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[Nickbat]

I've got a rad that simply does not want to reach the same temperature as all the others. I went through all last winter with this problem but have now decided to do something about it. I've tried bleeding buckets of water out of it, but still no luck...it just stays lukewarm.

Someone said it may need "balancing" .  I suspect that is something to do with the inflow and outflow, but can anyone explain it and, more to the point, can I do it myself without specialist tools?

[Marks DTM Calib]

First step, what speed is the pump set at, if not at full speed then turn it up a notch.

Are the lock shield valves on the rad fully open?

You coudl try turning the lock shilds valve off a half turn in the hottest rooms to up the flow in the cold rad....

[Andy B]

combi system or do you have a header tank?
If you have the header tank system it could be an air lock. I have a rad that will tend to do this & my 'cure' is to turn off all the other rads including the cistern and the water has no alternative other than to go through the affected rad. It'll do some coughing & gurgling untill there's a proper water flow.

[Taxi_Driver]

Dont spose the rads have thermostats on them do they?
Could be sticking thermostat if so.......i sometimes get that on my rads.
Cure is to pop off the top of the stat, where you will find a plunger, then gently with pliers pull and push  the plunger until its free. Plunger should go to upper most point on its own when free.

If you dont have thermostats on each rad.......ignore the above  

[Auto Addict]

Dont spose the rads have thermostats on them do they?
Could be sticking thermostat if so.......i sometimes get that on my rads.
Cure is to pop off the top of the stat, where you will find a plunger, then gently with pliers pull and push  the plunger until its free. Plunger should go to upper most point on its own when free.

If you dont have thermostats on each rad.......ignore the above  

Thermostats on every rad? Bloody hell, there's some wealthy people on here.

Oh! Just realised, your a taxi driver......

[Taxi_Driver]

Dont spose the rads have thermostats on them do they?
Could be sticking thermostat if so.......i sometimes get that on my rads.
Cure is to pop off the top of the stat, where you will find a plunger, then gently with pliers pull and push  the plunger until its free. Plunger should go to upper most point on its own when free.

If you dont have thermostats on each rad.......ignore the above  

Thermostats on every rad? Bloody hell, there's some wealthy people on here.

Oh! Just realised, your a taxi driver......

  Didnt have them put in AA, already on each rad when i bought the house.....and anyway bet you got a room stat.....i havent  

[TheBoy]

Dont spose the rads have thermostats on them do they?
Could be sticking thermostat if so.......i sometimes get that on my rads.
Cure is to pop off the top of the stat, where you will find a plunger, then gently with pliers pull and push  the plunger until its free. Plunger should go to upper most point on its own when free.

If you dont have thermostats on each rad.......ignore the above  

Thermostats on every rad? Bloody hell, there's some wealthy people on here.

Oh! Just realised, your a taxi driver......

New building regs say rad stats on every rad (except if in same room as thermostat)

[Taxi_Driver]

Dont spose the rads have thermostats on them do they?
Could be sticking thermostat if so.......i sometimes get that on my rads.
Cure is to pop off the top of the stat, where you will find a plunger, then gently with pliers pull and push  the plunger until its free. Plunger should go to upper most point on its own when free.

If you dont have thermostats on each rad.......ignore the above  

Thermostats on every rad? Bloody hell, there's some wealthy people on here.

Oh! Just realised, your a taxi driver......

New building regs say rad stats on every rad (except if in same room as thermostat)

Ahhh that explains it then.....on my previous house....i had a new central heating system put in.....including new rads, new pipework, new boiler, the lot.
The plumber put thermostats on all the rads, except the one in the hallway, where he put a room stat in....i just assumed he'd run outa rad stats   Worked out well tho.....you could have the coal effect gas fire on in the living room.....if it got too hot in there the room rad would shut off.....but the rest of the house stayed warm  

[Martin_1962]

PM Boilerman he is in the trade

[Nickbat]

First step, what speed is the pump set at, if not at full speed then turn it up a notch.

Are the lock shield valves on the rad fully open?

You coudl try turning the lock shilds valve off a half turn in the hottest rooms to up the flow in the cold rad....

[Nickbat]

First step, what speed is the pump set at, if not at full speed then turn it up a notch.

Are the lock shield valves on the rad fully open?

You coudl try turning the lock shilds valve off a half turn in the hottest rooms to up the flow in the cold rad....

Sorry about the previous empty post.

Not sure what the pump speed is. I have a Vokera Maxin 28 which is a combi with a micro-bore rad system.

I'll dig out the tech paper and see if the pump speed can be ratched up a bit. All the lock shields are open fully, so I'll try truning them down in the hottest rooms. The suspect rad is furthest from the boiler.

In answer to TD, yes I have thermostats on each radiator. I've tried using pliers on the plunger on the suspect rad, but didn't get very far.

Thanks to all the others that have given suggestions.

Great forum this. Whatever your problem, there's someone out there who can help. No sex therapists I suppose?    

[Taxi_Driver]

No sex therapists I suppose?    

Pm AA im sure he'll be able to help  

[Boiler Man]

Hi Guys

Only just seen the call for help. A few of the above suggestions may work. But to pin it down I could do with a bit more info on the system.

1. As someone asked above is it a combi system or does it have a feed and expansion tank in the loft?
2. Has this rad always been poor? or has it only stopped working over the last year or two? or is it one of those that a DIYer has tagged on at the end of the system?

Don't turn the pump up unless you know the system well. You could end up dragging in air if its an open vented system.

Any advice I can give will be a pleasure, about time some one has asked a question that I might know the anwser to

[Boiler Man]

Sorry I'm a bit slow on the typing, seen a few answers to the questions by the time I posted the last one. If you know what I mean

you guys are quick.

Has it always done this?

[Nickbat]

Sorry I'm a bit slow on the typing, seen a few answers to the questions by the time I posted the last one. If you know what I mean

you guys are quick.

Has it always done this?

TBH, I can't be sure. I've had the system for about 7 or 8 years and I know it's been like this for the last two. We have a gas fire in the lounge (where the suspect rad is located) and whenever we've had a cold night - on goes the fire. It was only last year when I was cold and feeling too tight to switch on the fire ( ) that I checked the rad and found it was not as hot as the rest. I played around with it, but gave up and used the fire for heating for the rest of the winter.