'em up n running

 

[fuzzy]

Hi Guys

My mate has been at a house all day as he replaced a radiator yesterday, turns out the feed from f and e is blocked, he has tried tracing it and it goes under floor boards, i.e.

He tried putting mains down it, still no luck. I have said I will push with power flush machine for him for cost of chemicals and diesel to help him out, but bit worried as don't think it will clear it as mains is 2-3 bar and power flush is 1 bar.

any advice please?

drain down and cut it out, replace and it be fine

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Cant believe what some people are suggesting, if ive got this right all you have is a blocked cold feed???

Just go into the loft and tee the cold feed into the open vent just after it leaves the f&e tank. Then cap off old cold feed.

Whats so difficult about that, convert to sealed system indeed!

 

[Best]

Cant believe what some people are suggesting, if ive got this right all you have is a blocked cold feed???

Just go into the loft and tee the cold feed into the open vent just after it leaves the f&e tank. Then cap off old cold feed.

Whats so difficult about that, convert to sealed system indeed!

Thats a good, quick way of sorting it. Only one pipe doing exp/ vent though, so I would fit a relief valve at boiler if none there. I saw a feed pipe which was vented - so same, & blocked at tee at cylinder. I think sealed system is best long term option on oil or gas provided system sound & with no micro leaks.

 

[bert large]

Be lucky to clear a blocked cold feed with chemicals, usually solid. Best to chop it out if you can.