Plumbing Issue On C-Heating.

[DTCwordfan]

First time fire up of the season.

Oil Boiler, radiators bled, heat in all the upstairs radiators, none in the downstairs ones - probably an air lock in there(?), any ideas on how to shift it.....?

Thanks in advance.....

[paul1763]

is your C/H pump working properly?

[DTCwordfan]

well the hot water is getting upstairs, about a 10 foot rise......

[The Builder]

I know it's warmer in Cornwall, DT ( I should know ;o) ), but that's a long time for the heating to be off.

Hot water rises. It's often the case that upstairs rads will heat by gravity alone if the circulating pump is stuck after being idle for so long.

Look for the pump (inside the boiler if it's a combi, but otherwise in the airing cupboard or sited next to the boiler if it's a conventional boiler.)

Give it a slight whack with a soft mallet.

[DTCwordfan]

and the copper pipe is hot on the exit side of the pump......

[DTCwordfan]

okay thanks, builder - it's close to the boiler - will do that......

[The Builder]

The pipework to and from the pump will still be hot from gravity circulation alone.

Hot water isn't pumped. That would work normally.

[The Builder]

Also, the pump is switched by the wall stat. A check on whether a voltage is present at the pump would tell you if the stat is "calling."

[DTCwordfan]

thanks, it's my mother's - seems there are two pumps, one was cold and a wee tap, it now seems to be flowing.......

[paul1763]

even during summer I run mine for 5-10 minutes every month just to make sure pump keeps turning even whole system is only 3 years old

[DTCwordfan]

It reminds me of the story with the plumber who sent in a bill for £150 for ten minutes work. When challenged to break down the invoice, he replied "£10 for the visit and the hit of the hammer - and £140 for knowing where on the pipe and pump to hit the hammer."

[DTCwordfan]

Might be a good idea, paul - the boiler burner is new (1 yr), the tank isn't, and the rest is crapped out, the plugs are 5A circular pins! That was to be my next port of call to see if a fuse had blown.