my central heating is working upstairs (radiators) but not down stairs , all the rads are cold. I have bled them all but still nothing , I've got hot water .Any suggestions

elliot, March 2008

a screw dreiver may not work, try a screw driver instead

razzo, March 2008

if any one needs an answers to general heating questions please feel free to email me at email address below. g-home@hotmail.co.uk
back to the question. It sounds like your pump is not working properly. with a large flat screw dreiver remove the centre screw at the centre of the pump. it is normal for water to run out of the hole when screw is removed. just insert the tip of the screwdriver into the little hole to see if the pump is running, it will feel a rotating inside the hole. if not moving then just turn the pump off & place screw driver at the centre of hole & tap with a hammer to release it. or could be that pump not switched at top speed?

gary harwood, March 2008

Elliot, your heating system is very simple. You have a thermostat/s in a room/or rooms, and when it gets cold the thermostat turns on the pump, that runs and turns on the boiler.
If your home has "Zones" each with its own motorised valve, then the thermostat first asks the motorised valve to open, then runs the pump, that turns on the boiler.
Question. Do you have more than one thermostat?
Do you have "Zones"?
You can see from this, that if you have Zones" then the thermostat and /or motorised valve for that part are not working.

Otherwise, water always takes the easy route!
If its easy for the water to just run round one radiator then thats what it will do.

None "Zoned" systems have to be balanced, by closing the radiators that are hot, go to each and turn it down half way, thus forcing the water to find another route, each radiator will then get a share of the hot water.

Then adjust the lock shield valves to move the heat up and down, so that radiators that need to be cool are cool.
Perry

Perry525, March 2008