Finding a blockage in heating pipework

[jaydebruyne]

I did a powerflush a few weeks back and when I was dumping the water the flow dropped immediately. So I rang tech support (Anton) for my pump and he said it's because there's a blockage in the pipework - I tested the pump itself which was fine.

It's a flat with ground and first floor. All rads get hot upstairs but not down. Pipework from the boiler run straight to ceiling/1st floor void and tees somewhere to feed the ground floor.

Based on upstairs rads getting hot I know the blockage isn't there.

So.. how do I go about pinpointing the blockage? I'm thinking taking up some flooring and running across the pipework with a FLIR .. any other suggestions?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If you can follow/touch the Pipework go around with a magnet

Or if you have flir walk the route should see roughly where the blockage is

 

[jaydebruyne]

If you can follow/touch the Pipework go around with a magnet

Or if you have flir walk the route should see roughly where the blockage is

It's a partial blockage.. sorry shoulda said that.. so the magnet will obv stick to the magnetite?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yep which most of the case are what the blockages made out of

 

[jaydebruyne]

Yep which most of the case are what the blockages made out of

Ok cool.. cheers Shaun

 

[Harvest Fields]

Especially if you've drained the water out of the a F&E using a drain cock and not sucked it up with a wet vac

 

[Old Account]

Is that vented or sealed system?
Quite often it's the T junctions or somewhere close to the boiler.
I had it few times though.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Is that vented or sealed system?
Quite often it's the T junctions or somewhere close to the boiler.
I had it few times though.

It's a sealed system.. yeah I'm there week after next to investigate. How did you find the blockage?

 

[jtsplumbing]

Is ground floor 10mm drops ??

 

[Last Plumber]

When the flow dropped during the dump stage, did you try dumping in reverse and if so did it make any difference ?

Where all the rads open at the stage you were at or were you dumping through one rad at a time ?

And as above (jts) are the downstairs individual drops or are the downstairs fed from one drop ?

Are there two heating zones or one ?

Was the water particularly soiled?

 

[jaydebruyne]

When the flow dropped during the dump stage, did you try dumping in reverse and if so did it make any difference ?

Where all the rads open at the stage you were at or were you dumping through one rad at a time ?

And as above (jts) are the downstairs individual drops or are the downstairs fed from one drop ?

Are there two heating zones or one ?

Was the water particularly soiled?

Tried both ways and no difference.
I think all but one we're closed at first then I opened them all - but I can't remember really tbh
Single zone
No idea how many drops as pipework is concealed
Water wasn't that bad no

 

[jaydebruyne]

Is ground floor 10mm drops ??

Not sure as pipework is concealed

 

[Last Plumber]

Zone valves or combi with one open zone from Boiler?

Where were you flushing from, meaning did you remove a pump, connect under the appliance?

Was the flush passing through the Boiler or was it system only ?

 

[jaydebruyne]

Zone valves or combi with one open zone from Boiler?

Where were you flushing from, meaning did you remove a pump, connect under the appliance?

Was the flush passing through the Boiler or was it system only ?

Combi with open zone from boiler
Disconnected system filter on return under boiler and pumped through the valves
Was passing through boiler

 

[Last Plumber]

Anyone open a tap during flush?
Could they have ?
Is it a combi with a diverter ?