HELP! Downstairs radiators not coming on, upstairs fine?

[TheEmmaDilemma]

HELP! Downstairs radiators not coming on, upstairs fine?

Last year around this time I had a new Worcester boiler fitted. All good.

Obviously haven't really had the heating on through summer so hadn't clocked this.

Now only the upstairs radiators are working. I tried bleeding both radiators downstairs, no hissing, so presumed that wasn't the issue. But funnily enough for a couple of days they came on slightly.

Now nothing again. What could be the issue?

Also is my boiler meant to be making such a loud dripping noise? It's constant when it's on.

Can anyone think of a cause?

Have you checked the pressure?
You need Pigletjohn, he's a plumber I think, I don't know how to tag

Might be an issue with the pump.

is the pressure ok? perhaps they need balancing.

Do the radiators have Thermostats on them?

If yes - turn them all to 3. Then leave for a day or so. Then if a room seems too cold move the thermostat to 4, if too warm move it to 2, wait a day or so and continue.

If no call a plumber as you may have a blockage!

I would suggest looking at the pressure on the boiler first. Then try bleeding them against

No thermo's on the radiators unfortunately.

Any idea how to check the pressure on the boiler?

@PigletJohn can I beg for help?

If it was the pump, would it be the other way around? Boiler is downstairs.

bump

Can anyone help?

I've bleed the radiators again, water out. That's not the problem.

Pressure is not the issue, because the boiler is down and upstairs in on.

Anyone have any further insight? I really can't afford a plumber right now...

Where's your wall-mounted thermostat?
Try turning it right down then back up until the light comes on, that might work.

Downstairs. It clicks, no light, too old. Could it be that that's gone? It clicks on/off.

My upstairs radiators get warm when the hot water is on, but not properly hit. which rad is first on the loop, is that getting warm? If upstairs is getting properly warm then It does sound like a possible blockage. System might need flushing.

Properly *hot

It sounds like an air blockage in a pipe - which doesn't want to move at the moment. It will work itself out in time. (I just saw that you have no thermostats on the individual rads.) Try turning off the heating entirely for a short while.

Do you know the direction of the hot water flow?

PS - and bleed the upstairs radiators, particularly the 'collecting' radiator.

PPS - who replaced the boiler? You just might have a system warranty for a year - so check your dates.

Thank you. Off to try upstairs radiators bleeding!

And all the other tips!

Good point about the warranty!

When we had this problem, a plumber advised turning off all the radiators then turning them back on full one by one starting with the radiator furthest from the boiler and working through to the one closest to the boiler. Worked for us! Good luck

The problem is, Blue! That the OP doesn't have individual control on radiators - if I read her correctly. It's how to get the water moving - and the blockage freed - without that, I think. I've done it myself by draining individual radiators via the bleeding point and playing around as you suggested but I know my header tank is just fine. (And where it is!)

Sorry for the misspelling there.

If you had it done a year ago get it serviced and they'll be able to look at any problems.

If it's a new WB they advise regular servicing to maintain the warranty anyway.

The problem is likely to be the system and not the actual boiler.

I had my own boiler replaced about 17 months ago and they warrantied the whole system for one year. (The boiler is warrantied for 5 years as long as it's serviced properly every year.)

same thing happened to us with our new bosch boiler. the pressure was low so had to refill and it was fine. the pressure gauge is in the bottom of the boiler, open the flap at the bottom and check to see what the gauge is.

Did you check dates, Emma? How are they doing, anyway?