Radiators not heating up

[Jsmith2211]

Got a problem with the heating in the house. Some of the radiators work brilliantly, get lovely and hot and the rooms they are in are very nice and warm. However, some of them do not heat up at all. have tried bleeding these and no air was released, only cold water (while the other radiators are very hot). Have checked and the adjustable valves arent seized... Any ideas? Seems almost like there is no flow to some of the radiators but I dont know how that would be when they all run off of the same system?

 

[jd6420s]

Is it okay upstairs but not downstairs? Or vice versa?

 

[Jsmith2211]

Is it okay upstairs but not downstairs? Or vice versa?

One or two upstairs don't work, but most do. one or two downstairs do work but most dont..

 

[Agriimark]

are they old? could be sludge or rust in the system. stuck pin in the trv's or even a failing pump. @Adeptandy maybe more wiser on the job

 

[Mouser]

Old house? Possibly blocked pipes. Is cold water when bleeding pressurised or just dribbling?

 

[Bury the Trash]

@Still Farming

 

[Bucks Boy]

I spent an evening rebalancing the radiators in my old house. Made a massive difference.

 

[spin cycle]

do the inlet pipes get warm when you bleed the rads?...i'd be tempted to really vent one of the radiators...let it flow until you start to get hot water in

 

[spin cycle]

I spent an evening rebalancing the radiators in my old house. Made a massive difference.

how do you do that?

 

[jd6420s]

Your pump could be on its way out. As a general rule the upstairs stay hot and the downstairs cold when it isn't pumping properly.
Do you know where the pump is? You could check and listen if it sounds like it's pumping when you turn it on.

 

[Jsmith2211]

Your pump could be on its way out. As a general rule the upstairs stay hot and the downstairs cold when it isn't pumping properly.
Do you know where the pump is? You could check and listen if it sounds like it's pumping when you turn it on.

The pump has been replaced so definitely isnt that.

are they old? could be sludge or rust in the system. stuck pin in the trv's or even a failing pump. @Adeptandy maybe more wiser on the job

Checked the valves they are free.

do the inlet pipes get warm when you bleed the rads?...i'd be tempted to really vent one of the radiators...let it flow until you start to get hot water in

No, they stay cold. Bled one and there was some air in that one, was only getting slightly warm is now getting properly hot which is nice as is the one in the office... hopefully wont need a fan heater in there now. The rest of the cold omes when you try to bleed them clear cold water comes out and keeps coming out. Not even a hint of warmth.

Old house? Possibly blocked pipes. Is cold water when bleeding pressurised or just dribbling?

it flows out quick enough, but doesnt hiss or make any kind of preassurey type noises. The house was restored in the 70s, but it dates back to the 1500s perhaps earlier. Has some historical significance - two moulded cielings and a silver challiace was found in the loft that we have had dated to the early 1600s. When my grandfather bought this farm, he bought the land and the house was thrown in, and was in a quite run down state. But like i say, I think mid 1970s most of the house (excluding the cellar) was done up, so we have half way decent windows and central heating.

 

[Bucks Boy]

how do you do that?

I’m no expert! It involves opening the valve wider on the radiator furthest from the boiler and virtually closed down on the radiator nearest the boiler. With radiators in between adjusted accordingly. This makes the hot water flow through the radiators at different rates so it doesn’t just take the easiest route And gives them an even temperature.

 

[Jsmith2211]

I’m no expert! It involves opening the valve wider on the radiator furthest from the boiler and virtually closed down on the radiator nearest the boiler. With radiators in between adjusted accordingly. This makes the hot water flow through the radiators at different rates so it doesn’t just take the easiest route And gives them an even temperature.

It seems less that they are uneven temperatures and more that some are very nice and hot and some are very very cold. Almost like there are two separate loops, one working and one not - though im sure this isnt the case as in some cases the working radiator is right next to one that is not working...

 

[Lincs Lass]

Look in the attic or where ever the highest point is ,there might be a high point bleed valve on both pipes ,not just on the radiators

 

[Pistonbroke]

It seems less that they are uneven temperatures and more that some are very nice and hot and some are very very cold. Almost like there are two separate loops, one working and one not - though im sure this isnt the case as in some cases the working radiator is right next to one that is not working...

What happens if you turn off the hotter ones altogether,do the cold ones warm up ? If so it sounds like they need balancing

 

[Jsmith2211]

What happens if you turn off the hotter ones altogether,do the cold ones warm up ? If so it sounds like they need balancing

I did try that, still cold.

 

[Pistonbroke]

I did try that, still cold.

Are they thermostat valves? Sounds like a blockage

 

[Lincs Lass]

Is the pump on or off ,a running pump can draw air in through the bleed screw .

 

[jd6420s]

Have you tried the bleed screw on the pump?

 

[milkloss]

Maybe the poppet valve on the thermostats are stuck down. Do you have TRV’s?