Emptying gas heating systems before further work
Emptying gas heating systems before further work
At some time in the life of your fully pumped heating system you will need to flush it. To fit a thermostatic metal radiator valve or replace a failed metal radiator are two cases. Emptying your system is something that can be done by the none expert but capable diy practitioner.
The primary cause for most people for Draining their heating system is to clean the metal radiators. Before you do anything to the actual heating radiator you should turn off the gas boiler and any gas or electric that supplies the gas fired boiler. Another necessary step is to ensure that no additional water enters the gas heating system whilst you are Emptying it.
Your Central Heating expansion cylinder is where the water is flowed into the system. The expansion cystern uses a ballvalve similar to that in a toilet system. This ballvalve is a ball connected to an arm that, when elevated closes the valve, which means when the cylinder is full no more water can enter because the valve is shut. Water is added to the central heating system if the levels fall as the ball will drop on the water surface opening the valve. Water will need to be prevented from entering the gas central heating system if the Emptying process is to complete. Using a metal or wooden rod to stop the ball leaves are falling in the cylinder will stop water getting in the system as the water is drained.
When you are confident that you are prevented any further water entering the gas central heating system you should attach a hose pipe to the outlet valve at the bottom of a heating radiator taking care to ensure the end of the hose is in a flush outdoors your property. Water will now passage out of the heating radiator through the hose pipe into the external drain. Obviously, if you want to empty the whole gas heating system you will need to attach the hosepipe to one of the level metal radiators. Check now that no water is getting in the central heating system and that the metal radiators are fully drained before you do any further work.
More air can enter the gas heating system if you vent the top story heating radiator bleed valves and this will help matters to conclude quickly. Work can commence when all the water has drained outside.