I've just added a new radiator to my current system (5 year old house, ch&hw 
gas boiler). I did this by teeing off an existing radiator and I believed 
this may have been the last radiator ie. furthest from the pump (its 
downstairs). I fitted compression tee fittings though on the feed and return 
pipes of this existing radiator very close to the valves going in.

The new radiator is not getting very warm. I believe I have bleed all of the 
air out of the system. What is strange to me is that the return pipe going 
back from this new radiator seems to be very warm where as the feed pipe 
going in does not seem to get that warm at all.

Am I missing something? Have I not done the correct thing in fitting the 
tee's too close to the existing radiator? Is it a case of getting things 
balanced properly now? Or do I still have an air-lock somewhere? Lots of 
questions! Hope someone can give me a good answer?

"Andy Pandy"  wrote in message
news:4249c6f5$0$26474$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...

> I've just added a new radiator to my current system (5 year old house,
ch&hw
> gas boiler). I did this by teeing off an existing radiator and I believed
> this may have been the last radiator ie. furthest from the pump (its
> downstairs). I fitted compression tee fittings though on the feed and
return
> pipes of this existing radiator very close to the valves going in.
>
> The new radiator is not getting very warm. I believe I have bleed all of
the
> air out of the system. What is strange to me is that the return pipe going
> back from this new radiator seems to be very warm where as the feed pipe
> going in does not seem to get that warm at all.
>
> Am I missing something? Have I not done the correct thing in fitting the
> tee's too close to the existing radiator? Is it a case of getting things
> balanced properly now? Or do I still have an air-lock somewhere? Lots of
> questions! Hope someone can give me a good answer?
>
>


http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/rad-balance.html

may be your friend

HTH

Adam

> The new radiator is not getting very warm. I believe I have bleed all of 
> the air out of the system. What is strange to me is that the return pipe 
> going back from this new radiator seems to be very warm where as the feed 
> pipe going in does not seem to get that warm at all.


Are the TRV's adjustable to be either on the flow or return sides? If so 
this could well be your problem. Make sure you read the instructions for the 
valve carefully...cos it can be kind confusing which way is right (and can 
depend on whether you opted for a horizontal or vertical orientation of the 
valve). I suspect that you need to take the cover off the TRV and adjust the 
setting ring to its other setting.

cheers
Glen

"Glen"  wrote in message 
news:Jdw2e.426$QN3.92@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...

>> The new radiator is not getting very warm. I believe I have bleed all of 
>> the air out of the system. What is strange to me is that the return pipe 
>> going back from this new radiator seems to be very warm where as the feed 
>> pipe going in does not seem to get that warm at all.
>
> Are the TRV's adjustable to be either on the flow or return sides? If so 
> this could well be your problem. Make sure you read the instructions for 
> the valve carefully...cos it can be kind confusing which way is right (and 
> can depend on whether you opted for a horizontal or vertical orientation 
> of the valve). I suspect that you need to take the cover off the TRV and 
> adjust the setting ring to its other setting.
>
> cheers
> Glen
>


Hmm, interesting. Its basically 10mm microbore piping so I bought two 
standard ie. not thermostatic, radiator valves with 10mm at the bottom where 
the pipe feeds in. I didn't buy a lockshield valve for the return side. I 
didn't think it would make much difference to be honest. Not sure what you 
mean exactly by the orientation of the valves?

I have seen the diy site the other poster mentioned but haven't had a chance 
to try the balancing act properly yet! One thing I have been doing though 
which seems to be a no no according to a lot of sites is bleeding the air 
out when the heating is ON which as I understand it could indeed let more 
air in, rather than out?

Andy

> Hmm, interesting. Its basically 10mm microbore piping so I bought two 
> standard ie. not thermostatic, radiator valves with 10mm at the bottom 
> where the pipe feeds in. I didn't buy a lockshield valve for the return 
> side. I didn't think it would make much difference to be honest. Not sure 
> what you mean exactly by the orientation of the valves?
>
> I have seen the diy site the other poster mentioned but haven't had a 
> chance to try the balancing act properly yet! One thing I have been doing 
> though which seems to be a no no according to a lot of sites is bleeding 
> the air out when the heating is ON which as I understand it could indeed 
> let more air in, rather than out?


Ok forget what I said about TRV's! :) Just that many of the new ones can be 
fitted to operate with the control either in the horizontal or vertical 
position, and on either the flow or return sides. Inside them is a disc that 
needs to be set right to facilitate them. Anyhow.....forget that!

Have you tried closing the flow valve on the radiator you teed into? If that 
heats the new radiator it should just be a case of balancing. Try closing 
the lockshield on the donor radiator first and see if that gives the desired 
effect. It could still always be a bit of trapped air...or some gunk in the 
system.....so keep trying to bleed too I would say.

Failing that.....you sure you connected the new rad up the right way! ;)

cheers
Glen

"Glen"  wrote in message 
news:MmG2e.1350$sG4.915@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...

>> Hmm, interesting. Its basically 10mm microbore piping so I bought two 
>> standard ie. not thermostatic, radiator valves with 10mm at the bottom 
>> where the pipe feeds in. I didn't buy a lockshield valve for the return 
>> side. I didn't think it would make much difference to be honest. Not sure 
>> what you mean exactly by the orientation of the valves?
>>
>> I have seen the diy site the other poster mentioned but haven't had a 
>> chance to try the balancing act properly yet! One thing I have been doing 
>> though which seems to be a no no according to a lot of sites is bleeding 
>> the air out when the heating is ON which as I understand it could indeed 
>> let more air in, rather than out?
>
> Ok forget what I said about TRV's! :) Just that many of the new ones can 
> be fitted to operate with the control either in the horizontal or vertical 
> position, and on either the flow or return sides. Inside them is a disc 
> that needs to be set right to facilitate them. Anyhow.....forget that!
>
> Have you tried closing the flow valve on the radiator you teed into? If 
> that heats the new radiator it should just be a case of balancing. Try 
> closing the lockshield on the donor radiator first and see if that gives 
> the desired effect. It could still always be a bit of trapped air...or 
> some gunk in the system.....so keep trying to bleed too I would say.
>
> Failing that.....you sure you connected the new rad up the right way! ;)
>
> cheers
> Glen
>


Hehe. I got somewhere last night (although it was late!)

Did bleed some of the rads in the system (this time with the heating OFF) 
and did get some air out (not in the new rad though). I did muck around with 
the rad I have teed off and I think I've left it with the lockshield fully 
down and the feed on all the way (pretty sure its that way around!). Also 
the rad before it is in a similar state IIRC. Anyhow - somehow this seems to 
help and I am getting heat through to the new rad which suggests that 
balancing IS the issue as far as I can tell. I will persevere though because 
its all a bit weird and I want to understand what I have done to make it 
work better (but still not perfect!)

Andy