Calling all Plumbers..

The thing is my central heating system does not heat the downstairs rads?

if i turn off the upstairs rads it does not make the downstairs rads hot.

I have had three plumbers out and they all said different things which makes me believe none of them.

I have had British gas out and got ripped off £100 to be told i need a power flush @ only £590.

So it can be one of about three thing imo

1. Faulty pump
2. Faulty valve
3. Rads are gunked up.

.

I am willing to pay somebody but they all give different advice so might end up paying through the nose.

I am willing to fix the problem myself if i knew what it was.

.

In these temps you can imagine my house aint that hot,well upstairs is. ....

.

HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!

Dooon...

Didnt know you was a plumber toots ..

i'm not

but our combined logic dictates...:

1. faulty pump - not likely if all your radiators are on one system, since it wouldn't manage to pump upstairs and bypass all the downstairs ones (unless they're all turned off...)

2. faulty valve - would each radiator valve really go at exactly the same time?

3. gunked up - not if they worked one day, and didn't the next - but if it's been gradual, this sounds most likely

you can try 3. by taking one radiator off (ISOLATING the water supply first) and blasting a garden hose through it.  put it back on, and if that one works, they're all probably gunked.  if it doesn't, you're in for a cheap and chilly xmas.

Imperial Dave wrote (see)

check the pump Dids, its probably seized

Done that buddy,floorboards up and staying up till problem fixed (hole in bedroom floor )

hit it with hammer (gently as told by plumber) no change.

Would happily change it if i knew that was the problem,but the problem is i dont exactly know what the problem is sigh!!!

if its gunk (sludge or scale) then its also possible the Multivalve is stuck

do you have a feed and expansion tank in the loft? if you have an open system with a condensing or older style boiler then its the smaller of the 2 tanks up there

water is fed from there to the boiler and then back up to the hot water tank where usually (but not always) the pump resides. next to the pump is a small box that "sits" on the pipework. This is the multivalve and directs water either to the rads, the hot water tank or both

if its gunked up you might find that rads come on when the hot water is fired up

Posh Totty wrote (see)

i'm not

but our combined logic dictates...:

1. faulty pump - not likely if all your radiators are on one system, since it wouldn't manage to pump upstairs and bypass all the downstairs ones (unless they're all turned off...)

2. faulty valve - would each radiator valve really go at exactly the same time?

3. gunked up - not if they worked one day, and didn't the next - but if it's been gradual, this sounds most likely

you can try 3. by taking one radiator off (ISOLATING the water supply first) and blasting a garden hose through it.  put it back on, and if that one works, they're all probably gunked.  if it doesn't, you're in for a cheap and chilly xmas.

not radiator valves Jo system valves hidden away under floorboards and next to water tank.

I can replace all rads with new and hire a high pressure pump to blast pipes at a cost of around £250 to £300,but again if its a Valve or pump then i have waisted my dosh,again .

If i changed all my rads got 2 new Valves and a new pump and high pressure pump hire this would come to around £600 and hopefully cure the problem but after this weeks garage bill of £740 i am not in a rush to flash my cash again too soon.

worse still is if the feed pipe from the F/E tank is sludged up as this normally requires you to locate the blockage and either jet it out or cut it out and replace with new pipework

a couple of things to do:

go into the loft and inspect the F/E tank. Is the water murky? is there a layer of sludge in it? if yes chances are you have a sludge blockage

also on the pump, undo the nut on the front of it with a big flat head screwdriver (isolate it first), try and rotate the spindle once the nut/plug is removed. if it doesnt rotate, its seized

Posh Totty wrote (see)

anyone would think your heating broke last week, impy

experience is a bitter pill

Posh Totty wrote (see)

pump can be had for around £50, Multivalve for around £30

the job is definitely not difficult to replace yourself

Well I know nowt about plumbing... but looking at the figures you've bandied around... I guess Christmas is cancelled at the Didster household, and all the Kidsters will be rented out to chimney sweeps.

On the other hand, I was at my brother's house a while ago (same town as you) and he needed a plumber. I think he found an advert for 'Affordable Plumbling' in the local rag, and some Polish guy turned up with a wrench, fixed his plumbing and charged him £20!

At least you got 3 guys to come out.

I waited on 3 roofers on Friday to give me a quote for snow damage to the roof. Two never showed, but one phoned to say he was too busy, but would come around at 2pm Sunday (today). No show, no phone call, nuffink.

Imperial Dave wrote (see)

worse still is if the feed pipe from the F/E tank is sludged up as this normally requires you to locate the blockage and either jet it out or cut it out and replace with new pipework

a couple of things to do:

go into the loft and inspect the F/E tank. Is the water murky? is there a layer of sludge in it? if yes chances are you have a sludge blockage

also on the pump, undo the nut on the front of it with a big flat head screwdriver (isolate it first), try and rotate the spindle once the nut/plug is removed. if it doesnt rotate, its seized

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

At least you got 3 guys to come out.

I waited on 3 roofers on Friday to give me a quote for snow damage to the roof. Two never showed, but one phoned to say he was too busy, but would come around at 2pm Sunday (today). No show, no phone call, nuffink.