Can't get any heat in one radiator, tried bleeding it but it stays cold. What now?

Question

All the other radiators work fine. I tried bleeding the radiator but nothing came out. No water and no air. The shutoff valve has never been touched and is in the open position. I did try closing and reopening it. The pipe in the basement that leads over to it is getting warm. The pipes are in good shape. What could be blocking the heat?

Answer 1

PLEASE DISREGARD MY IDIOT ANS. & read the GOOD ANSWER above
me (lol).


All the others have water IN and water OUT. The water out goes thru REHEATING and returns HOT. Since the water was steam: If the radiator in question has an OPEN intake line feeding it -- eventually evaporation would eliminate WATER IN THE RADIATOR and PRESSURE too, as nothing was feeding it!!! Sounds as if THE LINE FEEDING THE PROBLEM RADIATOR has been DISCONNECTED from the supply line or BLOCKED and that single radiator was drained to prevent rust/freezing. Trace INTAKE LINE.

just my best guess

Answer 2

Feel along the pipe to find out where it stops being warm that is where your blockage is going to be mostly. You should have a relief valve on the radiator itself (it is a little whistle looking thing sticking out the side of the radiator) it might need to be replaced. You might also try checking it a seeing what it is set at. Could be set too low as well if it is adjustable.
Just be careful or you can get burned from the hot water and steam.
One way to check is turn the water off and disconnect the radiator then close the valve and turn the water back on.
To do this you are going to have to turn off the boiler first and let it cool down then turn off the water supply going to the boiler first.
Then disconnect the pipe at the radiator between the radiator and valve. Now turn the valve off. then start turn on the supply and fire the boiler up letting it get up to temperature while. When it gets up to temperature crack the valve a litte making sure you have something to catch the water and steam like a bucket. And keeping your hands clear of the pipe. so you don't get burned.

If you aren't getting anything your pipe is stopped up between the radiator and boiler.
Most likely places are at 90 degree elbows and at the valve itself.
Usually it is the valve causing the trouble. crud gets in it and stops it up. Turn everything off and let it cool down then take the vave off and clean it or replace it.

Another place to look if your system has it is at the water selonoid valve going to that radiator it can be stopped up as well or the coil can be burned out or (if you have separate thermsostats controlling your radiators) the thermostat itself could be bad.

A good place to get good information is from Ask This Old House. the e-mail address is ASKTOLH@org I am not use whether they are upper or lower case. Another way to e-mail them is get to their web page at www.askthisoldhouse.org If I remember right.

You can also get their e-mail address by watching Ask This Old House on PBS.

Answer 3

check that the circulating pump is working by putting the metal end of the screwdriver against the pump and put your ear to the handle. make sure that the pump is turned on. Another fault could be that the room thermostat is turned down (if you have one). Finally, if all this is in order, then you will have to open a drain off in the system and pull water through until it is hot. thats all I can suggest. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

If it's not air then it is most likely ice.....