DIYER Lost all radiators but 2

[Jim20]

Hi, I am probably your worst knightmare, I DIYER with little knowlege, trying to do things himself.

The problem that I have is that I none of my radiators to the downstairs are working.

I have been fitting out a new bathroom, repositioned bath, sink and toilet, all successfully.
The weekend just gone, I partially drained the cental heating system, and T-ed into the hot and cold rad feed for my towel warmer and under floor heating. The underfloor heating is not in yet.

As I am a bit tight and had not long cleaned and added Inhubator to the sytem, I had collected the water, and poured it back into the expansion tank. Bleed the radiators, but found that the downstairs radiators were still cold. The towel warmer was working fine.

I have since tried turning off the working radiators to force the cold ones into life - no luck
I have checked the pump, athough a little noisey currently, was spinning freely, and I jabbed my screwdriver in, and was able to stop it on the slow setting. I assume fine.
I have now fully drained the system, (collected) and refilled (poured back into the expansion tank), bleed radiators, starting at the ground floor, furthest away, only to find that I have now lost one of the upstairs radiators, and the towel warmer, which is up high on the wall.

I am thinking blockage, or there is a very very very slim chance, something that has been playing on my mind, that I may have connected the hot feed to the cold feed when adding the new connections !

The system is a 1980's construction, vented with expansion tank in the loft, hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard, and 1980's baxi gas boiler. Oh yes original skirting board radiators to the living and dining room. - Thy are a bit poor, and as far as I am aware I cannot bleed them. - next job on the list fit 2 large vert rads in living room - Its North facing, huge window and never seems to get warm enough.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, before I throw away my plumbers hat, and call in a professional.

Jim20

 

[Howsie]

Isnt that fatal if inhaled?

All gasses are fatal in the right concentration.

 

[RPG 80]

All gasses are fatal in the right concentration.

and liquids

 

[AWheating]

All gasses are fatal in the right concentration.

thats why i feel bed covers should have extractor's.

 

[Howsie]

and liquids

And solids

 

[Jim20]

Isnt that fatal if inhaled?

Ok ok enough of the DHMO references. Easy prey.
But I will flush with it.

 

[Jim20]

pumps do fail if they are pumping air for the night.
i would look at an airlock, then call in a pro.

Water did come out of the pump when I loosened the bleed screw. but I assume an airlock further along would restrict water to the pump. Thanks

 

[dontknowitall]

Pumps can be faulty whether water comes out of them or not - especially if you impale them with screwdrivers ...

 

[Jim20]

Pumps can be faulty whether water comes out of them or not - especially if you impale them with screwdrivers ...

The impaling was gentle, and no pumps were hurt in this experiment

 

[REDSAW]

they dont like it up them!

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

i once got impaled in the hand with a scissors then a few weeks later a steak knife bloody hurt and all and was a bit messy claret everywhere,anyway you should not impale pumps the standard worked fine for years design is being outlawed in jan as being to red or something stupid like that

 

[dontknowitall]

Well I suppose if the pump is fine then you could try changing the zone valve.

 

[Koogatubac]

This is just HILARIOUS!! Never heard someone pouring old CH water back in

Pure comedy

 

[petercj]

If you've let the water run through to flush the system out, refill and start up, and let the heating run for a while. If it's an air lock it might clear itself after running for a while.

 

[Jim20]

The weekend plan is to give it a flush, try and clear any airlocks, and if still no luck look for a plumber.
Thanks for the odd bit of advice, between the mickey taking and laughter !
I

 

[Dylan Nelson]

You state that you saved the water and refilled the system and all downstairs radiators stopped working, then you repeat this and you lose an upstairs rad...are you sure you are putting all the water back in..have you spilt some whilst transporting it...also if ur ball valves stuck it wont release any water to top ur system up...could be something simple..fill your system properly stop being a tight ar*e or u could end up paying more in the end !!

 

[Resolute]

Have you definitely poured the water back into the right tank?

 

[Kyle87]

Have you definitely poured the water back into the right tank?

Is the gold fish dead

 

[Jim20]

No goldfish, so right tank.
FE Tank is full and Ball valve working fine.
Just checked the Zone valves,and they seemed fine.
I have checked the joints that I did the work, pipes are hot. (one hot, one warm, flow and return I assume)
But I connected 2 flexis off my T's from the main radiator loop to bend round into the airing cupboard to connect to my Towel Warmer which hangs on the back of this wall, and these seem cold, and a little soft. Which hints to me that this may be part of the blockage.


Going to empty system one last time, new fresh clean water,going to let it flush through the system for a bit.
If still no joy, then it's time for the professionals.

 

[SimonG]

Where did you get the flexi's from? Probably not rated for central heating.

 

[Koogatubac]

Jim20, if you provide pictures its easier for us to comment and we will be able to assess the situation more efficiently. We could solve your problems if you send us some pictures

 

[Jim20]

I have had some success! ! ! ! Following on from my last post, I initially thought of loosening off one end of the flexis, but decided against this. Gently undid the towel warmer lockshield valve nut as if I was taking the valve apart, (not just the valve bit, for balancing) air came out, followed by nice dirty hot smelly water ! ! ! !. Downstairs rads sprung into life !
Towel warmer still cold though.

 

[Jim20]

The hoses came from screwfix. These Flexible Hose 15mm x 15mm 10mm bore 900mm | NoLinkingToThis. Is this and issue ? It wouldn't be impossible to use copper.

 

[AWheating]

probably wont last 1/2 a year before they go if your lucky.

at a guess they have a max temp rating of 65degrees, best to repipe in copper or plastic

 

[AWheating]

Toolstation > Plumbing > Flexible Connectors > Flexible Stainless Steel Hose

Toolstation > Plumbing > Flexible Connectors > PRO-FitPipe Flexible Extendable Connector

the above links to flexi pipes could be a solution but copper would be the best way to go.

 

[ne1ls0n]

jesus, we've went from reusing the old ch heating water to using flexi's on the ch system. you will be lucky if i plumber wants to touch it now, i wouldent.

 

[petercj]

I have had some success! ! ! ! Following on from my last post, I initially thought of loosening off one end of the flexis, but decided against this. Gently undid the towel warmer lockshield valve nut as if I was taking the valve apart, (not just the valve bit, for balancing) air came out, followed by nice dirty hot smelly water ! ! ! !. Downstairs rads sprung into life !
Towel warmer still cold though.

Hot CLEAN water would be better. Have you had the system properly cleaned within the last few years?

Do the radiators get hot at the bottom?

Before you lash out on more inhibitor, it would be good housekeeping to make sure the system is squeaky clean.

If there's a lot of sludge in the radiators, you can take them off and connect a hose to clean them, or hire a power flush machine for around £50.

 

[Jim20]

Everything is working now.
Radiators seem to heat up evenly. But will look into getting it flushed.

 

[Jim20]

It seems madness that if you shouldn't be using Flexi Hoses in central heating systems, that it does not clearly state this

 

[Guest123]

Let me get this straight.....you have used a flexible hose on a central heating system?!!!!!

They are designed to withstand temps up to 65 degrees. Your flexies will become brittle, split and fail, plus any chemistry you have in your system will further degrade the rubber.

No matter how many times, we've advised you about getting a professional in, you seem to want to ignore this advice.....at your own peril be it. You might be tight, but you're not saving money doing this yourself, you've already damaged your heating system by doing this, it's not working right?!

 

[Guest123]

It seems madness that if you shouldn't be using Flexi Hoses in central heating systems, that it does not clearly state this

That's another reason why you shouldn't be messing around with things you know little about. Any professional will tell you to never use a flexible hose on a heating system and not on old hot water supplies where the water can exceed 65 degrees.