Radiators

AccyLass · 03-10-2008, 18:29

I think I need to bleed the radiators!

We haven't long moved in here and had to have a new radiator fitted, got that done but didn't use the heating much over "summer"

When I have come to put it on recently, I have noticed that the upstairs radiators aren't warming properly

So.... I presume they need bleeding.. am I right?

I can go and get a key... have looked on a forum on the net about which order to do them in, it just says from highest point and work down... so doesn't matter which room 1st then?

Also... the heating has to be off for this to be done right?

If anyone knows anything I'd be real grateful!

Thanks in advance

Morecambe Ex Pat · 03-10-2008, 19:22

If you bleed them you may need to add water to the system. Don't bleed them and leave the water level too low. Different boilers fill in different ways, find out how to do yours before you start. Do a search on google for your boiler type.

DON'T RUSH THE JOB!!!
Turn heating on and get it up to heat.
Get an old towel to put over the bleed valves, be careful, the water is very hot.
Open the valves slowly and let the air escape slowly Bleed all the upstairs rads first, then the downstairs.

AccyLass · 03-10-2008, 19:28

Yeah I was thinking about finding out about the boiler before I start doing it

Would need to find out where to put the water back into lol

Ps. Thanks

Retlaw · 03-10-2008, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyLass27

Yeah I was thinking about finding out about the boiler before I start doing it

Would need to find out where to put the water back into lol

Ps. Thanks

It may have some thing like this on it (this is what some daft beggar put on my daughters CH, the plastic has been replaced) if no there will be a filler valve under the back of the boiler, you may have to look with a torch and a mirror, make sure the dial on the front reads at least 1 bar when you've finished.

Who ever fit the new radiator should have tested it, and bled any rads before leaving, if the problem persists it sound like a bad joint some where, or the pressure tank on the boiler is acting up
Retlaw

Neil · 03-10-2008, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyLass27

If anyone knows anything I'd be real grateful!

Thanks in advance

Do you have a combi boiler or do you have a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard?

If you have a combi boiler you will need to keep topping up the water level in the system. If you have a hot water cylinder you have a conventional system that will top itself up.

Not sure why people are saying do it with the system hot? I can not see a reason why you can't bleed them without the system fully hot. Cold air will come out of the bleed valve.

derekgas · 04-10-2008, 02:25

The radiators are better bled when cold, and with the heating switched off, you bleed radiators from the lowest points first, not the highest, you only vent radiators from upstairs first when you are draining the system, whenyou are filling the system, you do downstairs first, which is logical seeing as the air rises in the system!

Morecambe Ex Pat · 04-10-2008, 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

The radiators are better bled when cold and the heating off

Thanks for putting me right on that one - you learn something new every day.
I would have thought that the heating needed to be on to ensure the system had enough pressure to force the air out.
I was folowing the advice given by the plumber who installed ours. I asked him to show me how to bleed them for future reference. He did it with the heating on.

Neil · 04-10-2008, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

The radiators are better bled when cold, and with the heating switched off, you bleed radiators from the lowest points first, not the highest, you only vent radiators from upstairs first when you are draining the system, whenyou are filling the system, you do downstairs first, which is logical seeing as the air rises in the system!

That's the way I have always done it, like you say air rises.

AccyLass · 04-10-2008, 12:01

I have a Savio combi boiler

So, bleed them when cold, from downstairs up?

And need to top the boiler up?... Just need to find out where lol
Thanks everyone

derekgas · 05-10-2008, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morecambe Ex Pat

Thanks for putting me right on that one - you learn something new every day.
I would have thought that the heating needed to be on to ensure the system had enough pressure to force the air out.
I was folowing the advice given by the plumber who installed ours. I asked him to show me how to bleed them for future reference. He did it with the heating on.

Many can be bled with the heating on, especially with combi boilers (though savio dont rate as a boiler in my book, more a box of scrap), but some older systems will draw air IN to the system if the pump is running, this is usually down to poor design of the system.

derekgas · 05-10-2008, 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccyLass27

I have a Savio combi boiler

So, bleed them when cold, from downstairs up?

And need to top the boiler up?... Just need to find out where lol
Thanks everyone

There should be a silver coloured flexi pipe under the boiler with at least one tap on the end, (sometimes the pipe is disconnected so will have to be connected to the isolation valves, also silver with the said taps on them), open the taps, the gauge needle on the front of the boiler will rise, close the taps when the needle reaches 1.5 bar, repeat if you bleed the radiators more after filling.

Neil · 05-10-2008, 07:44

Is it right Derek that the regs say the filling loop should be left disconnected when not in use?

To do with contamination your drinking water I presume if a check valve fails.

AccyLass · 05-10-2008, 08:34

I have seen this silver looped wire on the bottom of the boiler
It is connected at both ends but with no tap to turn

AccyLass · 05-10-2008, 08:45

Thought it might be easier if I show the set up
I don't see a gauge

Thanks for all your help

derekgas · 05-10-2008, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Is it right Derek that the regs say the filling loop should be left disconnected when not in use?

To do with contamination your drinking water I presume if a check valve fails.

Yes Neil, water bye laws state that the link should be removed after filling, but in practice most people leave them connected.