The DIY advice thread

[Jam do Bronx]

Im creating this thread because I'm so bad at DIY and there's been so many times when I've wanted to ask for DIY advice but have no where to post it to capture the right people's attention, and I know there are loads of you on here who are talented DIY-ers.

So I'm hoping this thread will be helpful for many of us who are inept DIY-ers.



Here's my first one -

We have three radiators in the house that doesn't work properly, they only heat at the bottom of the radiator and the top is sligtly warm at best. The rest of the radiators in the house are fine. I know the remedy for this is to bleed the radiators, which i do. I unscrew the thingymajig until all the air comes out, and when water starts to pour out I close the thingybob. So I consider that bleeding the radiator. However, I turn on the heating, leave it on for a while, and they are still doing the same thing - hot at the bottom, warm-ish at the top. I repeat the process of bleeding the three radiators again, but same result. What's going on here?

Thanks in advance.

[BFG_]

Is your boiler a combi boiler ie instant constant hot water and no separate hot water tank?

[Jam do Bronx]

It's a combi. It was newly installed about a year ago, but those three radiators were doing the same thing even with the previous combi boiler. We've been in this house since 2018, and those three radiators have been like this since we've been here, but I've never addressed it until now.

[BFG_]

After you've bled the radiators do you re pressurise the system via the boiler?

[Jam do Bronx]

^ Sorry, I have no idea what that means, ha

[BFG_]

On the boiler there's a pressure guage either an analogue dial one or it'll be available in the menu. Usually the pressure in the central heating is between 0.9bar to 2.3 bar ish from memory.

As its a combi boiler the water running around your heating pipes and radiators is pressurised. If you bleed your radiators you're removing some of that pressure from the system so you have to top it up after.

What I'm wondering with my questions is is there a fault with your pressure vessel which is either inside your boiler or its a separate usually red coloured vessel located somewhere near your boiler.

[BFG_]

https://youtu.be/ReKh8NTwLQ4?si=r6y_-5dmjICHrv4c

[biscuits]

Do you get the boiler serviced? We have this fella that comes around and checks the boilers and radiators.

Sorry this advice is more for the DDIY (Don't Do It Yourself) Advice Thread.

[Jam do Bronx]

Originally Posted by BFG_

On the boiler there's a pressure guage either an analogue dial one or it'll be available in the menu. Usually the pressure in the central heating is between 0.9bar to 2.3 bar ish from memory.

As its a combi boiler the water running around your heating pipes and radiators is pressurised. If you bleed your radiators you're removing some of that pressure from the system so you have to top it up after.

What I'm wondering with my questions is is there a fault with your pressure vessel which is either inside your boiler or its a separate usually red coloured vessel located somewhere near your boiler.

Originally Posted by BFG_

https://youtu.be/ReKh8NTwLQ4?si=r6y_-5dmjICHrv4c

Thanks BFG, that video was very useful. I haven't done this with my new or old boiler, but I do remember doing it for the boiler in a previous flat we lived in years ago. The pressure on the current boiler looks fine, it's sitting at about 1.5 in the green zone. What I will do is request for the boiler to be serviced. I'm hoping there isn't anything wrong with the boiler as it's fairly new. Thanks so much for the help, you've reminded me that the boiler pressure needs to be kept an eye on.

Originally Posted by biscuits

Do you get the boiler serviced? We have this fella that comes around and checks the boilers and radiators.

Sorry this advice is more for the DDIY (Don't Do It Yourself) Advice Thread.

Yeah I'm going to request a boiler service. I would prefer it if BFG could do it for me lol.

[BFG_]

Odd that your system is getting air in it. It's a sealed pressurised system. No air is getting in from leaks otherwise you'd notice pressure dropping and have to top up filling loop.

Pressure vessel is OK as if it wasn't again you'd notice drop in pressure.

Only thing I found online similar was a forum post where someone had a cheap crome towel rail fitted and it was oxidising inside causing a reaction that created gas to form inside the radiator. Hydrogen gas I think it was.

Wonder if your central heating water was treated properly with fernox inhibitor when the boiler was fitted? There's tests that can be done on the water to see of its been treated we had vaillant out to check ours and it was just plain tap water so I topped up with fernox.

[BFG_]

https://www.eskimodesign.co.uk/techn...en%20for%20air.

[BFG_]

https://www.sentinelprotects.com/uk/...ulation-issues

[biscuits]

^ you should face time, jam!

[BFG_]

^I'd rather eat my own feet than face time anyone thanks

*no offence jam

[biscuits]

oh yeah ... sa .. the whole reason we're here... forgot about that ol' bean!

[Chess&Junkfood]

I was convinced that you had wrote this instead, BFG:

Originally Posted by BFG_

^I'd rather eat my own faeces than face time anyone thanks

*no offence jam

I would have admired you more for it as well! Possibly even paid! I also think I've been concentrating too much on that pun politician thread.

And as Biscuit has said, I keep forgetting why I'm here. I really should get around to that pesky SA of mine!

[Jam do Bronx]

Thanks for the links BFG.

Originally Posted by BFG_

^I'd rather eat my own feet than face time anyone thanks

*no offence jam

Non taken, I'm completely with you, I can't stand face time and would rather eat your feet too.