Common household radiator problems

 In today's post I going to talk about a couple of common radiator problems.

Top cool bottom hot 

 If the lower half of your radiator is hot but the top is cool then you would be write in thinking theirs a problem.When this situation occurs it normal means that theirs air trapped in the system.You can use a radiator key to release the trapped air but only start this job if the radiator is cool and the heating is off.

You only need to open one end at the top of the radiator and have a rag or dirty cloth to hand as some water may come through the bleed valve.Normally you only need to open the bleed valve one turn to release the air but you ll no when its open enough as you ll be able to hear the air hissing as it escapes.

Once you start to see some water coming threw the bleed valve you can be sure that all the air has leaked out and you can now close it up,but be careful not to close it to tightly as you may need to re-bleed it at a later date.

You should go back to the particular radiator that had the problem after a week or so to check if the radiator is displaying any of the same problems it was before.If it is displaying the same problems then its likely that air is entering the system from somewhere else.

This will not be an easy fix and will most likely require a specialist come access the problem,but before you do rush out and call in some one I suggest trying a sludge removal chemical as sludge build up can display similar symptoms

All the radiators in your home are cool
If you come home one day to find that all your radiators are cool then theirs probably a sludge build up inside your heating system.When somebody says 'sludge in the system' for instance the sludge they are referring to is iron oxide that appears to look like black sludge.

This image shows the effect of built up sludge

This build up is caused by corrosion inside your heating system.Your system will need to be cleared thoroughly to clear all the iron oxide that has built up,but as I mentioned earlier you can pick up radiator cleaner that cleans the sludge away.


These are just a couple of possible problems that you could experience with your radiators as your heating system inside your home is made up of many parts.  

If you have any thoughts related to radiator issues then please leave a comment as I would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and plumbing supplies
www.energy-smart.org.uk

Removing a radiator

 You may need to remove a radiator for numerous reasons such as decorating or replacement so today I'm going to tell you how to remove your radiator quickly and safely.

A control valve

Do not start any work if the radiator feels even a little warm you need to wait for it to cool otherwise you could be burned !

You need to make sure you have some protection around the radiator before starting the removal process,i suggest you have a dust sheet under the radiator as their can be a lot of dirt behind a rad that hasn't been removed for a long time and a dust sheet will also help protect carpets and floors from any watery sludge that may leak whilst removing a radiator.

 The next step is to close the control valve,you shouldn't need any special tools to do this and it is normally done by hand.                                                    

Adjusting the lock shield valve

Now you need to close the lock shield valve,I suggest using a spanner as a pair of pliers or mole grips may round the valve so be careful with which tool you choose for this part.when you close of the valve you need to count the number of turns it takes and write it down so that you know how many turns to open it when its re-fitted if your not re-fitting your radiator but replacing you should still make a note of the number of turns as it may come in handy.                                                

Your gonna need a bowl or container to catch the water when it runs out,be sure that your bowl or container is already under the valve when you start to loosen off the union nut as the water will run out immediately.It is a good idea to have a second container in case the first one fills up quicker than you thought it might.

This image shows the air vent

Now open the air vent,this is to help increase the water flow.The air vent is normally at the top of the radiator (see picture).The image is only to help me point out where you should be looking,the air vent on your radiator may not look like this one but generally their all in the same place.

Another issue you may find is that you need a key of some sort to turn it,some will have a screw and some will need a type of radiator key,but don't worry if you haven't one to hand as they are relatively cheap to buy from your local hard wear store and i suggest you check prior to starting work on removing the radiator.
                                                                                          
When the water stops running out you can begin to undo the union nut on the lock shield valve.Be careful though because their might be more water waiting to poor out,so if you've got a full container grab the second one and have some rags or something similar to hand that you can use to bung the ends as their may still be water inside. 
                                                                                         

This image shows the union nut

Once all the water has run out and you have blocked the ends off you can begin to think about lifting the rad of the wall.You need to be careful you don't injure yourself when doing this as some radiators can be particularly heavy (even if its a small rad),so a good idea would be to get a friend to help you remove the radiator from the wall,and remember to keep the radiator upright just in case their is any water still inside.

If you are re-fitting the same rad make sure to flush out any sludge that may be inside,I recommend you take the rad outside and use a hose or something similar to do this, and don't flush it out it on any nice services as they may be ruined or stained.

Now for re-fitting.Check before you fit your radiator that the wall brackets are tight and secure,then reconnect the union nuts and tighten by hand.You can then re-open the valves,this will let the water run back into the radiator.Make sure the air vent is open when the radiator is filling as it will stop any air getting trapped inside.

Now check for any water leaking form the radiator,adjust the lock shield valve into the position you wrote down before,double check that everything is tight.Now your finished.Keep an eye on the radiator for any leaks over the next few days.

I hope this post was helpful for anybody looking to undertake this job or who are new to plumbing.
If you have any thoughts concerning radiator removal leave a comment below.
thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and plumbing supplies
www.energy-smart.org.uk

Fitting heat pumps to hot water cylinders

Today's plumbing and heating industry has definitely started to move towards renewables and energy efficiency with the release of many energy efficient products for homes and businesses.

A now common product to have fitted is a heat pump and its important to understand how this fits in with the rest of a heating system.
 

Hot water cylinder

The average flow temperature for a medium temperature heat pump is around 50oc,the problem with this is that your average cylinder is set up to work with around 60oc.If the wrong type of cylinder is fitted with a heat pump then the heat pump will suffer with some issues such as short cycling and poor hot water delivery.

 Their are two types of hot water cylinders that are compatible with heat pumps,these are the open vented thermal store type and the stainless steel invented cylinder type,both these cylinders are perfect for use with a heat pump.

A open vented thermal store is a cylinder that has been specifically designed for use with a heat pump that will provide the mains pressure for a households hot water.the difference between this type of cylinder and a normal one is that the stored water is constantly hot where as the cold water runs through a heat exchanger which is inside the cylinder

Because the hot water is produced instantly from the cold water supply the water quality will be the same as normal so this means a installer can fit a thermal store cylinder with a heat pump and not need to raise the temperature to prevent bacterial growth.

Thermal stores do not need a pressure or temperature relief valve, which means there is no need to incorporate discharge facilities in the system to keep in check with Part G of the Building Regulations, which covers discharge into soil stacks.

So that was a brief over look at fitting heat pumps to hot water cylinders. All ways check that the cylinder your buying is compatible with heat pumps if its your intention to fit one.I hope today's post was helpful and interesting thanks for reading.

How does insulation work

 Insulation is used to keep the heat inside of your home for as long as possible,as well as keeping your bills down.

Insulation is available in a few different material types.
 .fibreglass
.foam
.cellulose

Insulation can be used in lots of places through out a home but is most commonly used for walls and lofts as these are the most common areas of heat lose.

Insulation is designed to stop heat from passing through it by creating a resistance so that hot air cant pass through it easily trapping the hot air inside your home for longer.

Insulation resistance is normally measured in 'R'.The higher the R value the more resistance the insulation has.You can pick up insulation in rolls or in a Bat.Insulation that comes in these forms is best suited for use between the joists and ceilings well as walls.


Blown in insulation is a type of insulation that is applied using a spray.This type of insulation is best suited for homes that have been completed but are missing insulation.This type of insulation can be difficult to use as it needs to be blown through a gap.If a gap cant be found then a hole has to be cut to apply the spray.This type of insulation is also very good for use between walls that are a unusual shape or for hard to reach places.

 Rigid insulation comes in a few variations of extruded and expanded polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam and polyisocyanurate foam boards.Most of these types of insulation come with a protective foil to keep water from being absorbed by the insulationt,this type of insulation is very efficient considering how thin it is. Rigid insulation's although excellent does require certain fire safety measures though.

I hope this was helpful thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk

How does a combi boiler work.

In todays post I will be covering the basics of combination boilers,

So lets get started.                                                

Combi boilers or combination boilers are the most common type of boiler you will find in a home. Around 65% of the UK's homes have a combi boiler fitted.                  

Combi boilers are popular because they don't need a separate water tank to work so you'll have more room in your loft,as well as this combi boilers can be hidden away easily due to their size.

The size of these boilers means their best suited to small house holds with one bathroom and come in common power outputs ranging from 24kw to around 30kw.A combi boiler has the benefits of being able to provide instant hot water as well which is another reason their becoming so popular around the UK.

Below is a simple diagram showing a combi boiler setup

Their are however some disadvantages to the combi boiler heating system.

A combi boiler will only really be able manage one shower or bath at a time.

As I mentioned earlier ,a combi boiler is better suited for a smaller house hold with only the one bathroom to manage.If you've got a combi boiler and 4 bathrooms your going to experience some issues.

The combi boilers hot water flow rate will be lower than some other boiler.

This is considered to be a small price to pay when you think about the space a combi boiler saves,the fact that you don't need a roof tank, and you get instant hot water.

Well that's the basics of a combi boiler system.I hope this post was interesting and helpful, feel free to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading.

Visit energy smart today for great prices on energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk

The new Bulldog TRV Gen 2 valve

Bulldog TRV Gen 2

 The brand new Bulldog TRV Gen 2.
Quality and precision engineering come together.

The guys at Plumb Centre and Parts Centre are releasing their new and exclusive Bulldog TRV Gen 2 in over 600 branches across the UK.                                                  

 The thermostatic radiator valve was created with the help of Pegler Yorkshire, who were involved in the design process of the new valve.The bulldog valve has a great design but is still simple, making it easier for you to turn it on and off so theirs no drama's.

The valve its self does look very stylish and is not an eye sore for every one who sees it. Another plus is the improved turning action that surpasses similar products on the market making this a real quality part that feels like it will stand the test of time.

The bulldog works brilliantly for domestic application due to its low water resistance meaning its super quiet.The valve can also be used across Europe as it meets all EN215 regulations.

This really is a great product that has been designed and built to a very high standard, so check it out for yourself at www.plumbcenter.co.uk/.


Visit energy smart today for industry leading energy efficient boilers and quality plumbing supplies www.energy-smart.org.uk/

The new rapid-dose water treatment from Sentinel is here.

Sentinel have released their new Rapid-Dose.
 The brand new domestic water treatment from sentinel sets the bar for similar products.

 It now uses a simple to use plastic adaptor and a clear dosing tube to aid the ease of use.

So now you can use Rapid-Dose quickly and easily, you can also watch the contents of the can flow into the system so you can see better when you can stop applying.

The new plastic adaptor keeps things totally mess free, which makes the whole process quick and simple letting you carry on working when your up against it.


                                                                                         
So It’s quick, mess-free, simple to use and the can is even recyclable.

To add, you don't need to draw off  the water or release system pressure, unless the system is above 2.3 bar,also you don't have to wait for the system to cool.

 The contents is the same industry proven Sentinel you may have worked with before,but instead it was previously in the liquid form, so if you have ever used Sentinel before then you will no that you can be confident that Sentinel Rapid-Dose will do the job effectively.

If you would like to visit the Sentinel website click the link following www.sentinel-solutions.net.

Suffolk plumber jailed after health and safety breaches.

A plumber in suffolk has been jailed for working on gas appliances when he was not registered.

Paul Jowett who lives in Pakefield, Lowestoft, admited he was guilty of five breaches in the gas and health and safety regulations in 2009 and 2010. The Health & Safety Executive said that Mr.Jowett carried on working even after getting a written warning in April 2010. 

Ipswich Crown Court.

                                                                           
 After the hearing, a Health & Safety Executive inspector, said: "When unqualified workers try to bypass the law they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"To make matters even worse, Mr.Jowett was told to stop working on gas appliances and took no notice."
mr. Paul Johnston, who is the Chief Executive of the Safe Gas Register, said: "If you're employing an engineer, you should always make sure that person is Gas Safe registered.
"Don't just take their word for it, check they are on the register and check their ID when they arrive."

new training for gas and oil burners

Nu-way’s training centre in Droitwich is carrying out four courses for plumbing engineers and distributors on gas and oil burners 

The course is a in depth look at the maintenance and servicing of gas and oil burners, these courses also includes commissioning and faultfinding techniques.Courses will take place in the classroom and workshop areas,engineers will be able to get plenty of hands-on experience with the Nu-way range of gas, oil and dual fuel burners for domestic, commercial and industrial use. 



This is a really great course for any plumbing engineers that would like to learn more or even for just a refresh about gas and oil burners.every body that comes along will receive detailed course notes to help you through out and youll also receive a certificate on completion of the course.

If you would like to find out more you should checkout the website below
http://www.nu-way.co.uk/

and heres a list of dates for courses that are coming up soon.

• March 6th and 7th: Maintenance and service of M Series Oil Burner

• March 13th and 14th as well as April 11th and 12th: Maintenance and service of Class C&D Light Oil Pressure Burners

• March 20th and 21th also on April 17th and 18th : Maintenance and service of Forced Draught Gas Burners

• April 3rd and 5th: Maintenance and service of M Series Gas Burners.

Xpelair and Redring are to show latest high efficiency products at Ecobuild

Xpelair Ventilation Solutions and Redring are coming together at the Ecobuild to show off there variety of high efficient carbon reducing ventilation, showering and hot water solutions.


You will be able to find Xpelair and Redring on stand number S3223 at the upcoming ecobuild show.

They will have a range of energy efficient products including the new Solace, their compact heat recovery units,next gen centralised mechanical extract units and also their new Xplus 2ECRF and its battery free controller.


And not forgetting that Redring will be their with them promoting their new energy efficient shower that has a 'eco' button and also a time setting to try and make it as efficient as possible as well as this being at the stand they will be promoting their CPD courses on the day.

                                                                                                   
If you would like to read more about Xpelair you can visit them at www.xpelair.co.uk
and also if you would like to find out more about Redring you can find them at www.redring.co.uk