Downstairs radiators

[MrPahoehoe]

Hi guys, our radiators downstairs don't want seem to working. The ones upstairs a nice and hot, but the ones downstairs are only very slightly warm. Also they're *very* sliglytly warm, but only at the top, the bottom is pretty much at the same temperature at the rest of the room, so I don't think they need bleeding, any ideas?

Cheers, MrP

[gasman]

Sounds like you have got flat spots on your rads to me. They are probably full of sludge and stopping the fluid from circulating properly round your rads. You need to flush out your system then introduce a cleanser run the system for a min of a couple of hrs then flush it out again untill the water runs clear . than introduce an inhibitor to the system when its all clear. Stuborn rads my need power flushing if the build up does not clear after you have tried the above. But this is best left to us guy's. and can be quite expensive as we charge per rad !!!

[saxy_jag]

Try bleeding the individual radiators first, as you may have air locks in them. It's cheaper than calling an engineer out only to have him or her do a job that you could have done yourself in five minutes.

http://www.diydata.com/problem/central_heating /bleed.htm

If it doesn't work, then think about calling someone in.

[boro1986]

Might sound stupid but have you got them turnrd up downstairs i only realised that all mine were turned dowm when i was cold

[missieb]

Suggest you have a look at my question on cold at the bottom radiators which Gasman has answered comprehensively. You may have the same problem and amazingly, I managed to cure it with Gasman's help.

[m@d h@tter]

I think another possible answer is they may need rebalancing. by turning the little lockshield valves on the upstairs radiators nearly closed and the downstairs ones fully open. Have to say I'm no expert but we had a similar prob with ours. Everything seems ok now (touch wood).

[pikwik]

Possible inefficient pump - blockage - air lock.

[tMark20002]

If you have thermostatic valves on them, it may be a stuck actuator pin - common problem after being off for the summer


http://wiki.diynot.com/plumbing:thermostatic_r adiator_valves_-_trvs

[thundercrack]

hi, from vast experience and water all over the house I would say that you should check that your pump is working, as heat rises and upstairsrads would get hot but down stairs would only get warm . if you put your hand on the pump and get someone to switch the heating on you will feel the vibration if it runs. also there is usually a speed control on the pump, which you could turn to max. also bleed the down stairs rads with the pump and heating off and empty a couple of pints from each one in case there is an air lock somewhere.
alf.