Should I replace this old radiator?

[Vortex]

Hi, I would welcome advice/comments regarding replacing a radiator.
We have just had a new boiler fitted and one of the radiators is not getting hot. It gets warm at the top but stays cold at the bottom.

I suspect that it may be full of sludge but the plumber who installed the boiler assures me he flushed the system. I am sceptical about this but it is difficult to argue with him as I am not a qualified plumber, and a mere woman:38:

The plumber has agreed to take the old radiator off and flush it out - I am wondering if it is worth putting a new convector radiator back instead. Would I also need to replace the trv valve?

 

[diamondgas]

Hi Vortex .... Could be muck but could also be circulation problems. I'd wait and see what your plumber finds when they remove it before you go to the expense of a new one. 🙂

 

[Vortex]

Thanks for your reply. The reason I think it might be sludge is that the pipework feeding that radiator is very hot but the radiator itself only gets warm at the top and near the outlet valve - the centre of the radiator at the bottom is cold. It is the last one to heat up and is furthest away from the boiler.

However - I think I asked the wrong question. As it is an old single panel radiator which has never really heated the room very well, I think it might be a good opportunity to fit a new convector type. In which case, if the new one is the same length as the old one, will it need new valves? Or is that one of those "how long is a piece of string" questions?😕

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Hello Vortex. It sounds like sludge. He may of flushed the system however, has he done it all from one point or done each radiator individually hitting the bottom to dislodge sludge?? Maybe not. Defo leave it till he pulls it off the wall and flushes it with a hose. TRV could be used again however, this may not be possible as connections may not be the same on a new radiator. New one should be no more that £15.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Vortex.. Go on to the plumbcentre website and use the heat loss calculator to determine the kw required to heat room. I always add a little on to make sure. Your trv well, it may6 fit, you will just have to suck it and see. The plumber wil be able to tell you. if they will fit.

 

[diamondgas]

First of all very hot into radiator and cold out = poor/restricted circulation ... Should be 11 degC difference between them two pipes & if it had sludge in the radiator the difference could well be less. If this radiator has not performed that well for a while it may not be down to the radiator but rather the flow of water through it! A new radiator may turn out to be no better, except looking anyway 🙂 It's important to know you have enough water flow to and from the radiator Vortex!

 

[WHPES]

I am assuming that the system has been correctly balanced after the work was done ................?..................

 

[Vortex]

Thanks for all the input. The system was drained down, boiler disconnected, one radiator replaced, new boiler installed, water turned back on. System was then balanced by plumber but he didn't mention that the one radiator wasn't getting hot. In fact two were not getting hot but after bleeding them both one is now working perfectly.

So... I'll take your advice, wait for the plumber to turn up (have been waiting all week but he keeps failing to turn up when he says he will) and see what he advises.