Does this sound like the pump?? Pulling my hair out!!

[chezabha]

Hi. Been having problems with CH since last year. I will try to cover as much info as I can in the hope one of you experienced guys might advise on the issue.
I have 11 rads all but one fitted with TRV's.
Ideal classic slimline ff250 (fitted in the garage)
Cold water tank with CH header tank in the loft
Two storey house
Pipes are 15mm microbore

The rads downstairs are not heating up as they should. I've checked all trv's and replaced them. The largest rad in the house which is 1100x600 appears to have the "sludge" arc at the bottom of the unit. I've run Fernox sludge
Remover through the system over the last week. I shut off the rads upstairs periodically so the chemical was concentrated on the cold downstairs rads.
Drained the system yesterday and refilled with no change. Drained again and back filled. Upstairs rads are boiling. Downstairs are cold. I then opened the lock shield and connected a hose to outside and drained some water. Each of the downstairs rads warmed up to the point where they were boiling. By the time I finished this procedure the rads were going cold again.

I'm thinking that the pump is not operating correctly and is unablebto push the water up and down every stud wall in the downstairs of the property. I've tried to adjust the speed of the pump to full but it's no better.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can try?

Thanks in advance

 

[mrlennie]

just a stab in the dark but does it not sound the lock shield is faulty?

 

[arran197]

Ye, could be the lock shield. You could try removing the rad, getting a bucket and opening the valve, making sure the water shoots out of it.

 

[mrlennie]

Ye, could be the lock shield. You could try removing the rad, getting a bucket and opening the valve, making sure the water shoots out of it.

Agreed, its a very simple job.

 

[chezabha]

Hi. I've done this in the past and water is freely coming through. I now have all other rads in the house turned off and the lock shield has finally warmed up but only warmed up. The valve on the other side is so hot you can hardly touch it. I might try to replace it before forking out on a new rad.

 

[mrlennie]

If you have tested rad and tested lockshield then sounds like a block after the lockshield. water may freely come out because the pipe is full of water. How much water did you remove when you opened the valve?

 

[chezabha]

I took out at least 5 bowls of water. Used the old old kitchen bowl so I would guess about 25 litres

 

[mrlennie]

25l!!! hmm...and you say it working abit better now... was this after you removed this water or not connected do you think?

 

[chezabha]

It never improved after I removed the water. It warmed up after shutting the rest of the rads down so don't think draining the pipe was related. The house and heating seems to be getting up to temp ok but I'm at a loss as to why the return would be cool. I've tried adjusting every position on the lockshield too.

 

[kel4783]

install a new heating system combi cant go wrong just a sugestion will pay for itself in heating bill in 10yrs

 

[mrlennie]

It never improved after I removed the water. It warmed up after shutting the rest of the rads down so don't think draining the pipe was related. The house and heating seems to be getting up to temp ok but I'm at a loss as to why the return would be cool. I've tried adjusting every position on the lockshield too.

Yes it makes no sense to me either. The only thing i can think is air in the pipes as it getting slightly better after being given direct attention from the pump would perhaps move the air to somewhere where water can get through a bit. how long did you leave it pumping the one rad?

 

[chezabha]

It's been pumping the one rad for about 3 hours now. I may leave it that way until tomorrow then retry

 

[mrlennie]

hmm maybe an idea not to leave it on all night as if the pump is pumping against a lock it might do it harm. sound like something else may be neeeded to loosen it if it hasnt gone in 3 hours.

 

[chezabha]

hmm maybe an idea not to leave it on all night as if the pump is pumping against a lock it might do it harm. sound like something else may be neeeded to loosen it if it hasnt gone in 3 hours.

Good advice. Thanks for that. I probably would have cranked it up and left it all night. 🙂
Will remove the rad again and post back my progress. Cheers mrlennie

 

[mrlennie]

Good advice. Thanks for that. I probably would have cranked it up and left it all night. 🙂
Will remove the rad again and post back my progress. Cheers mrlennie

glad to be of help let us know how it goes!