Blocked 10mm Speedfit Pipe to Towel Rad

[bwel]

Hi,

I have a blocked 10mm pipe to a Towel Rad. I have both ends disconnected (distribution manifold and Rad) but cant get any flow through it. I have tried mains hose on to one end, but it seems to hold firm.

Its never works since I've been in the house (18 months) and the property is aprox 15 years old. There has been historic magnetite in the systems, but I have drained/filled it a couple of times when I moved in, I have been operating magnetic filters and used a course of X800 and have Inhibitors in normally.

Its not the only rad with a flow problem, but I'm addressing them one by one by flushing just the One Rad circuit at a time from the distribution manifolds. See picture.


Ant thoughts other than replace the pipe or replumb the house ;-) ?

Many thanks

 

[Leo21]

Adapt a foot pump or compressed to fit it. 8mm is a snug fit, so you'd have to put 10mm to 15mm adapter on and then a 15mm to 8mm. And then pump away.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

as above and watch your pressure tho

the only other way you could try is putting some cleaner do there and see if that weakens it

 

[Kempfy]

I've always found these with near boiling water is good for dislodging most sludge. Just be careful of fittings blowing off. (its not fun when they do that)

 

[bwel]

I've always found these with near boiling water is good for dislodging most sludge. Just be careful of fittings blowing off. (its not fun when they do that)

What is the name of that device. I'd like to try that

Thx

 

[ShaunCorbs]

What is the name of that device. I'd like to try that

Thx

pressure tester

 

[Kempfy]

Also adding fairy liquid and leaving it sit pressurised for a while seems to help.

 

[Rckape]

What is the name of that device. I'd like to try that

Thx

Most hire shops have them - a bit pricey to buy for one job.

 

[bwel]

Ok finally received my Pressure Tester courtesy of Amazon. :vanish:

i have it connected to the now disconnected 10mm feed from the 22mm 4 Port distribution manifold. The pipe runs use the floor and downstairs through the bathroom wall to the offending Towel Rad. I have also disconnected the check valve from the Rad so I have an open 10mm copper pipe with 15mm reducer.


When I pump the pressure tester I have had a small amount of water seep from the open 10mm pipe at the Rad, but it's losing pressure. I've taken it up to 15 bar, but no more for fear of blowing the plastic to copper joint behind the tilled wall. It very very slowly loses pressure but has not pushed the blockage out.

Any suggestions on the best way to deal with this ?

Many thanks....

 

[Scott_D]

Try pressurising from the other direction- towel rail end

 

[bwel]

Finally unlocked it !!

I repeatedly pressurised it up to 10 bar with the pressure tester. In each cycle it took a bit extra water that would drip drip out the end. I then switched the pressure tester water over to a bit of neat X800 to push that through to the blockage area.

Finally after a few hours of pushing it through, the pressure blew out a plug of black crystals and sludge. Fortunately it did not hit the bathroom ceiling

Now I've washed the heating loop through with mains water and it should be ready to reconnect tomorrow.

I think the pressure tester advise has saved a rip out of the pipework from the walls. Thx for all the advise.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

And thank you for keeping us updated and letting us no your problem has been sorted

 

[Kempfy]

Well done mate

 

[bwel]

Had a bit of a leak on one of the 4 port Speedfit manifolds, but fixed that with a good cleaning and polishing the 22mm pipe.




I now have good heat flows in all but one of my rad circuits, except one rad. Fortunately the original Blocked Towel radiator is now working perfectly.




Whilst I have flushed it with mains water as well as X800 and thought it was heating well, it appears that there is some blockage. Does anybody know how this type of rad flows ?

Looks like I may have to remove it for a bit more of an aggressive cleaning process. Perhaps with a pressure washer in the garden.

P.S. the FLIR One thermal camera for the iPhone is amazing. Diagnoses any problems with flow and has enabled me to map my UFH circuits.

Cheers Bob

 

[ShaunCorbs]

should be ok now