Dear All, I have a self-installed combi system that has been happily working for a few years now.
In summer I (foolishly?) decided to add another rad to the conservatory. Foolishly I didn't buy a new one and didn't check for slime/sludge etc in the spare one I had. Since installing, this radiator has never worked properly, the bottom of it warms slightly, flow pipe hot, return almost cold, but it's not really been a problem 'cause it's only in the conservatory.
Since autumn my daughter's radiator (index), furthest away from the boiler has stopped getting hot, and will often become lukewarm or even stay cold. I've tried bleeding this and the other rads which hasn't solved the problem.
Fearing it was crap from the extra radiator moving round the system, I went to my local suppliers to get some system de-sludger and one of the guys there (time-served plumber) said it's more likely to be a balancing problem*. He told me what to do and I also looked at Phil Addison's Balancing FAQ here.
Since going through the process, only three of the radiators heat up properly. The index rad worked for one night then promptly stopped working properly. Flow pipe from boiler doesn't feel hot enough (I can comfortably hold it). Return pipe is tepid.
Can anyone say what might be the cause/s?
Sorry for going on a bit & thanks for your time, Mark
Boxer (Ideal) Combi 80k BTU, 9 rads, microbore, 1.5 mbar pressure
- He also said inhibitors and other products were a waste of money, systems never had 'em in the old days and were still going strong, but that's another thread