Old rad only getting warm on one side, whats the problem?

[Harvest Fields]

Normally used to balance the system. Should have a cap on really

 

[Ric2013]

I'm going to agree with the air camp. On the grounds that, while water is lazy and finds the shortest route, my limited experience with flow and return on same side of radiator is that, particularly on high water volume radiators, the hot water will settle across the top first.
If there is air, the water will splash about and not fully fill the radiator.

If fitting an air bleed valve as suggested does not cure problem, I have a private suspicion that you might need to close the bottom valve slightly in case water is running through too fast. Which makes little sense to conventional thinking, but, if you have to do this and it works, please do let me know.

 

[SimonG]

Ideally repipe bottom connection to opposite side and remove blank to top left and fit air vent.

Then you will have old school tboe.

 

[oilmark]

Get a wire brush on a drill and scour off the paint on the top left joint, I can see a screw slot. That may be the bleed.

 

[sammathias]

Turn off top valve, crack top nut slowly to release any air from the rad. Tighten up and open valve back up...you could also try turning off a valve on all you other rads apart from this one and see if it pushs all the air out.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Get a wire brush on a drill and scour off the paint on the top left joint, I can see a screw slot. That may be the bleed.

Bloody good shot Sir. Good eyesight Sir. Well done Sir. Didn’t see that one coming Sir.

 

[Simon-7613]

A great idea but a scrape shows no screw head

 

[Harvest Fields]

Worth a try though

 

[Simon-7613]

...for sure

What about the idea of it need ‘desludging’, I could imagine one of the joints between fins being blocked, is there a way to check this or anything else I can try to resolve this issue?

Cheers all!

 

[Harvest Fields]

...for sure

What about the idea of it need ‘desludging’, I could imagine one of the joints between fins being blocked, is there a way to check this or anything else I can try to resolve this issue?

Cheers all!

I still think that your best option is to put a vent/bleed point top left of the radiator mate.