Heating systems can be cleared
Heating systems can be cleared
At some point in the life-time of your fully pumped heating system you will want to flush it. To work on a radiator problem or to extend the system perhaps. Draining your system is something that can be completed by the none professional but competent do it yourself practician.
The main reason for most individuals for Flushing their heating system is to clean the metal radiators. Before any work is undertaken you need to turn off the central heating pump and gas boiler. Another essential step is to ensure that no additional water enters the heating system whilst you are Emptying it.
The gas central heating system has a expansion cystern in the attic which will ensure that any water shortfall is topped up. A common ball valve is used in the expansion tank similar to that in a toilet. Rising water levels in the cystern mean that the valve is blocked as the ball floats higher on the water surface. The valve will be opened in the water levels fall as the ball will float on the falling water surface. To ensure that the central heating system fully empties we need to stop this mechanism. One of the easiest ways to end this is by placing a piece of wood across the tank and binding the value arm to it, which will close this valve.
Now take a hosepipe emptying into an outdoors drain and connect this to the outlet valve on the bottom of your metal radiator. Once you open the outlet valve the water will be able to rate of flow through the hose pipe to the outside clear. Obviously, if you want to flush the whole heating system you will need to attach the hose pipe to one of the level heating radiators. Before you commence any other work on this central heating system you must now check that all the water has emptied out and no other the water is entering into the heating radiators.
By opening the bleed valves in the metal radiators on the top level you will enable air to enter the gas central heating system and quicken up the Cleaning process. When completed work can now begin on the system.