Radiators downstairs not heating fully

I recently replaced all five of my single rads with double rads. Upstairs they are piping hot, while downstairs they are warm but not piping hot. My plumber when asked suggested that I might need a new pump (which is located in with the cylinder upstairs) on the heating system as there is twice the water pumping in the doubles than there was on the singles.


Does this make sense??? Would it rectify my problem or is there another solution?

Thanks.

Ask your plumber to balance system.

DavyJones said:

Ask your plumber to balance system.

Click to expand...

he is quite right but if plumber does not come back it is just a matter of turning the valves on the upstairs rads down to a third/half

had the same problem. was quoted 600 euro to fix it. my father in law fixed it in seconds. it was an air lock. he only used a screw driver, until the water escaped.

some guys really are cow-boys. watch out, rip-off Ireland ain't a thing of the past yet !!!

Monkey,
Balance the system first, this will also involve bleeding the rads. You can bleed the air yourself or get the plumber to do if for you.
You may need a pump upgrade. Depending on the pump that was installed, you can increase the speed of most pumps to cater for the increased water volume. Most builders did the minimum and didn't provide for the addition of radiators thus putting in the bare minimum boiler and pump capacity.
In all fairness the plumber should have balanced & bled the system after replacing the rads for you. Ask him to turn up the pump while he is sorting you out.

Thanks for the replies - he did actually come back and bleed the rads - don't know if he balanced them or turned up the pump. I'll get him to check this out. If all this is done then I assume a new pump is the solution?

Thanks again for the advise.