Radiator replacement | Tomplums Brew cabin

rocketmanbkk
Knight of the brew cabin

Posts: 7,000

Radiator replacement Aug 10, 2022 16:47:54 GMT via Tapatalk

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Post by rocketmanbkk on Aug 10, 2022 16:47:54 GMT

I don’t do much heating work but have a custard who wants a radiator replaced.

The one in situ is rusted & leaking. Pipework to it is in the floor, literally on the floor & the drain off is green!! Hopefully it works. The valves are 30 years old & unfortunately it’s an old gravity fed system.

Anyway, I can isolate the f&e in the loft & drain down. Cut off pipework & renew F & R with a new drain off. New valves on & hang rad etc:

When filling back up is my concern, I can fill & bleed rads etc.

To get the air out of the pump I’ve undone the front screw & done back up & also switched pump on & off until it sounds ok.

Is there anything else to keep me out of trouble?

Inhibitor back in f&e obviously.

I’m guessing the system is filthy black. I’ll warm the custard about this. No magnetic filter fitted & they don’t want one (probably down to cost).

Same location as existing rad do no issues with pipework.

Cheers all.

battle1066
Lord of the brew cabin

Busy

Posts: 6,346

Radiator replacement Aug 10, 2022 17:59:21 GMT rocketmanbkk likes this

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Post by battle1066 on Aug 10, 2022 17:59:21 GMT

Aug 10, 2022 16:47:54 GMT rocketmanbkk said:

I don’t do much heating work but have a custard who wants a radiator replaced.

The one in situ is rusted & leaking. Pipework to it is in the floor, literally on the floor & the drain off is green!! Hopefully it works. The valves are 30 years old & unfortunately it’s an old gravity fed system.

Anyway, I can isolate the f&e in the loft & drain down. Cut off pipework & renew F & R with a new drain off. New valves on & hang rad etc:

When filling back up is my concern, I can fill & bleed rads etc.

To get the air out of the pump I’ve undone the front screw & done back up & also switched pump on & off until it sounds ok.

Is there anything else to keep me out of trouble?

Inhibitor back in f&e obviously.

I’m guessing the system is filthy black. I’ll warm the custard about this. No magnetic filter fitted & they don’t want one (probably down to cost).

Same location as existing rad do no issues with pipework.

Cheers all.

On that type of system i empty the F&E tank before i do any draining down as the bottom of that tank can be heavily contaminated with sludge. When refilling and bleeding i have a 12” fine wire to rod the bleed vent point of any rads which give no vent air when filling.

DIYDafty
RGI 647378

Posts: 1,802

Radiator replacement Aug 10, 2022 19:11:29 GMT rocketmanbkk likes this

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Post by DIYDafty on Aug 10, 2022 19:11:29 GMT

I know you're not gonna take any advice from a DIYer (rightly!) BUT my system is very big. When we first moved in and I needed to drain down and fill up I couldn't understand why the pump was making a grinding/buzzing sound and nothing was getting hot.

Was in the middle of winter and I knew less then than I do now (still not much more but I do know about MY system) so I called in a local plumber. turned out I'd got a good'n as for whatever reason he didn't charge much. But while obviously he knew straight away it was an airlocking issue to fix it required:

- running the pump for a few seconds at one speed then changing the speed then turning it off and waiting for a bit
- opening and closing the MVs with few seconds delay
- getting me to open up and close rad vents and valves
- generally seems to just keep "messing" with the flow
- bleeding pump and anything else that could be bled
- cracking open a compression end stop at the top of an upright pipe in airing cupboard

eventually we started to here the noise of bubbling rushing up the pipes and a 20 minutes later of me fretting eventually got the airlock(s) out.

I guess every system is different and mine now has a lot more bleed off points so I don't need to do the above too often.

Your boiler is in safe hands.

rocketmanbkk
Knight of the brew cabin

Posts: 7,000

Radiator replacement Aug 10, 2022 20:14:12 GMT via Tapatalk

Quote

Post by rocketmanbkk on Aug 10, 2022 20:14:12 GMT

Aug 10, 2022 19:11:29 GMT DIYDafty said:

I know you're not gonna take any advice from a DIYer (rightly!) BUT my system is very big. When we first moved in and I needed to drain down and fill up I couldn't understand why the pump was making a grinding/buzzing sound and nothing was getting hot.

Was in the middle of winter and I knew less then than I do now (still not much more but I do know about MY system) so I called in a local plumber. turned out I'd got a good'n as for whatever reason he didn't charge much. But while obviously he knew straight away it was an airlocking issue to fix it required:

- running the pump for a few seconds at one speed then changing the speed then turning it off and waiting for a bit
- opening and closing the MVs with few seconds delay
- getting me to open up and close rad vents and valves
- generally seems to just keep "messing" with the flow
- bleeding pump and anything else that could be bled
- cracking open a compression end stop at the top of an upright pipe in airing cupboard

eventually we started to here the noise of bubbling rushing up the pipes and a 20 minutes later of me fretting eventually got the airlock(s) out.

I guess every system is different and mine now has a lot more bleed off points so I don't need to do the above too often.

Yeah, he does everything I’d do

Cheers