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www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk Forum Index -> Plumbing Forum
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adenough
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:00 am Post subject: HELP WITH XXXXXXX C/H |
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Hi all and thanks for reading
I have an on going small problem with my c/h it started about 18 mths ago when 1 rad stopped working, bleed it but no joy, then another stopped working and then another so this time i thought i better get it sorted, drained the sysyem took all the rads off and flushed out the black gunge from the inside! reffited them and refilled the system with some gunge remover!! then back flushed the system to remove any crap in the pipes.
Now that was a month ago and ever since then my system keeps producing air and some of the rads still dont work!! i have been told that it is a blockage in the system but if so how do i find out where it is and so that i can unblock it????????????????
I failed to mention that it is an oil boiler system with an open header tank in an old house with 14 rads and one very cold and fed up owner who no matter how many plumbers he calls cant get one to come out and have a look!
Thanks in anticipation of some advice  |
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 5723
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: |
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You could try a hose on both tails of the problem rads, and drawing a load of water through, to flush the pipes out.
Obviously the system is still full of sludge etc, which needs to be flushed out. and an inhibitor added once its all working.
Does the air smell like rotten eggs.
Adding something like a magnaclean would do wonders to the system over time.
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adenough
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for your reply 
The air that comes out of the rads that work doesnt smell old and eggy!!
I have tried to force water through all of the bleed off points around the system and you can get water through from most of them except the one on the return side of the boiler,and when you open that one to empty the water you dont get much water out of it? which would indicate a blockage somwhere there? but then the boiler still works and produces hot water???
(the bleed valves do open).
I take your point about forcing water through the pipes of the rads that dont work but surely if the blockage is further along then the water will still find its way throuh a T somwhere???
I also failed to mention that i have had the all the rads working but intermitentley
This system is doing my head in 
I have also replaced the C/H pump and turned the boiler vent pipe in to a supply/vent!! |
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 5723
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: |
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| I have also replaced the C/H pump and turned the boiler vent pipe in to a supply/vent!! |
Complete waste of time and effort, and can make filling a problem.
You need to get the sludge out, if that means a hose pipe, on each section then so be it.
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Scruff |
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adenough
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:00 am Post subject: |
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I didnt consider replacing the pump a waste of time as the old one was leaking and was very noisey!
As for the vent pipe, it was suggested to me by a plumber that because of the complexity of my central heating system it would be a good idea to turn the vent pipe in to a vent/supply, when i did it i put a valve in the supply line to the vent pipe so if i needed to revert back to the original system i could just turn off the tap! thus making filling the system as it was before.
The complexity of the system is that it used to have two heat sources, one from a boiler and one from a closed solid fuel appliance (before my time in the property) although the fire has been removed and the pipes capped off. the pipes and the vent pipe are still connected to the system, it was all controlled by 5 motorised valves, 2 of which have been done away with just leaving a slumber valve, a ch valve and a hot water valve!
All that said the heating did work fine!
I take on board what you have said about flushing each section and will try that next |
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 5723
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:50 am Post subject: |
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Can you do a sketch/drawing of the system.
Sorry yes changing the pump is fine, But for what reason would a plumber suggest altering the vent and cold feed.
The problem started 18 months ago and should have been dealt with then for an easy life.
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adenough
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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to do a sketch or diagram i would need to know where all the pipes went and what they did but unfortunatley i havent got a clue as most of the pipes from the boiler dissapear upstairs and under the floor boards and behind walls 
I think that the reason the plumber suggested changing the vent pipe to a combined pipe was to try and eliminate the ingress of air, which it has improved the situation as before it was ten times worse and causing the boiler to cut out prematurely!
Yes yes i agree it should of been sorted out 18 mths ago but i didnt! so now it is worse! God you sound like my ex wife  |
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thescruff
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 5723
Location: Bath
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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Just the pipes around the pump, motorized valves etc, perhaps a photo would do.
Need to see the connection for the cold feed and vent in relation to the other fittings.
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Scruff |
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adenough
Junior Member
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| cheers i will do a diagram once i am back in the office on Monday |
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Steve the Gas
Senior Member
Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 799
Location: Notts/Derbys
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 5:17 am Post subject: |
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"God you sound like my ex wife "
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