Radiator Cold

[riptide]

Felt a bit chilly this morning so put the heating on for an hour. Have had all the radiators turned off in the summer, so turned them all back on and the one in the bathroom is stone cold. I tried bleeding it and it is fine. There was no problem before, anyone any ideas what has happened. Do I need to call my heating man out? The radiator is about 5 years old. Thanks.

[Flonska]

Assuming that the valve(s) on the bathroom rad are in the open position, you could initially try running the heating with the other rads turned off.

[Ryzen]

As Flonska says...or the valve may be stuck closed.Turn off and on a few times..if that dont work..open the valve and give the metal valve body a sharp tap with a small hammer.

[donny48]

Why did you turn each radiator off individually ? Could you not turn the central heating off at the thermostat or boiler. A bathroom radiator is often used as a heat - sink for the boiler to get rid of excess heat.

[riptide]

I turn all my radiators off in the summer, otherwise they still get warm, although not hot. I have had so many new valves fitted because of this, although they only work for a short while and the same thing happens again. I also turn the thermostat off in the room downstairs, makes no difference. I cannot afford to keep calling out the plumber for this problem, so just turn them off and back on again when it gets cold. I will try what has been suggested these evening and turn all the others off and put the heating on and see what happens. I have tried turning the knob back and forwards etc makes no difference. The boiler is due for a service soon so will get it done earlier rather than later if it does not correct itself. Thanks all for your help much appreciated.

[Togo]

@ 8.41. If your rads are warming up with only hot water requested, check the motorised valve. It can stick a little but is easily freed with a small spanner or pliers. Also check that the push on fitting to the valve is seated properly and not popped off the valve spindle. The small electric motor is inside there and turns the valve to a position that is either water on heat off, heat on water off, both water and heat on, both water and heat off. It is controlled by the timer and any thermostats in the circuit.

[riptide]

Thanks, think I am going to have to get my heating guy out, get the boiler serviced, radiator looked at and will mention your comments about the valve.

[Togo]

Probably a good move Riptide. We had our boiler checked on Monday morning for emissions and safety and had a new thermocouple just in case the pilot goes out for any reason. I do the drain down and rad bleeding myself when we are ready to use the heating and always check the motorised valve operation.

[Flonska]

The other thing to consider is that if you turn each rad off in the summer, you need to ensure that when you turn them back on that the valve positions (number of turns) is consistent, otherwise the system might become out of balance. Assuming that your plumber sorts out any problem with the "check" valve (older system) or "diverter" valve (newer system) - and you have a hot water cylinder with a working immersion element - you can use that for hot water in the summer, leave the rads settings as they are and shut the heating off completely. (If you do this - it is a good idea to fire up the system every so often during the summer months).

[riptide]

Yes worth a thought Flonska, I do have an immersion heater and did do this one year, cost me a fortune, I kept on forgetting to turn it off.

[Flonska]

If you have a "calendar" on a pc/on the wall you can set simple reminders in advance.

Last Sunday March = start of BST - clocks go forward 1 hour - shut heating down and switch on immersion.

Last Sunday October = end of BST - clocks go back 1 hour - start heating up and switch off immersion.

You will, of course, appreciate that the precise implementation of these routines and/or duration between them may vary according to a number of factors - mainly commentary by others in residence and whose decision maybe likely to prevail. Since 2018 "shut down" @ Casa Flonska - deferred until 10/04/18 - other than 3 "test" fire ups (one very recent) - see:-

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1622998.html

"We are in the pipe - five by five" for GMT day . . . well . . . possibly?