TIME TO REMOVE TRAP AIR FROM INSIDE RADIATORS

BY ROUTINE, BEFORE WINTER ARRIVES, (AROUND THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER), WE CALL OUR PLUMBER TO COME AND DO AN INSPECTION AND SERVICE TO OUR BOILER, SO WE DO NOT HAVE NASTY ACCIDENTS AND END UP WITH NO HEATING AND HOT WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER

Our heating is on automatic and comes on 30 minutes before we arrive home and is set at 17c. How come as I arrive home today the house is quite cold and as I fill the radiators they fill cold at the top but hot at the bottom ?????

Before a call a plumber, let’s find out what could be the problem.

The boiler is on, I have hot water. One problem that could be, is… trapped air in the heating system, which could be the reason why the radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom.

OK LET’S SEE

As a precaution, one should turn the heating system off.

  1. Find the radiator key

  2. Get a piece of paper.

NOTE Because I know beforehand which ones are the problematic ones, I go to them straight away but if you are going to do this for the first time ask your plumber when he comes to do the servicing which ones you should do first. Usually are the ones further away from the boiler. But please make sure you ask.

STEP 1 - Find out which side of the radiators the key fits.

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STEP 2 - I Put a piece of paper underneath the key and slowly twist the radiator key anti-clockwise until I hear a hissing sound,(as soon I hear the hissing sound I stop and do not open the valve any further) that means air is coming out but pay I a lot of attention to the sound, as the hissing sound stops hot water starts to come out and could be very hot.

FYI - Sometimes the hissing sound can last a couple of seconds to a good minute

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STEP 3 - As the hissing stops and hot water come out, I turn the key clockwise and I make sure the valve is really tightened.

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NOTE - I always leave a piece of paper at the bottom of the radiator to make sure I closed the valve properly ( if it stays dry means a did a good job if it gets wet I have to tighten it up a bit more)

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Then I go around the house checking for all the radiators that are cold at the bottom and hot at the bottom ( in my home usually are always the ones at the top)

HAPPY HAPPY I have a nice and cozy warm home again.

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