Cannot get new radiator to heat up?

[mbc0]

Hi,

I have just replaced an old radiator with a new Revive 500h x 1100l Double Premium Radiator (P+) but cannot get it to heat up? The right hand pipe gets very very hot but it does not flow through the radiator.

when I drained down the system (I had other radiators to replace and pipework to move) I installed isolators on the pipes coming from out of the floor to allow me to install it at a later date but keeping the other radiators on in the house. I removed the radiator checked for blockages, tested the isolators and valves and found that the water flow from the pipe on the left is very powerful (think garden hose) but the pipe on the right is approximately 20% of that pressure, is this normal? is it because it is the return?

The TRV is uni-directional and removed to be fully open for the moment.

I have turned the other 8 radiators off on the ground floor & the 3 upstairs just leaving this one and left the bleed valve open running into a bucket for about 20 minutes. This results in the rad getting hot but it cools down again after a while when I shut the bleed valve off.

Do I have an issue with the pipework possibly? Any ideas?

Picture in the link belowMany Thanks in advance.

20190130_164436.jpg

 

[Harvest Fields]

Did the old radiator get hot or did you have the same issue?

 

[Riley]

could you post a pick of it?? Is it a column style rad?

 

[SJB060685]

It sounds like you have a restriction on right pipe (return I presume) drastically reducing flow through radiator and when the bleed is open this is allowing flow? This could be caused by a number of things

 

[SimonG]

Kinked pipe under the floor.

Oh and get them isolators removed. Looks gash and not rated for central heating.

 

[snowhead]

If the isolators are just standard ones and not full bore, then they are the problem.
If you look inside they reduce to about 8mm.

 

[mbc0]

Did the old radiator get hot or did you have the same issue?

Hi,

I have removed and reinstalled again today (because of the isolators I installed) but cannot seem to get it hot at all (just red hot on the right pipe which has the very weak flow)

I do think it did work when I first installed it but as it is a spare room it was not monitored, so cannot be 100%

 

[mbc0]

If the isolators are just standard ones and not full bore, then they are the problem.
If you look inside they reduce to about 8mm.

Hi, With the isolator removed on the right side pipe the water just dribbles out but with the isolator installed on the left the water is powerful like a hose so surely the isolator wouldnt cause an issue? I was trying to find out if this was normal having one pipe so powerful and the other not?

 

[mbc0]

If the isolators are just standard ones and not full bore, then they are the problem.
If you look inside they reduce to about 8mm.

Hi, With the isolator removed on the right side pipe the water just dribbles out but with the isolator installed on the left the water is powerful like a hose so surely the isolator wouldnt cause an issue? I was trying to find out if this was normal having one pipe so powerful and the other not?

 

[mbc0]

could you post a pick of it?? Is it a column style rad?

Hi, the pic is linked at the bottom of my original post

 

[Riley]

Well as we said. Isolators are not for central heating so could very well be the problem

 

[mbc0]

Linked pipe under the floor.

Oh and get them isolators removed. Looks gash and not rated for central heating.

Hi, what do you mean by linked pipe? I have those isolators on 2 other radiators that work perfectly. I do hear what you are saying and will replace them all for full bore but the other 2 rads are working fine with those isolators.

 

[Riley]

No don’t replace them take them out they aren’t for central heating

 

[Riley]

Plus it doesn’t mean the one on the other pipe isn’t clogged

 

[mbc0]

Well as we said. Isolators are not for central heating so could very well be the problem

Hi, I do understand and will remove them but the pressure does not change with them on or off, the right hand pipe is merely a dribble. The other 2 rads with isolators have been working perfectly since October 17.

 

[SimonG]

Hi, what do you mean by linked pipe? I have those isolators on 2 other radiators that work perfectly. I do hear what you are saying and will replace them all for full bore but the other 2 rads are working fine with those isolators.

Kinked, bloody predictive text.

It's not a case of them working. It's a case of them not being rated for central heating installation.

 

[mbc0]

Plus it doesn’t mean the one on the other pipe isn’t clogged

Hi, I changed the isolator today from a Plumb base to a peglar, even with the isolator removed the pressure does not change, it is still a dribble

 

[mbc0]

Kinked, bloody predictive text.

It's not a case of them working. It's a case of them not being rated for central heating installation.

Ah, I see.. I will remove them it is not a problem, I was just thinking I was being savvy for the future! The pipes are bedded in concrete for this room long before I came along so don't think they could be kinked.

 

[SimonG]

Why are there two sets of pipe coming out the floor?

 

[SJB060685]

I assumed he re did so to have right centres lol

 

[mbc0]

Why are there two sets of pipe coming out the floor?

ah, the other pipe on the left that you see is a pipe for the garden hose, it is connected to the mains, nothing to do with this. for the radiator there are two pipes, 1 each side of the radiator.

 

[mbc0]

is everyone saying don't use isolators or don't use the ones I have used? I see plenty of radiator pipe isolator's at screwfix/victoria plum etc.

 

[SJB060685]

Screwfix and Victoria Plum says it all lol

 

[Riley]

Don’t use isolators. They aren’t designed for the heat or for the crud that goes round in the pipes

 

[snowhead]

And they always leak when you come to turn them off /on

 

[mbc0]

ok, thank you for the advice on the isolators, I will remove them. With the issue I have though, is it sounding likeley that I have a blocked/damaged pipe? should the water flow from this pipe the same as the other? it makes no difference to the flow whether or not I have the isolator installed or removed. I am really at a loss as to what to do next.

 

[SJB060685]

the pressure should be the same. When you’re testing this is it with pump running?

 

[Riley]

Apologies if I’ve missed it but is this microbore? And is the radiator a column style radiator?

 

[mbc0]

Apologies if I’ve missed it but is this microbore? And is the radiator a column style radiator?

Hi,

It is a Revive 500h x 1100l Double Premium Radiator (P+) standard radiator with 15mm pipes (a link to the pictures is on my 1st post)

 

[mbc0]

the pressure should be the same. When you’re testing this is it with pump running?

Hi, that is worrying :-( yes the pump is running at it's fastest speed. as the pipes are under concrete I can only get to them in the hallway. Maybe I will have to drain the system again and cut the pipes in the hallway to try and clear the blockage unless anyone thinks a power flush could work?

 

[Riley]

A powerflush will probably shift it. Did the previous rad work?

 

[mbc0]

Hi, yes the previous radiator worked but was removed for 3+ months and then the new one installed after I put up a new wall and re-plastered.

 

[mbc0]

Ok,

An update!

I disconnected the radiator again today and removed the isolator on the right hand side pipe and there was no water coming out, even though the pipe this side gets red hot and the left hand side pipe that is stone cold flows perfectly (but then gets hot very quickly when flowing into a bucket)

I connected a pipe from the mains supply to the right hand side pipe and blasted it for about 5 seconds. after the 5th or 6th time a ton of crap came out the pipe and began flowing as well as the left hand side! I filled a couple of buckets and the water became clear so I reconnected everything filled the rad and everything was working normally for about 4 hours and now I am back to square one! At least I know the issue is due to crap in the pipes I am now looking for a way to connect a foot pump to the pipe as I believe this will be more effective!

 

[SJB060685]

I did say first off it sounds like a blockage. A foot pump is going to be hard work to say the least. I would consider a powerflush, if done properly with the right chemicals should break down any obstruction, prevent it from reforming and improve overall performance of system. If you could isolate problem leg and blast with compressor this should clear but poses risks to any existing fittings. I’m interested to see what those with more experience suggest?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Do the same again

 

[Riley]

Be careful pumping air in. It can push crud to all other parts of the system.

 

[SJB060685]

Another thing is a suction pump with right couplings. I’m aware there are several on market but I will suggest the ultimate suction pump, when on Facebook I’m a member of an oil fired group and the producer of this product is as well, I know his product quite well and when used correctly can suck most crap clear, amongst other functions.

 

[Riley]

😉Aye aye

 

[mbc0]

Another thing is a suction pump with right couplings. I’m aware there are several on market but I will suggest the ultimate suction pump, when on Facebook I’m a member of an oil fired group and the producer of this product is as well, I know his product quite well and when used correctly can suck most crap clear, amongst other functions.

I am interested in what you are suggesting but haven't quite decoded what you are trying to say!

 

[mbc0]

I did say first off it sounds like a blockage. A foot pump is going to be hard work to say the least. I would consider a powerflush, if done properly with the right chemicals should break down any obstruction, prevent it from reforming and improve overall performance of system. If you could isolate problem leg and blast with compressor this should clear but poses risks to any existing fittings. I’m interested to see what those with more experience suggest?

Hi,

I will definately be doing a powerflush but not until I am draining down the system to install a new rad in the hallway (no pipework there yet) it would be nice to see if I can clear this pipe before hand though!

 

[mbc0]

Be careful pumping air in. It can push crud to all other parts of the system.

ok, noted, thank you!

 

[mbc0]

Millions of products on the market for cleaning the CH System, are there any clear winners or are they much of a muchness?

 

[Riley]

Proper powerflush by which i mean that the correct chemicals are used, each radiator is treated/flushed individually and it’s not completed in a couple of hours

 

[SJB060685]

Like Riley says a power flush is a minimum one day job. On larger systems I’ve had to split system up and do over two days. Each power flusher will tell you what it’s capable of. A suction pump creates a vacuum and quite literally sucks Rubbish out. I’ve used them to clear oil lines or bleed problematic lines and vent de aerators

 

[Burger]

Millions of products on the market for cleaning the CH System, are there any clear winners or are they much of a muchness?

Reputable manufacturers: sentinel x800, fernox f3, calchem 3 in 1 (breaks down and don’t have to drain out)

 

[mbc0]

Thanks for the replies, I aim to drain down in a couple of months to install the new radiator so that Calchem 3in1 would be perfect, shame no local shops sell the bloody stuff though!

 

[Burger]

Thanks for the replies, I aim to drain down in a couple of months to install the new radiator so that Calchem 3in1 would be perfect, shame no local shops sell the bloody stuff though!

Are you nowhere near one of these? If not they deliver free for £10 or more spend

Search

 

[mbc0]

Are you nowhere near one of these? If not they deliver free for £10 or more spend

Search

Yes, Thanks mate, I am heading down there this afternoon, I was going to drain that radiator, have another go at blasting that pipe again today then putting this stuff in the radiator when reconnecting! fingers crossed!! Thanks for all your help 🙂

 

[Burger]

Yes, Thanks mate, I am heading down there this afternoon, I was going to drain that radiator, have another go at blasting that pipe again today then putting this stuff in the radiator when reconnecting! fingers crossed!! Thanks for all your help 🙂

No worries, glad to be of some help

 

[SJB060685]

Let us know if you shift it

 

[mbc0]

Hi,

I spent 2 hours doing the mains flush trick after 90 minutes no more crud was coming out but I kept going another 30 minutes added the Calchem, filled the radiator and it is still at full temperature so really chuffed!

Thanks so much for everyones help, I really really appreciate it!!

 

[Harvest Fields]

You’re more than welcome mate. Glad we could all help.