Central heating not 'right'

Ish

Ish

Ish

Associate
Joined
11 Jan 2006
Posts
1,815
Location
West Midlands
Hi

I have a Glow worm Ultracom 38cxi combi boiler which is probably about 8 years old. It has always warmed the house up nicely.

However, this winter something isn't right. The house just doesn't feel as warm and when I checked the rads all of them are hotter at the top that the bottom where as previously they would be hot all over.

I have tried bleeding the system a few times and while there was air the first time the 2 times after that there was no air.

What could the problem be?
 
sja360 said:
Could be sludge settling in the radiators maybe. Is the system serviced regularly?
Click to expand...

It always has new inhibitor in every year and had sludge cleaner in 2 years ago as well. When I bleed the rads the water is light brown but I will try using the sludge remover again

eviled said:
pump broken?
Click to expand...

Is there any tests I can do to know this for sure?
 
Sludge remover isn't great unless you agitate the sludge at the same time. All the chemical does is help the water hold the particles in suspension so you can drain it out.
Best way is to remove each radiator and fish with a house pipe while shaking it to loosen the crap that's settled in the bottom.
Air is a sign you have sludge as it's technically hydrogen check to see if it pops when you release the air and hold a lighter there.
After each radiator is clean user a more aggressive cleaner for a few hours then drain and refill with inhibitor.
 
Probably wants a power flush and a rubber mallet to the radiator.

Also do you have a magfilter in front of the boiler return? If not the heater matrix may be getting blocked and slowing the water flow.
 
Thanks for the ideas . To start with I am going to check that the system is balanced properly and then go from there.
 
Get a boiler man out to check your boiler and system. Someone competent enough will have it tested and diagnosed within an hour and have checked/cleaned the return filter built into the boiler (which may fix your problem).

Mick
 
I had a similar issue and mine was fixed by increasing the water pressure as it was at 1 and I put it in between 1.5 and 2 by opening the two taps on the boiler
 
Drizmod said:
I had a similar issue and mine was fixed by increasing the water pressure as it was at 1 and I put it in between 1.5 and 2 by opening the two taps on the boiler
Click to expand...
Did you close the taps again? The filling loop is there just to top up the system, it mustn't be left connected (open)
 
I took one rad off and there was hardly any sludge in it so I used sludge cleaner in the whole system, drained, refilled also adding in new inhibitor.

I then balanced the whole system and now all the rads are nice and hot.

Thanks for the advice.
 
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