Single Pipe System - not circulating Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[Clifffry]

I have a 15mm single pipe system that was (until recently) working pretty well, but since we had an extra radiator added (downstairs), the downstairs circuit has not been circulating properly (if at all). The plumber who fitted the new rad says that this is due to the length of the run, and the number of undulations in the pipework which is creating airlocks (though it used to work before), and the pump (which he uprated) can't cope. He has suggested abandoning the existing circuit and creating 2 new (much shorter) drops from the upstairs circuit.

Does that sound like reasonable advice?

Thanks.

[gasmick]

well its not the ideal system to have but they were used a lot in the early days if it worked okj before it does sound like he might have piped up the rad wrong dont forget the water does not pump around the rads it only goes on gravity and if he has put on a new pump it may be running to fast and therefore bypassing the rads
also the rads will need ballancing from the beginning of the circuit to the last on the run try turning the pump down first and try the flow from the boiler and see if it gets hot and then the return should get hot eventually

the pump can cavitate then there will be no circulation just bubbles
so turn it down as low as it will go

[plumbbob]

Just a point here, if the radiators are gravity fed, which they are on a single pipe system, how, when hot water rises is it going to work by dropping a leg down from the upstairs circuit?

If it worked before, it should still work.

Are the upstairs and downstairs circuits entirely separate or is it one continuous pipe run?

[Steve the gas]

Hi,

IMHO, change it to a 2 pipe through out your system, yes it costs, but many many times better IMO.

Steve