Cold "towel radiator" Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[daintya]

The radiator in our loft extension is plumbed into the DHW heating circuit rather than the normal CH circuit, i.e. in the way you may plumb in a towel warmer so you get some heat even when the CH is off. Not sure why it was done this way, possibly easier to add?

Anyway, it doesn't get warm at all, have tried bleeding and checking the valves and all seems ok. We recently had some normal radiators replaced but the pluimber who did the work said there is no way what he did would effect this radiator and he's now gone to Oz for three weeks.

Any advice very gratefully received as this is our guest room and is freezing at the moment!

Thanks, Al.

[stoneyboy]

daintya,
We need more information:
Is the system a fully pumped system ie both HW and CH pumped?
Did the radiator ever work?
Does the radiator work if you run HW only?
end

[htg engineer]

Do you get hot water ? this would rule out an airlock in the HW flow and return through the tank/cylinder. Although there could still be an airlock in the pipes to the rad.

If he drained the CH system to work on the radiators - then of course it could affect the radiator in the loft.

Is the rad full of water ? and both valves open ?


htg

[daintya]

sorry for the delay in replying I didn't seem to get a notification that anyone had replied to me. To answer both questions, yes, it did work in the past, I shut down both valves on the rad last spring as the radiatior wasn't needed to be on and opened them up about October and all was working fine until the plumber drained the system to replace two other rads. I believe the system in fully pumped and unvented (at least I believe it is un envented).

I have checked both valves and they are both fully open, also hae tried loosening the connections to the rad and there is deifintely water flowing but it's cold.

[stoneyboy]

daintya,
Almost certain that you have an airlock. With the boiler off (no htg or hw) turn off the valve on one end of the radiator then open the bleed screw - drain off say 1/2 bucket of water, repeat for the other valve. You may need to top up the system through the filling loop if your system is unvented.
end

[daintya]

Thanks for the advice, I did try that although not as much water as you suggest so will try again. Also to clarify I think the system is vented.

Will let you know how I get on, maybe a few days before I can do it as I have had to resort to installing an electric raditaor for the time being due to the very cold weather.

Alan.