Why would a radiator suddenly stop working?

[SteveM46]

Folks

We've just found that our kitchen radiator is cold. The heating is on, and every other radiator is fine. But this one is completely cold, no residual heat in it at all, no heat in the feeder or exit pipes, even though the thermostat is up high. We don't recall how long it has been like this, but it can't be long as we been drying stuff on it up until recently.

Any idea what could cause this?

Thanks

Steve

[tank slapper]

Have you tried bleeding it?

[Kudos]

Not sure correct terminology, but if there is a thermostatic valve going into it, the "pin" sticks. Quite common, plenty of advice out there on how to fix

[pidsy]

Kudos said:

Not sure correct terminology, but if there is a thermostatic valve going into it, the "pin" sticks. Quite common, plenty of advice out there on how to fix

after having a go at bleeding it, unscrew the TRV head and use some needle nose pliars or grips to do the above (if the pipe leading up to the TRV is hot and the rad is not)

[SteveM46]

The feeder pipe to the thermostat is not hot, so I'm not sure it's likely to be the valve?

[blueg33]

SteveM46 said:

The feeder pipe to the thermostat is not hot, so I'm not sure it's likely to be the valve?

Doesn't that depend whether the valve is mounted up stream or downstream of the rad?

[thinfourth2]

SteveM46 said:

The feeder pipe to the thermostat is not hot, so I'm not sure it's likely to be the valve?

If there is no hot water flowing through the pipe why would you expect the pipe to be hot

Its hammer time

[blueg33]

thinfourth2 said:

If there is no hot water flowing through the pipe why would you expect the pipe to be hot

Convection?

It could be that the rads upstream have the balance wrong and are taking too much of the heat out of the water?

[SteveM46]

thinfourth2 said:

SteveM46 said:

The feeder pipe to the thermostat is not hot, so I'm not sure it's likely to be the valve?

If there is no hot water flowing through the pipe why would you expect the pipe to be hot

Its hammer time

OK, I hit it with a hammer, now I've got water spraying around the kitchen. What shall I try next?

[S6PNJ]

SteveM46 said:

thinfourth2 said:

SteveM46 said:

The feeder pipe to the thermostat is not hot, so I'm not sure it's likely to be the valve?

If there is no hot water flowing through the pipe why would you expect the pipe to be hot

Its hammer time

OK, I hit it with a hammer, now I've got water spraying around the kitchen. What shall I try next?

A cloth?

[blueg33]

I think I would start by turning off all the other rads and seeing if the cold one gets hot.

That is after you have mended the valve that you hit too hard

[Henry Fiddleton]

In true Homer style, have you tried using a bigger hammer next?

[SteveM46]

OK, British Gas man is here under their homecare scheme.

He has a REALLY BIG hammer, and replaced the valve with it. All for the princely sum of £50 excess.

I'm sure you'll all tell me I could have got a valve myself for a tenner, but I really am Homer when it comes to plumbing.....

Thanks for the help!

[cjs]

blueg33 said:

thinfourth2 said:

If there is no hot water flowing through the pipe why would you expect the pipe to be hot

Convection?

It could be that the rads upstream have the balance wrong and are taking too much of the heat out of the water?

Conduction?

[danrc]

Maybe a blockage? My radiator was sludged up so i took it off and flushed it through. like someone else said, turn off every other radiator and see if it gets hot.

have you got any zone valves in the house? Are they working?