Microbore pipes

Have a Rayburn 80 solid fuel inset stove and it supplies 6 radiators which are connected by microbore piping and the downstairs radiators dont seem to get any where near as hot as the upstairs ones, have checked the pump and its ok, bled all radiators and have no air in, bled the pump and no air. To be fair has been like that since we moved in its just as its so cold no its very noticable.

Things I am considering are to get a company in to power flush the system but not sure if this will improve things - does anyone have experience of having their system power flushed?

Maybe consider replacing the Rayburn 80 with a more efficient multifuel stove - dont know the output that the 80 is as it must be at least 20 years old and cant find outputs on the net and local dealers have no knowledge of this type (typically in the 70s/80s both Rayburn

80s and Parkrays (very similar) were installed in lots and lots of council properties)
Reply to
les
Loading thread data ...

It might be worth checking the wiki FAQ on balancing rads as a start - are the upstairs rads in a more sensibly sized piping ?

I suspect it's taking the path of least resistance, so by restricting the flow a little to the rads upstairs, it'll send more heat to the rads downstairs :-}

Reply to
Colin Wilson

================================================

Have you checked that the system is correctly balanced? The procedure has been described here many times and it's certainly worth a quick check before you consider power flushing.

Cic.

Reply to
Cicero

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

The system was balanced by the plumber that bled the system last year. Have read about microbore systems but am not sure (without pulling up floorboards - which i dont want to do) where the manifold/s are, however looking on the net microbore systems seem to be split into typically 2, one upstairs and one down. Thats why Im wondering if its downstairs thats crudded up (does that make sense?) The water in the domestic hot water system is very hot so the boiler must be ok but when i switch the pump on (its a manual pump - told you it was old) the domestic hot water seems to cool down after an hour or two, i usually just turn the pump off and the water is back to piping hot after a short time. Controlling it like that doesnt worry me as i have done it like that since moving in and it maybe its just an old system, cant get gas in my area or would have considered going for the boiler scrappage scheme but doubt it will cover solid fuel.

Reply to
les

its all microbore and checked balancing rads

Tried that Colin but it doesnt affect the downstairs radiators - thats why i thought there maybe some crud in the downstairs sections but not sure

Reply to
les

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Yes the system was balanced and LSV's adjusted last year by the plumber that bled the system - note though even at that time he could not get the full heat downstairs, he did try turning the top radiators completely off and locking down the LSV's upstairs, a bit drastic i know but he could not come up with a solution apart from replace the whole system which was a major upheaval replacing the microbore with

15mm piping, the system was installed years ago and you can feel warm places where the pipes run down the walls (inside the walls) so didnt want the whole house hacking to bits. Its an ex council property, my neighbour replaced his microbore 5 years ago and he said it was a nightmare!!
Reply to
les

Yes the system was balanced and LSV's adjusted last year by the plumber that bled the system - note though even at that time he could not get the full heat downstairs, he did try turning the top radiators completely off and locking down the LSV's upstairs, a bit drastic i know but he could not come up with a solution apart from replace the whole system which was a major upheaval replacing the microbore with

15mm piping, the system was installed years ago and you can feel warm places where the pipes run down the walls (inside the walls) so didnt want the whole house hacking to bits. Its an ex council property, my neighbour replaced his microbore 5 years ago and he said it was a nightmare!!
Reply to
Doctor Drivel

Thanks for that, taken off radiators downstairs and some sludge but not as much as i thought. BUT never thought of the pump so traced the pump to a cupboard behind the cylinder upstairs and its a smc commadore 130 and on googling its out of the ark and could be at least 35 years old, tried to look at the speed adjuster, not a switch like the new pumps, its set on low and the speed adjuster is locked solid. So wonder if I replaced the pump (have a newish pump I bought for my old house and still in its box, a wilo gold) if it might improve matters - my theory on this would be if the pump is failing and sluggish it may pump upstairs ok as its on the same level but maybe its not doing too well on the downstairs section - what do you think does that make sense? Will look also at the magna filters.

Reply to
les

================================================

Don't discard or damage the old pump when you remove it. Your Wilo pump may be about 1/4" shorter between fixing faces and you might need to modify pipework slightly to fit it. A quick comparison - old with new - will decide.

Cic.

Reply to
Cicero

I presume all the downstairs rads are fed from above, with the pipes running in the downstairs ceiling.

As a result, you'll find the flow in the downstairs rad are going against gravitational flow, and as mentioned here, it may be best to fit a more powerful pump.

Reply to
Fredxx

Thanks for that, taken off radiators downstairs and some sludge but not as much as i thought. BUT never thought of the pump so traced the pump to a cupboard behind the cylinder upstairs and its a smc commadore 130 and on googling its out of the ark and could be at least 35 years old, tried to look at the speed adjuster, not a switch like the new pumps, its set on low and the speed adjuster is locked solid. So wonder if I replaced the pump (have a newish pump I bought for my old house and still in its box, a wilo gold) if it might improve matters - my theory on this would be if the pump is failing and sluggish it may pump upstairs ok as its on the same level but maybe its not doing too well on the downstairs section - what do you think does that make sense? Will look also at the magna filters.

Reply to
Doctor Drivel

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.