Leaking heating system?

[Pete L]

We have a heated towel rail in the bathroom that runs off the central heating system. I am forever having to bleed it as for some reason the warm tubes get lower and lower in a matter of days. In this cold weather stripping off in the bathroom is not pleasant!

Should I be looking for an actual leak in the system? Is the system not powerful enough to run the towel rail properly? Anybody an idea of what I should do about this apart from wait till summer when it's no problem at all!

Thanks

[mike]

"Pete L" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Could be air is entering and the towel rail is the first place that can trap it.

Can you turn the pump down a bit? It may be sucking in the air through the vent pipe, especially on start up.

(If you have a vented system, of course)

mike

[Simon Page]

Hi Pete,

I had one that did the same a couple of years back. Turns out it's "gunge" that builds up in the system over years made by an electrolitic reaction between certain metals. This "gunge" gives off a gas (can't remember which one) which gradually fills up your system. Sounds like bullshit BUT this was confirmed by several plumbers. If you bleed the rad, and get a funny smell and black stuff then you may need the system cleaned. We had it all cleaned out and re-treated and it's fine now.

Simon.

[John Rumm]

You neglected to mention if this is a sealed system of a vented one. If the former then it will more than likely be due to corrosion. When was inhibitor last added?

[Pete L]

Thanks guys - funny smell, black liquid emerging - I think you have it. We have been in the house for nearly four years and I have never added any inhibitor.

Guess it's time I got some..........