problem with heated towel rails

[stakhanov]

First, I'm new here so this question may be in the wrong forum if so please feel free to move it to where it is most appropriate.

I have recently had a new bathroom fitted and amongst everything else I've had 2 towel rads fitted. They are plumbed in but also have summer elements fitted.

When they were first fitted the plumber's "electrician" had wired them up incorrectly so that when I switched on the power to the summer elements it caused the whole house heating system to come on. But the rads did warm up and in general use the rads came on (perhaps a little slugglishly) with the main central heating.

The plumber and has "electrician" came back last week to rewire the elements and to regrout the shower for the third time, which was leaking to such an extent that water was flowing through the light fitting in the kitchen below. Bear in mind that I've waited from late August till early December for this visit and have not been able to use the shower in the mean time.

Anyway the shower does not leak now, at least after one shower. And the summer elements work when switched on. ... you can hear the BUT coming...

BUT

Now neither of the towel rads come on with the main central heating. The plumber has basically said he doesn't want to know, as he merely fitted the rads that I supplied.

First, are there any basic checks I can do or tips to try to get the rads to work. It seems unlikely that any pipe work got changed in his recent visit.

Otherwise is there somewhere I can go to engage an independent expert to look at the work that has been done to asses whether it has been done to a proper standard. To be honest I have lost any confidence in the plumber that did the work. (found through Check-a-trade) I have not even begun to catalogue the other problems...

Any help or advice much appreciated

 

[justlead1]

Hi. Check that the valves fitted to towel rail/pipe work are open (remove any shield and turn anti clock wise) also find air valve at top of towel rail and using key undo and check for air, when air stops and water is being discharged turn off. Good Luck

 

[stakhanov]

Thanks, I've tried both suggestions. 3 times for luck.
I've also tried shutting off as many radiators in the house as possible to try to encourage some water through.
I notice that since the work has been done there is much more air in the system. I am needing to bleed 1 rad at least once per week.

 

[jberry]

hi,
seems quite a lot of air in your system, hope ime not teaching granny to suck eggs, is your pump off whilst you are bleeding your rads?

 

[newbie1]

you need to get a reliable plumber in to check work ime afraid

 

[so-solar]

the towel radiators are on the dhw i take it?

 

[stakhanov]

hi,
seems quite a lot of air in your system, hope ime not teaching granny to suck eggs, is your pump off whilst you are bleeding your rads?

Anything I learn here will be new, assume I know NOTHING about plumbing, but am fairly logical about solving problems and am very patient about resolving them...
I'm guessing from your reply that I should bleed the rads when the pump is off. I didn't know that so it may have been on, don't know. Will try with it definitely off.

Thanks for your input.

you need to get a reliable plumber in to check work ime afraid

Yes, That's what I thought I said.

What I'm after is someone who might be regarded as an independent professional. Like a chartered surveyor for plumbing/heating. Any clues much appreciated.

you need to get a reliable plumber in to check work ime afraid

Yes, That's what I thought I said.

What I'm after is someone who might be regarded as an independent professional. Like a chartered surveyor for plumbing/heating. Any clues much appreciated.

the towel radiators are on the dhw i take it?

If dhw means domestic hot water, then, no. The rads are on the central heating circuit, so they are on when the central heating is on, I thought I said that. That's why they have the summer heating elements.

Otherwise what does dhw mean and I can give an answer.

Thanks for your input.

 

[WHPES]

Look for a well established plumber in your area to assess the job. "so and so and sons". Don't just go for those with flashy ads - many established plumbers get so much work from word of mouth that they hardly need to advertise.

When you say "regrout the shower for the third time" that would set my alarm bells ringing - I can only assume their grout is old or has got frosted and so has not cured. Is that what has happened? The only leaks I might ever expect (and even then in only a very occasional job) would be some water getting around the bottom of the shower door, never from the tiles or tray edges.

If the electrician is reputable, he should have left you with a small works completion certificate (a legal requirement) for the modification to the circuit for the summer elements.

 

[stevetheplumber]

sounds to me that the elements are in wrong and stopping the flow of water

 

[stakhanov]

sounds to me that the elements are in wrong and stopping the flow of water

I thought that too, but, the rads have been working since about August, coming on with the central heating as expected. They have only stopped since the visit to rewire the switch. Seems unlikely to be a coincidence. That's sort of why I've been asking if there is an independent inspectorate of such things.

The guys who did the work seem to think I'm making it up, but that would be just stupid. This job has been going on since April and all I'm trying to do is get it working correctly with minimum hassle.

Look for a well established plumber in your area to assess the job. "so and so and sons". Don't just go for those with flashy ads - many established plumbers get so much work from word of mouth that they hardly need to advertise.

When you say "regrout the shower for the third time" that would set my alarm bells ringing - I can only assume their grout is old or has got frosted and so has not cured. Is that what has happened? The only leaks I might ever expect (and even then in only a very occasional job) would be some water getting around the bottom of the shower door, never from the tiles or tray edges.

If the electrician is reputable, he should have left you with a small works completion certificate (a legal requirement) for the modification to the circuit for the summer elements.

Thanks, I will check about the completion certificate. I must admit I don't remember such a thing, if I don't have it I will request it.