You can empty a heating system
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You can empty a heating system
At some point in the life of your fully pumped central heating system you will need to flush it. To exchange radiator valves or add an additional heating radiator as an example. Usually this task will be performed by your heating engineer but in some circumstances it can be performed by the experienced maintenance handyman.
Most frequently cleaning the radiators is in the main grounds for performing at this task. Switching off the boiler and water heating pump should be the first measures you take. Prevention of any additional water entering the gas central heating system is also a priority.
The gas heating system has a header water tank in the attic which will ensure that any water shortfall is filled up. The passage of water in the expansion tank is controlled by use of a standard ball-valve. As the water reaches maximum level the ball floats on the surface and shuts the valve. However when some water is pulled off the water tank, the ball drops, the valve opens and more water gets into the tank. This is what needs to be stopped when Cleaning your metal radiator. A good way to do this is to stop the ball moving by binding it to the top of the cylinder.
Once you have finished the above run a hose from an outdoors drain to the outlet of at the bottom of one of your radiators. Once you open the outlet valve the water will be able to passage through the hosepipe to the outside flush. As there will be water in the ground floor radiators you will need to connect the hose pipe to one of these to guarantee that the whole central heating system drains. Check now that no water is moving into the gas central heating system and that the heating radiators are fully drained before you do any further work.
More air can enter the gas central heating system if you vent the top floor radiator bleed valves and this will help matters to conclude promptly. When the water is flushed off you are clear to work on your heating radiator.
