Radiator Problem: URGENT!

ColdInDudo · Jan 8, 2017

Hello everybody,

I have a very urgent problem and would be incredibly grateful for help! My wife and I are expecting our first baby on the Jan 19, and moved house on Dec 29. We had three radiators replaced: In our bedroom, the “first” baby’s room, and the “second” baby’s room (all upstairs). These are not working properly. Our plumber has been here about 7 times and still hasn’t got them working. Temperatures outside have been close to minus 10 degrees this week (in Germany). It is crucially important that we are able to control the temperature when the baby is here – it is a serious health risk. I really, desperately need some support.

Currently, the radiator in our bedroom and the one in the “second” baby’s room only become warm when the radiator in the “first” baby’s room is switched on to full power (setting 5). There is another radiator on this level (bathroom), which was not replaced and works exactly as you would expect it to (so do all others in the house).

We have bled the radiators, and the pressure in the boiler is fine (the radiators in the attic, above the bedrooms, work fine). I can’t really afford to keep paying a plumber to come over, and to be honest, I am beginning to lose confidence in his abilities. Also: My wife and I are extremely nervous that this could be harmful for our baby when she arrives.

Can anybody PLEASE help?!

Paulplumb · Jan 8, 2017

I would advise seeking the services of another more experienced plumber.

Dotty · Jan 8, 2017

Try balancing the radiators. Read this......

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/central-heating-forum/87115-croppies-balancing-thread.html

Masood · Jan 8, 2017

Presumably there were radiators there previously? Did he literally just replace them like for like, or did he modify the pipework?

Are you able to post some photos of the pipework connected to the rads? The more you can show the better - we need to see as much of the pipework as possible.

Gasmk1 · Jan 8, 2017

is the system a one pipe system

ColdInDudo · Jan 8, 2017

Hello,

First up: Thank you so much for the incredibly fast responses. I am really very grateful.

I have attached some images of how the pipework connects to the radiators. Our plumber said we have a mixture between a one- and a two-pipe system: It switches between one and the other, which is what I understand is causing the problem.

ColdInDudo · Jan 8, 2017

Quick update: I just tried turning off all of the radiators in the house, and turning the three non-functioning radiators up to full. The three then heated up -- the one in our bedroom was slightly cooler than the two babies' bedrooms. Some of the other radiators in the house were slightly warm despite being turned off completely -- specifically, the three nearest the boiler (cellar, downstairs toilet, near front door).

As far as I am aware, he just replaced the radiators like for like and did not modify the pipework. However, last time he was here and identified that there is a mixture of one- and two- pipe systems, he tried to put them both onto the same one: But I don't know which, as I was at work and my wife can't remember.

Previously, he had assumed it was a one-pipe system.