Home Radiator Issue

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 03:43 AM

Hi all,

We had a new combi boiler installed just before Christmas, everything working fine until the weekend. Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold.

Upstairs gets warm no issues. Tried turning off all TRVs in the house other than the one I'm having issues with, also tried spraying the TRV to loosen but noticed no pin. Also tried giving it a tap. Still nothing working.

Pump is open all the way and pressure is 1.3 bar.

Debating do I need to get the boiler company out or is it a radiator issue?

Kendo67 · 02-10-2022, 04:09 AM

Does the spring loaded pin in the middle of the valve return when you push it down ?

On mine , if the pin is down the valve is closed , if the pin is fully up then there should be max hot water flow through the rad.

How far up are the pins on the TRV`s on working rads, compared to the troublesome one.

If the valve is knackered it is not too big a job to replace it but the system may need drained down to do so.

K

un1eash · 02-10-2022, 04:15 AM

Have you bleed the radiator to make sure it's not full of air?

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 04:34 AM

This one TRV (pictured) is the only one we have without a pin, more like a dome. Nothing moves.

All other TRVs have movement. All radiators bleed.

Kendo67 · 02-10-2022, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

This one TRV (pictured) is the only one we have without a pin, more like a dome. Nothing moves.

From what you have said it looks like the "pin" has stuck in the down position , closing off the radiator.

The center pin should push down and spring back up ,they do on ours anyway.

Have you tried gently pulling up the center pin with pliers to try and free it off ?

K

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendo67

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

This one TRV (pictured) is the only one we have without a pin, more like a dome. Nothing moves.

From what you have said it looks like the "pin" has stuck in the down position , closing off the radiator.

The center pin should push down and spring back up ,they do on ours anyway.

Have you tried gently pulling up the center pin with pliers to try and free it off ?

K

Thanks K,

I have tried but with no joy, gave it a few taps also no joy. Bloody typical. 🤣

xenon · 02-10-2022, 05:24 AM

That doesn't look like a TRV to me. Looks like you have a TRV actuator (the knob bit) on a conventional stop valve. It's difficult to see if there is a diaphragm pin.

NotGotABimmer23 · 02-10-2022, 10:51 AM

Is the valve on the other end of the rad open? We had a similar problem, I closed the valve on every rad in the house (not the trv) then opened the ones that were not heating up by half a turn. They then got hot so I started opening up the valves on the other rads a quarter turn until everything was on.

robbiep · 02-10-2022, 10:59 AM

Isn't it usual to have one rad that isn't on TRV, to help prevent system pressure problems ?

That might explain why this one rad looks different ?

Kendo67 · 02-10-2022, 11:19 AM

Gerry has also got trouble with his Terrier 2 TRV.

K

Watsey · 02-10-2022, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

That doesn't look like a TRV to me. Looks like you have a TRV actuator (the knob bit) on a conventional stop valve. It's difficult to see if there is a diaphragm pin.

That was my first reaction, but then thought surely not ?...

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

That doesn't look like a TRV to me. Looks like you have a TRV actuator (the knob bit) on a conventional stop valve. It's difficult to see if there is a diaphragm pin.

That was my first reaction, but then thought surely not ?...

It surely wouldn't surprise me in this house. Two and a half years since we moved in, we are still finding bodge jobs by the previous owners.

Kendo67 · 02-10-2022, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

That was my first reaction, but then thought surely not ?...

Would a TRV head fit onto a standard isolating valve ?

The part the locking ring screws onto is much bigger than the one on the non TRV.

K

EvilDrPorkChop · 02-10-2022, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

Hi all,

We had a new combi boiler installed just before Christmas, everything working fine until the weekend. Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold.

Upstairs gets warm no issues. Tried turning off all TRVs in the house other than the one I'm having issues with, also tried spraying the TRV to loosen but noticed no pin. Also tried giving it a tap. Still nothing working.

Pump is open all the way and pressure is 1.3 bar.

Debating do I need to get the boiler company out or is it a radiator issue?

Valve doesn't look stuck to me, and yes it is a TRV valve for sure. Does the pin move freely if you push it up and down, there will be a bit of resistance. Before the radiator stopped working, was it on full? (No. 5 on the trv head)

What boiler have you had installed?

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilDrPorkChop

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

Hi all,

We had a new combi boiler installed just before Christmas, everything working fine until the weekend. Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold.

Upstairs gets warm no issues. Tried turning off all TRVs in the house other than the one I'm having issues with, also tried spraying the TRV to loosen but noticed no pin. Also tried giving it a tap. Still nothing working.

Pump is open all the way and pressure is 1.3 bar.

Debating do I need to get the boiler company out or is it a radiator issue?

Valve doesn't look stuck to me, and yes it is a TRV valve for sure. Does the pin move freely if you push it up and down, there will be a bit of resistance. Before the radiator stopped working, was it on full? (No. 5 on the trv head)

What boiler have you had installed?

No movement when you press it, it was on 5 a couple of weeks ago and then reduced to 3.

We had a Viessmann Vitoden 050-W installed.

EvilDrPorkChop · 02-10-2022, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

No movement when you press it, it was on 5 a couple of weeks ago and then reduced to 3.

We had a Viessmann Vitoden 050-W installed.

It's either one of two issues;

1) - Your TRV is stuck. You should be able to push it up and down with a screwdriver. The Pegler ones are pretty firm and it may take a bit of force, but should/will move.

Have you tried running the radiator without the TRV top on? As sometimes the TRV top (Or head) can go fault and close down when it's actually open fully.

2) - It's airlocking, turning off all your other radiators should force it through. Have you turned everything off? The only issue you may have that boiler has a modulating pump, so it maybe modulating down as you close down all the other rads then struggling to force the air lock through.

RustyBitz · 02-10-2022, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilDrPorkChop

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

No movement when you press it, it was on 5 a couple of weeks ago and then reduced to 3.

We had a Viessmann Vitoden 050-W installed.

It's either one of two issues;

1) - Your TRV is stuck. You should be able to push it up and down with a screwdriver. The Pegler ones are pretty firm and it may take a bit of force, but should/will move.

Have you tried running the radiator without the TRV top on? As sometimes the TRV top (Or head) can go fault and close down when it's actually open fully.

2) - It's airlocking, turning off all your other radiators should force it through. Have you turned everything off? The only issue you may have that boiler has a modulating pump, so it maybe modulating down as you close down all the other rads then struggling to force the air lock through.

Thank you sir,

I will give the two options a go tomorrow morning and let you know.

Techno 9000 · 02-10-2022, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

... everything working fine until the weekend. Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold.

Have I understood you correctly that the pipe at the lockshield valve end is hot?

strike4A · 02-11-2022, 05:46 AM

Shouldn't the lockshield valve be on the outgoing and TRV on the incoming?

EvilDrPorkChop · 02-11-2022, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strike4A

Shouldn't the lockshield valve be on the outgoing and TRV on the incoming?

Doesn't matter. Most valves are bi directional these days.

Eddamoo · 02-11-2022, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

Hi all,
Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold.

The above wording is a little confusing to me - does this mean you have more than 1 radiator not getting hot? As I would guess most houses have more than 3 downstairs rads...

If so, you may also have an issue that your radiators are incorrectly plumbed in 'series' (im no plumber but thats the electrical/engineering term!). Rads should be plumbed in parallel usually using 15mm pipe branched off 22mm primary feed.

I've now owned 2 houses where someone has frigged in a Rad incorrectly. If that happens, a closed TRV or Lockshield will affect your downstream Rads.

Techno 9000 · 02-11-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilDrPorkChop

Doesn't matter. Most valves are bi directional these days.

That was the point I was getting to in questioning the OP. There is an arrow cast onto the TRV pipework in the picture pointing into the rad (as I would expect), which would indicate a one way valve would it not?
However the wording the OP used made me think he has the lockshield end pipework hot, which would mean the flow is the wrong way for the TRV.
This can lead to issues I believe, but in any case, if replacing the TRV best to get it the right way for the flow in the system.

02-10-2022, 03:43 AM	#1
RustyBitz Colonel 1574 Rep 2,157 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cheshire Cat iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3M Compet ... [0.00]	Home Radiator Issue Hi all, We had a new combi boiler installed just before Christmas, everything working fine until the weekend. Noticed only two radiators downstairs (closet's to the boiler) would reach full heat, one pipe with the lock valve was hot the TRV out was cold. Upstairs gets warm no issues. Tried turning off all TRVs in the house other than the one I'm having issues with, also tried spraying the TRV to loosen but noticed no pin. Also tried giving it a tap. Still nothing working. Pump is open all the way and pressure is 1.3 bar. Debating do I need to get the boiler company out or is it a radiator issue? Attached Images __________________ CURRENT X3M Competition- Toronto Red [url=https://www.deutschespeed.com/threads/the-bimmerpost-refugee-thread.561/]Car[/url]
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02-10-2022, 04:09 AM	#2
Kendo67 Major 1100 Rep 1,099 Posts Drives: Me - 440i , Dog - Cayenne Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Glasgow (ish) iTrader: (0)	Does the spring loaded pin in the middle of the valve return when you push it down ? On mine , if the pin is down the valve is closed , if the pin is fully up then there should be max hot water flow through the rad. How far up are the pins on the TRV`s on working rads, compared to the troublesome one. If the valve is knackered it is not too big a job to replace it but the system may need drained down to do so. K
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02-10-2022, 04:15 AM	#3
un1eash Captain 500 Rep 972 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Midlands, UK iTrader: (0)	Have you bleed the radiator to make sure it's not full of air?
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02-10-2022, 04:34 AM	#4
RustyBitz Colonel 1574 Rep 2,157 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cheshire Cat iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3M Compet ... [0.00]	This one TRV (pictured) is the only one we have without a pin, more like a dome. Nothing moves. All other TRVs have movement. All radiators bleed. __________________ CURRENT X3M Competition- Toronto Red [url=https://www.deutschespeed.com/threads/the-bimmerpost-refugee-thread.561/]Car[/url]
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02-10-2022, 05:24 AM	#7
xenon Major General 1397 Rep 8,083 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	That doesn't look like a TRV to me. Looks like you have a TRV actuator (the knob bit) on a conventional stop valve. It's difficult to see if there is a diaphragm pin. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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02-10-2022, 10:51 AM	#8
NotGotABimmer23 Colonel 834 Rep 2,114 Posts Drives: 340i touring - incoming Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Leicestershire UK iTrader: (0)	Is the valve on the other end of the rad open? We had a similar problem, I closed the valve on every rad in the house (not the trv) then opened the ones that were not heating up by half a turn. They then got hot so I started opening up the valves on the other rads a quarter turn until everything was on.
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02-10-2022, 10:59 AM	#9
robbiep Brigadier General 1983 Rep 3,216 Posts Drives: VW e-Golf ! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: North Wales, UK iTrader: (0)	Isn't it usual to have one rad that isn't on TRV, to help prevent system pressure problems ? That might explain why this one rad looks different ?
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02-10-2022, 11:19 AM	#10
Kendo67 Major 1100 Rep 1,099 Posts Drives: Me - 440i , Dog - Cayenne Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Glasgow (ish) iTrader: (0)	Gerry has also got trouble with his Terrier 2 TRV. K
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02-11-2022, 05:46 AM	#19
strike4A Captain 513 Rep 914 Posts Drives: X3 M40i LCI Tanzanite Blue II Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bucks iTrader: (1)	Shouldn't the lockshield valve be on the outgoing and TRV on the incoming?
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