When faced with repair work, going on a long trip or becoming a victim of an emergency, many people wonder whether it is necessary to drain the water from the heating system? In most cases, the answer is positive, although there are also situations where it is possible to fix a problem or make repairs with radiators filled with liquid.
Although the draining procedure is not particularly complicated, following the operating rules is an important nuance. If you violate the procedure, you can flood the floors in your own home with water. And if the drainage is carried out in a multi-story building, then neighbors may also suffer from incorrect actions.
How to drain a heating riser
1. Close the valves on the supply riser (1) and return riser (2).
2. Open the drain valves (3) and drain the coolant.
The second picture also shows a system with bottom feed. Only the supply and return risers are located in different rooms. Therefore, taps 1 and 2 can be spaced apart. And the procedure for draining the coolant is the same.
The third picture shows a system with top coolant supply. The supply line is located in the attic or under the ceiling of the upper floor.
Procedure for draining the heating riser:
- close valve 1 in the attic;
- find valve 2 in the basement and turn it off too;
- remove plug 3 and drain the coolant.
The same systems are made in multi-storey buildings.
It often becomes a necessary measure due to an emergency situation in the autonomous heating of the house or the departure of the owners for a long period of time in the winter. The question of how to do this was discussed in another article.
If you have a heating system with natural circulation installed (Fig. 1), you must immediately ensure that the boiler stops operating. Only after this can water be drained from the heating system.
. The discharge is made through a tap (valve), which should be located at the lowest point of the return line, usually next to the boiler. It is advisable to have a hose for this type of work. One end of the hose must be put on the tap, and the other end must be extended to the nearest place with soil, for example, a front garden, a vegetable garden, or, in extreme cases, drained into the sewer. After this, open the tap and wait until the hose stops flowing. It often happens that not everything has flowed out of the system; make sure that after removing the hose you can remove any remaining water.
Using the same method, you can discharge water from a heating system with forced circulation, which includes a pump that is not included in the boiler design. The reset procedure is the same.
Many modern systems are equipped with boilers that include a circulation pump (Fig. 2). The heating system installation method differs from the above, therefore, the supply and return pipes can be located above the baseboard or in the floor structure, just like the “warm floor” system.
1. First, turn off the boiler.
2. Place the hose on the tap from which water is drained from the heating system. It is advisable to put it on the return line (the right pipe coming from the boiler) to make a reset faster. If they are not under the boiler, find where they are. The other end of the hose can be directed into the sewer (a specially made outlet for drainage) or simply into a bucket.
3. Open the tap, wait until the water stops flowing (pressure drops) and turn off the tap.
4. Now we need to organize air access into the system. To do this, open the highest Mayevsky tap, usually installed on the heated towel rail (if equipped). If it is not available, on any radiator (for a two-story house, on the second floor).
5. Repeat the water draining procedure using the hose.
6. Now you can open all the remaining closed Mayevsky taps and repeat draining the water from the heating system again.
7. That's not all, now remove the hose from the return line and put it on the supply valve.
8. And reset again. The lower the hose is located along its entire length relative to the taps, the more water will drain from the heating.
Please note that water cannot be removed from the “warm floor” system in this way; a compressor or other equipment must be used.
Draining water from the heating system is not a quick procedure and requires some attention.
Features of thermostat valves
The operating principle of mechanical, electronic and electrically driven thermostats is the same. They control a valve that regulates the flow of coolant through the radiator. Thermal sensors of electronic faucets are placed far beyond the body and measure the air temperature in those areas of the room that are of interest to the consumer. This makes them better than mechanical and electrical ones, which determine the ambient temperature in the immediate vicinity of the heating device. Also, the electronic system allows you to adjust the temperature remotely using a server.
How to drain water from a water supply system
From time to time, it may be necessary to completely turn off all taps, fittings, sanitary equipment, or even drain water from the entire water supply network (for example, if the house remains unheated throughout the winter).
In this case, it is necessary to perform the following operations, which we present in technological sequence.
Draining. We turn off the water supply to the house. We disconnect gas and electricity from water heating systems. If you have central heating, you must open the outlet valve located on the boiler or on the pipes, for which you usually use a hose. Then you need to open all the valves on the radiators. Starting from the top floor of the house or mansion, open all the hot water taps in the shower, bath, etc. Don't forget to also drain the toilet tank.
We remind you once again: all water outlet taps on the heater and other equipment must be open. And lastly: it is necessary to open the outlet taps of the main water supply line so that all the remaining water leaves. If you leave your house or cottage for a long time in the winter, then take the time to make sure once again that all the water has left the system. As additional protection against frost, add salt or a glycerin tablet to the water remaining in the siphons. This will protect the siphons from possible rupture and eliminate the possibility of odors from the pipelines entering the room.
Rice. 1. 1 - compression plug; 2 - pin; 3 - threaded plug; 4 - nozzle
In the process of draining water from the system, it often becomes necessary to disconnect some of its sections. In this case, you need to use plugs. The most common plugs are shown in Figure 26.
Filling the system with water. The first step is to close the drain valves on the main pipes. Then you need to close all the taps in the house, including the boiler and water heater taps. If you have a cold water heater, you need to open the valve on the radiator and let air in. After all these manipulations, slowly open the main valve of the system and gradually fill the system with water.
Even before turning on the boiler, the batteries must be purged with air. At the final stage, turn on the gas and electricity to turn on the heater and boiler.
Measures to prevent water from freezing. There is a possibility of cold penetration from the street due to malfunctions in the heating system
In this case, it is very important to immediately take the necessary measures against freezing of pipes, since frozen water in them will immediately rupture the pipeline. In very cold weather, even those pipelines that were laid without violating the requirements can freeze, which often happens with pipes for supplying heat to a garage or basement.
What measures can be taken to prevent this? If the country house is electrified, in the cold area where the pipe runs, turn on an electric heater or simply place a 100-watt lamp near the pipe. For these purposes, you can even use a hair dryer to dry your hair. It is very good if you insulate the pipe before the onset of winter by wrapping it in newspapers and tying it with rope.
If the pipe is already frozen, wrap it in rags of any material and pour a thin stream of hot water so that the material around the pipe remains hot at all times.
A properly functioning heating system is an essential component of comfortable living in a house or apartment. Occasionally there is a need to replace radiators, fix leaks in the network, move or move the riser closer to the wall.
Any work on the system requires draining the coolant. And this is understandable. After all, it is impossible to open pipes when the network is full. Therefore, before starting repair and maintenance work, you need to drain the heating riser.
Coolant replacement reasons and frequency
Replacing water in a closed and open heating circuit is carried out:
During the first heating start.
After installation, the system is filled and started
After seasonal drainage.
When starting after repair work.
Regular topping up of liquid is required during operation if it has not been drained after the heating season.
Why drain your home system?
A question for which there is no clear answer is whether it is necessary to drain the circuit annually after the end of the heating season? The decision depends on the type, age and material of manufacture of the main elements - pipes and radiators, as well as on the total volume of liquid.
Each type has its own frequency of media replacement
Most often, systems with old cast iron radiators are drained for the summer. The reason is the appearance of a leak after the boilers are turned off. The old cast iron ribs are connected to each other by threaded connections with old gaskets. When there is hot water inside the batteries, the seals expand, providing a stable seal at the seams.
After the water cools, the material from which the gaskets are made naturally contracts and begins to flow at the junction of the ribs. But prolonged idle time of old radiators without water is fraught with accelerated corrosion; the rust inside the radiator and old pipes crumbles in a dry environment, and can damage the entire riser.
In closed new circuits, filling the heating system is not a costly process. But it is not recommended to completely drain the liquid every year - this is not necessary.
Frequency of replacing and topping up fluid in the heating system
How often do you need to change the fluid in your heating system? A few general rules:
In open-type circuits of private houses, it is enough to simply add water if the system is sealed, without subjecting the old communications to stress tests in the form of long dry periods. Replacement is necessary only in case of emergency repair or preventive sealing, after washing.
If a leak occurs, it is necessary to drain the water and carry out repairs.
Closed heating systems require preventive flushing and replacement of the coolant after several years.
The frequency of filling with new liquid depends on the characteristics of the water, the service life of the synthetic coolant, and the general condition of the system. If the extreme points are very airy, it is recommended to identify the cause - find the location of the leak and check the tightness of the heating network. Typically, water changes are carried out every few seasons.
Draining glycol coolant
The main feature of antifreeze is the ability not to freeze at significant sub-zero temperatures. Antifreezes retain their properties down to -60 degrees, which makes their use justified in the conditions of our country. The exact freezing point varies and is directly related to the amount of water in the mixture. Manufacturers indicate optimal indicators on the labels. Most antifreezes are a water-glycol solution with a package of chemical additives. The use of these additives is necessary: the solutions themselves are quite aggressive and can react with pipes and other elements of the heating system. Additive packages help reduce the aggressiveness of alcohols and further stabilize the solution. However, these additives vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and therefore it is not recommended to mix different types of coolants - this can lead to the formation of precipitation and increased aggressiveness of the solution. The coolant must be drained (regardless of the group) in the following cases:
- To eliminate leaks.
- Replacing radiators.
- Cleaning the system.
- Replacement.
Materials, equipment and procedure for draining water
To perform the necessary work, you will need a compressor, and of good performance, with a receiver for storing compressed air.
As you already understood, a car one is not suitable for these purposes.
If you are planning to drain used antifreeze, then you yourself understand that it is not worth draining it anywhere.
Clamps of the appropriate size for a reliable hose connection will also be needed.
Connect the hose from the compressor to the underfloor heating supply manifold.
The supply manifold may or may not have a special fitting in its design for filling the system under the hose. Therefore, the automatic air vent is unscrewed on the supply comb and a hose is connected through a suitable adapter and tightened with a clamp.
Arrangement of elements on the manifold for draining
- In the same way, connect the hose to the return manifold and lead it to the drainage point.
- Close the supply and return valves coming from the boiler in the manifold area.
- Using flow meters or valves (depending on your collector), close all underfloor heating circuits, except one, which, on the contrary, needs to be opened to the maximum.
- Turn on the compressor, open the valves or tap (depending on the type of comb) that are designed to fill and drain the system (those with hoses on them). At this moment, the coolant will begin to flow out of the drain hose under pressure. Wait until the water runs out and air comes out. At this point, pay attention to the pressure gauge on the compressor. If the pressure in the receiver at this moment is not high (1-3 atm), then close one of the taps on which the hose is attached (preferably, it would be a tap on the supply manifold, or if the pump is equipped with its own shut-off device, it is better to use it) . Wait for the pressure to rise to 5 atm. (no more) and blow out the floor loop under this pressure.
- Close the blown circuit and open the next one. Repeat the same procedure with him.
- In this way, drain the water from all underfloor heating circuits.
- For better efficiency, repeat the procedure after half an hour, since the remaining droplets of water in the pipe can connect with each other and eventually block the cross-section of the pipe in a certain place.
By following this method, you will solve the problem of how to drain water from a heated floor. The only problem is getting a compressor that can handle this task.
Self-pressure testing of underfloor heating systems
First launch of a warm water floor
Rules for installing a heated water floor based on a concrete screed
How to flush a heated floor heating system and how to completely flush the heating system in a private house with your own hands
Installation of water heated floors without concrete screed
Warm water floor system technology
Technical subtleties and nuances
In preparation for draining, it is necessary to study the structure of the collector in order to find and mark on the supply and return the location of the valves, marked as follows:
- servers are red;
- reverse flow - blue.
Connection diagram for a compressor for emptying the circuits of the underfloor heating system
If you confuse the supply with the return, the drainage system will not work - the check valve will block the pipeline.
If there is no receiving container, then you can connect the drain hose to the return valve and stretch it to the nearest sewerage intake - a toilet, sink or drain.
Collector unit for a warm water floor system
Having finished draining water from one circuit, empty all the others in the same way. When draining a section of the system, the valves of the remaining circuits must be closed, and at the end of each stage, the taps of the emptied pipelines must also be closed.
To completely empty the circuits, the purge procedure can be repeated after an hour - when the moisture from the walls of the heat pipes has drained and accumulated in some area.
Boilers
Residential premises are heated by a boiler with one or two circuits. In the second case, the owners also provide themselves with hot water.
Many heating devices also have internal cavities where the coolant reaches a given temperature. And after draining the liquid from the unit, its interior becomes free of water, and convenient conditions are created for working with all components and contacts.
The nuances of emptying boilers in the house were reflected above. But there are some more subtleties:
How to drain water from a double-circuit gas boiler correctly? This means emptying the heat exchanger. To do this, turn off the boiler and open the hot water tap until it cools down. After this, the flow of cold water is blocked. If necessary, all its contents are removed from the heat exchanger. Then the hot water supply fitting is unscrewed.
How to drain water from a modern wall-mounted gas boiler? Such devices have a drain fitting and an air vent. These elements work automatically. And to free such a boiler from liquid, simply open the drain valve after the preparatory stages.
Water draining technology, cleaning heating pipes
Drain valve in the heating system
Before filling the heating system of a double-circuit boiler, it is necessary to drain the old coolant. This procedure is mandatory and, despite its apparent simplicity, must be performed according to a certain technological scheme. First you need to turn off the heating and wait until the water temperature drops to room temperature. Only then can the closed heating system be properly filled with distilled water.
Then the drain valve located at the lowest point of the system opens. After waiting for the water to drain, you need to open the Mayevsky tap, which is located at the top point of the circuit. This is necessary to stabilize the pressure in the pipes. After completing this work, you need to flush the system. This is done before the heating system in a private home is filled. To do this, you need to use special tools and equipment. A pump is connected to the heating circuit, which pumps flushing liquid into the heating system. It also has a destructive effect on deposits in pipes. After several cycles of passage, contaminants are removed along with the liquid.
Used liquid must not be discharged into the sewer system. It must be collected in sealed containers, which are subsequently disposed of by special companies.
System design features
The design of the heating system in an apartment building is of two types: two-pipe and single-pipe. The single-pipe system has the main disadvantage of cooling the water on its way to the upper floors. Heat is directed from the bottom up under pressure, bypasses all thermal circuits and flows back through the same pipe.
In a two-pipe heating system, the coolant returns back through the second pipe, and the temperature is maintained high as it enters the system throughout its entire route.
Heating systems are also divided into open and closed. In an open system, water comes directly from the heating plant and is distributed through heating and hot water pipes. Most apartment buildings are built according to this type.
Prerequisites for draining water
This procedure is carried out in the following cases:
- Replacement of heating equipment.
- Correction of boiler malfunctions and repair of individual mechanisms.
- Elimination of leaks at valve contacts, fittings and other pipes.
- Turning off the heating for a long time in winter.
- Replacing the coolant.
It is also important to know when not to perform such a bowel movement. There are three situations here:
- The boiler is not threatened by cold. You need to leave a little water in it to protect the interior from rust.
- There was stagnant water in the device because it had been turned off for some time. Stale water is renewed. To do this, fill the tank full several times.
- The boiler is still under warranty.
The essence of the
The first step is to shut off the branch of the heating riser that goes to the apartment. It is enough just to close the distribution valve located here. For a private house with an autonomous heating system, this process is slightly different:
- firstly, you need to stop the supply of fuel or electrical energy;
- secondly, you should carefully read the user instructions for this case.
Only after this can the boiler be turned off. Then you should close the valve through which water is drawn into the system.
To speed up the process a little, you will need to know those places in the system where taps with air-type valves may be located. They all need to be opened. In this case, nothing will interfere with the flow of water to the hose.
During this operation, small leaks of water from the system onto the floor are possible. Therefore, at the very beginning, it is better to place a large bowl or basin under the place where the hose is connected to the tap (drain). As all the water leaves the system, it is necessary to disconnect the hose and drain the remaining water from it into a substitute container.
Only after completing all the described procedures can you move on to the main thing - to the work for which the water was drained from the heating system of a residential apartment or private housing construction.
If the owner of an apartment or house does not quite understand how to drain the water from the heating without harmful consequences, then it is better to contact a qualified contractor. For example, to a plumber from a company that services a specific home.
When winter weather sets in, around the end of October, it is imperative to drain all the water from the water supply system of the dacha. If the water is not drained, the system will fail, the taps will burst, and the storage water heater will simply burst.
In all of our plumbing installations, we provide two valves for draining water from indoor pipes, a drain valve on the water heater, and drain valves in the well or borehole.
It will take us a little time to drain the water:
3. Open taps 1,2,3,4 (see diagram below) - if they were closed for any reason and all taps (mixers) on all floors of the cottage or house, wait until all the water from the water supply drains into home.
4. Open the drain screw in the well to drain water from the main line. If you have a drain valve installed, the water will drain automatically when the pressure drops to 0.2 atm.
5. Unscrew the bottom part of the filter (such a transparent flask) after placing a basin or other container of at least 5 liters - it contains water!!! Discard the used internal filter. Install a new one next year. Do not screw the removed flask onto the filter for the winter!
6. To be safe, you need to drain the water from the sink siphon.
7. Don’t forget to drain the water from the toilet tank and the toilet itself.
Compressors and their variants
Not all owners have the opportunity to use special equipment. In this case, purging is performed using a receiver and a car compressor. A hydraulic accumulator stabilizes the supply of liquid from taps and maintains internal water pressure in the water supply system up to 10 atm. It is used as follows:
- using an auto-compressor, air is gradually pumped into the membrane or bulb of the hydraulic tank;
- open absolutely all taps;
- supply air under pressure;
- The remaining water quickly pours out of the pipes.
To understand how to pump water out of a pipe, you need to know how different compressors work. The principle of their operation is based on various methods.
Piston compressor
Cylinders are used to compress air. The design of the device is extremely simple, it is accessible to every summer resident and can be easily repaired. But during use, the equipment produces a lot of noise, and it is unable to work for a long time.
Diaphragm compressor
Membrane technology works on the same principle as piston technology. But instead of metal working pistons, a thin membrane is used. This device is characterized by low productivity.
Screw compressor
Two screws rotate in opposite directions, forcing air into the chamber, from where it is fed into the hose. The advantage of such equipment: quiet operation, economical energy consumption. But this is expensive equipment that cannot be repaired on your own.
Scroll compressor
This is a small unit designed for use in confined spaces. Due to its low productivity, it is ineffective. Typically used when purging systems in the home.
Now the only water left in the water heater is to drain it too:
2. During installation, we always install a drain tap (6) and a safety valve (5). If the drain valve (6) does not have a flexible connection (optional), install it. With a flexible hose, it is more convenient to drain water into a container located on the floor. The volume of water drained is equal to the volume of your water heater!
3. Wait until the water is completely drained from the water heater drain tap. Now some water remains in the safety valve (5). To drain water from the valve, turn the lever on the valve up. Note: On some valve models, the tab is held in place by a small screw. The screw must be unscrewed, the water drained and put back in place.
Methods for blowing pipes in a country house without a compressor
If you don’t have a powerful compressor, you can easily make one yourself. For this purpose you will need a minimum amount of necessary equipment and additional things:
- Durable polypropylene or Teflon canister;
- Drill;
- Step drill;
- FUM tape;
- Unnecessary bicycle or car camera;
- A pressure gauge for checking tire pressure (costs no more than 100 rubles in car and bicycle stores);
- Ball valve (required to shut off the air supply);
- Several flexible hoses for water supply;
- Fittings with threaded connections for connection to the canister.
The process of creating a simple compressor for blowing pipes
- Drill three holes in the side of the canister. Their diameter should be slightly larger than the fittings;
- Insert the fittings into the canister, make gaskets from the old chamber. And then tighten them securely with the bolts;
- To one fitting you need to connect a simple foot pump for inflating wheels or a small car compressor;
- Connect the hose securely to the second fitting, then screw in the ball valve, and then again the flexible connection. Do not forget to seal all connections with FUM tape;
- A pressure gauge is screwed into the third fitting to monitor the pressure in the canister.
How to drain water from a heating system
When is it necessary to drain water from the heating system? Most often, the need for it arises when it is necessary to clean or replace a heating radiator, for example. If we are talking about a city apartment that is connected to a central heating system, then such an operation can be carried out independently on the internal section of the network. In the event that it is necessary to drain the heating system of a private house equipped with a boiler, it will have to be temporarily emptied.
The essence of the
The first step is to shut off the branch of the heating riser that goes to the apartment. It is enough just to close the distribution valve located here. For a private house with an autonomous heating system, this process is slightly different:
- firstly, you need to stop the supply of fuel or electrical energy;
- secondly, you should carefully read the user instructions for this case.
Only after this can the boiler be turned off. Then you should close the valve through which water is drawn into the system.
Only after this can the boiler be turned off. Then you should close the valve through which water is drawn into the system.
To speed up the process a little, you will need to know those places in the system where taps with air-type valves may be located. They all need to be opened. In this case, nothing will interfere with the flow of water to the hose.
During this operation, small leaks of water from the system onto the floor are possible. Therefore, at the very beginning, it is better to place a large bowl or basin under the place where the hose is connected to the tap (drain). As all the water leaves the system, it is necessary to disconnect the hose and drain the remaining water from it into a substitute container.
Only after completing all the described procedures can you move on to the main thing - to the work for which the water was drained from the heating system of a residential apartment or private housing construction.
If the owner of an apartment or house does not quite understand how to drain the water from the heating without harmful consequences, then it is better to contact a qualified contractor. For example, to a plumber from a company that services a specific home.
The process of preparing household appliances for the winter period
The boiler is disconnected from the power supply and the access to water is blocked.
After cooling, the water is removed from the device using a drain tap, and if it is not available, do this using a drain hose, having first unscrewed the screw on the safety valve. Then you need to loosen the nut on the outlet hose, which will allow air to enter and remove water from the boiler. Remaining water from dishwashers, as well as washing machines, is removed from the drain hole, most often located on the front panel at the bottom of the equipment. For this purpose, place a container under the drain, open it and remove the water.
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Some heating problems that do not require draining
Most often, heating problems are associated with the fact that water does not circulate in the heating system, for various reasons.
There are many reasons and the most common are:
Many disturbances in heating systems are interconnected, for example, water babbling in heating pipes. This phenomenon can cause discomfort and complaints - the heating radiators in the house make noise. Each person perceives the sounds that a heating system may produce differently. Some people think that the heating is humming, others perceive these sounds as humming. Unpleasant sounds include knocking on radiators during operation of the system.
Noises in heating circuits are phenomena of the same order and there are quite a lot of reasons that cause them:
The reasons listed are the most common.
In any case, if various unpleasant noises appear in the heating system that were not there before, you need to carefully inspect and analyze the operation of the circuit. Once the fault has been located, it must be eliminated.
But if you can’t find and fix the problem yourself, then you need to contact a specialist.
Category: Water supply and heating
Features of American cranes
The scheme for connecting pipes using a threaded fitting, gasket and union nut, which has received the slang name “American”, is better in many aspects of connecting shut-off valves than using a drive with a number of additional components (threads, couplings, lock nuts and counter threads). Also, with the old connection method, it was very often necessary to rotate the pipe or tap. This problem is no longer present. “American” is especially effective when installing or replacing radiators, heated towel rails, meters, expansion tanks and other components of the heating system. And you can’t do without it in hard-to-reach, inconvenient places where it is impossible to make a welding connection. To replace, dismantle or install any device included in the heating system, it is enough to turn the handle or valve to the “closed” position to block the flow of coolant, and you can use a wrench to unscrew the union nut, freeing any unit. From all of the above, we can conclude that the “American” is not so much a crane as a diagram of the connection of pipe parts and elements. This scheme can be used in any type of shut-off valve, but most often the “American” is connected to a ball structure. You can also often find an American woman with a three-way tap equipped with a valve and equipped with an electric drive.
Important! There is an angular version of the “American”, which has the same principle of operation as the regular one - straight.
How to drain water from radiators
Radiator
With the onset of October, the temperature, both outside and in apartments, gradually decreases. Each of us thinks: “the main thing is to hold out until the start of the heating season.” However, the situation does not change from year to year. The media announce that heating was turned on in houses on time and without delays, but many people’s radiators remain cold. It’s even more offensive when the heat still reaches the neighboring apartments, but not yours.
The reason for this unpleasant situation is the formation of air jams along the riser. These plugs clog the radiators on different floors of the building and lead to the fact that hot water, carrying the long-awaited warmth, cannot get through them. There are several ways to solve this problem, which I would like to consider below.
Options for solving the problem
The best option is to leave an application with the municipal unitary enterprise or homeowners association and wait for the mechanics. However, the wait may take up to several weeks. Many people want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, so they independently manage the heat supply to the apartment.
Advantages and disadvantages of self-draining water
The main disadvantages include the following:
Damage to battery drain mechanisms
As a rule, any equipment tends to “age”, and those connected to water also become coked over time. If you open the battery drain mechanisms, let out the air and drain the water on your own, then you may not be able to close them. And this can lead to flooding of the neighbors, and, naturally, the heating will disappear in the entire entrance until the fault is eliminated.
Loss of water pressure in batteries
The main advantage of “cleaning” the radiators yourself is that heating is supplied to the apartment more quickly, because you don’t have to wait for the mechanics.
Work order
- It’s good if all batteries have a Mayevsky tap (valve) and two shut-off valves. Otherwise, you will have to invite locksmiths to avoid unpleasant consequences.
It is recommended to bleed air and drain water from the battery in the following sequence:
- Open battery shut-off valves. They are considered open when their handle is located along the pipes through which water flows in and out.
- Open the Mayevsky tap (valve), located in the top plug of the battery.
- Wait for water to flow through Mayevsky’s tap. Water will flow immediately after all the air has escaped through this valve.
- Drain the water until a smooth flow is achieved. When there are no more air bubbles left in it, this will indicate that the air lock has been eliminated.
- Close the Mayevsky valve.
- Adjust the shut-off valves to warm up the battery, providing the necessary heating to the room.
It should be noted:
It is recommended to drain the water from the battery yourself only if you are confident in the reliability of the equipment and in your own abilities. Otherwise, the water circulating in the heating system will only bring trouble. The safest option is to invite specialists from the service organization and transfer this “headache” onto their shoulders.
Prevention
To avoid problems with air locks, it is necessary to install air vents at each group of heating elements. So, for example, to remove air from the boiler, an automatic valve for removing gases is mounted directly on it. All collectors are also equipped with it. Mayevsky taps are installed on the radiators at the end.
If, after bleeding the air, the radiators still do not heat up well, the coolant should be completely drained. Since it is possible that there is too much dirt in the network, and it significantly reduces the circulation of fluid in the batteries.
How to properly drain water from the system
If a summer water supply system was installed on the site and the water rose from a shallow well or well, then in addition to draining the water from the internal distribution system in the house, it is necessary to remove the pump so that the water in the water supply pipe does not freeze. Such simple systems usually do not provide any specialized means for convenient draining. If water is supplied to the house from a well with a caisson, then there is no need to lift the pump from the well - just open the drain valve above the head and the water from the water supply system will return to the well. The drain valve is located between the check valve and the accumulator. During the process of draining water, all taps at water collection points must be open. If there is a storage tank in the house, drain the water from it. Don’t forget about the summer water supply located outside - it will suffer from frost before anyone else.
To carry out effective drainage, water pipes must have a certain slope so that all the water is guaranteed to leave the system and not linger somewhere inside. A small amount of water remaining in the pipe and turning into ice can rupture the pipe and break the seal. Even a strong steel pipe will not be able to withstand the pressure of the ice that forms. Water from the water heater is also drained through a drain valve connected to the tee. The tap and tee must have a hose attachment to the check valve on the incoming water heating pipe. Another tee with a tap must be installed on the outlet pipe from the heater to supply air when draining water.
If for some reason the drain taps were not installed when installing the water supply system, and frost is about to hit, then you can remove water from the pipes using a compressor. Getting into the pipes through the tee, compressed air is able to displace all the water out. The compressor can be used even with a drain valve if you want to purge the system and make sure that there is not a drop of water left in it. Air blowing is especially important if the internal water supply in the house is made of hard plastic pipes, which, for the sake of design, are mounted strictly horizontally. In this case, complete drainage from the system is obviously not guaranteed and the use of purging is mandatory.
If you live in a country house permanently, and the heating system uses ordinary water rather than antifreeze, then before leaving for a long time in winter, it will also have to be drained so that the heating pipes and radiators do not fail. Of course, for such cases, various complexity and price options have been developed for emergency heating of the water supply system, heating system, or the room as a whole to a temperature of several degrees above 0 C. But all these methods do not guarantee complete protection, because the boiler or other heat source is mainly controlled using electronics, and in your absence the electricity may be turned off. In addition, electric heating equipment constantly turned on in the absence of owners increases the risk of fire. Therefore, the best, cheapest and most reliable protection of the heating system from freezing is the use of antifreeze.
But if it happens that instead of antifreeze, water is used as a coolant, then how to properly drain this water from the heating system? Turn off the boiler or close the distribution valve on the pipe leading from the riser. Close the valve through which water is supplied to the heating system. To drain water from the radiator system, use a hose of the required length to divert the water to a discharge point into the sewer or into the street. Open the drain valve on the radiator, and in the heating system, open the faucet with the air valve - this will speed up the drainage of water.
Where else can water remain? Don't forget to drain the water from all siphons (hydraulic seals). There are water seals in every home; they are located in curved sections of the drain pipe under sinks, under bathtubs, and in toilets. Water also remains in the coarse filter, in the main filter unit, in the washing machine and dishwasher and in the electric water heater. Simply put, before closing your dacha for the winter season, check all the devices to which water was supplied in the summer.
All work on draining water and preserving the individual water supply system must be carried out at a temperature not lower than + 5 C.
How to use a heating system with a gas-fired boiler
To ensure good operation of the heating system using a gas water heater, you need to understand the principles of its operation and follow the rules for installing and operating the boiler. The information below will help you do everything according to the rules, following the manufacturer's advice and the rules for using this equipment.
Starting the heating system
The installation and commissioning of the boiler must be carried out by professionals. This process consists of several stages: the installation process, filling the system and setting up its operation. How to fill the heating system with water:
- before you start filling, you need to open the automatic pump dispenser;
- then the filling valve opens and remains open until the pressure gauge shows a system pressure of 1.5 bar. After which the valve closes;
- then the air vent valves on the batteries are opened to release the air that has accumulated in them. At the same time, the system pressure drops, and the filling valve is opened again, bringing the system pressure to 1.5 bar;
- If necessary, the operation is repeated until air in large quantities stops accumulating in the system.
It must be borne in mind that air enters the system with water; in any case, this is good. Minimal amounts of air are removed from the heating system using a deaerator installed on the pump. This leads to a gradual decrease in pressure. If during operation of the boiler the pressure gauge shows a pressure below 0.5 bar, you will need to add water to the system again.
How to add water to the heating system
If the water pressure has dropped to a critical level (0.5 bar or below), it should be increased by adding water. On boilers with an LCD screen, this situation can be indicated using a code that stands for “low pressure”. We perform recharge by following these rules:
- turn off the heating boiler and de-energize it by unplugging the plug from the socket;
- carefully inspect the entire heating system and the boiler itself to make sure that there are no coolant leaks (they can also be the basis for a decrease in pressure);
- using the filling tap, we bring the system pressure to 1.5 bar, the same as when initially filling with water;
- After closing the valve, the boiler can be turned on.
The make-up valve must be closed in any case. Otherwise, system pressure may rise to critically high levels. In most cases this value is 3 bars. In such a case, the automation will work and unnecessary water will be discharged using a safety valve.
How to remove water from a heating system
In most cases, for example, when leaks are detected or other situations requiring repairs, it is necessary to drain the coolant from the system. This is easy to do by following these instructions:
How to completely drain water from a heating system! Preparing for winter!
- First of all, turn off the boiler and remove the plug from the socket;
- open the valves on the radiator and boiler;
- open the drain tap. It is located at the lowest point of the heating system;
- We drain the water until the value of the device for determining the pressure value becomes zero.
In double-circuit systems, you will also need to remove water from the hot water supply circuit. To do this, after turning off the boiler completely, open the cold water supply valve and one of the hot taps to ensure complete drainage from the DHW system.