HOT WATER PIPES GURGLING - AIR IN SYSTEM SOMEHOW??

[lordsainsbury]

Hi,

I have a Glow Worm Ultimate 40FF boiler and when the hot water comes on as programmed first thing on a morning there is a lot of gurgling coming from the boiler and along the pipes to/from it, the noise is, i assume, air bubbles rushing along the pipes.

not only is this annoying because the noise wakes me up every day, I assume it's not healthy for the system in general.


If it helps anyone diagnose the likely issue, i haven't had the heating on for at least 6 weeks or so during the summer, if that would affect anything.


any advice on areas to investigate would be appreciated!

cheers.

 

[45yearsagasman]

Assuming you have an open vented system the 1st thing is to check the smaller fill/expansion tank in loft to see if it is full of water.

 

[lordsainsbury]

There is a tank in the loft space, i'll check to see if it's full and get back to you.

 

[lordsainsbury]

checked tanks in the loft (one large, one small) both are full with water and the filler valves appear to be operating just fine.

any other things i could check?

thanks for your help

 

[45yearsagasman]

Try partially draining your system via a drain cock and check that the smaller tank is refilling(this proves that the cold feed is not blocked)Close off the cock and bleed all air out of rads and via any air vents you may have.There are other reasons why this may be happening to you system,ie system is producing gas(hydrogen) bubbles or there may be a partial blockage near the cold feed and vent that will cause air to be drawn into the system in which case you would be advised to call in a htg engineer.

 

[lordsainsbury]

hi, been away for a while, starting with renewed vigour to stop my system gurgling.

is there a way for me to check if indeed there is a partial blockage at the cold feed/vent?


many thanks!

 

[bengasman]

Unless the system has been properly serviced, you are looking at around 90% chance of corrosion causing problems.

 

[John506]

I was thinking corrosion too, sounds like it could be kettling. Could it be a kind of banging noise rather than gurgling?

 

[Blooflame]

sludge will cause this, but more likely it'll be ur pump mate

 

[lordsainsbury]

it's definitely a gurgling, as opposed to a banging.

had the boiler serviced two months or so ago.

are there any further tests, or things to look/listen out for, to try to diagnose the cause once and for all?


thanks for all your help

 

[bengasman]

.....had the boiler serviced two months or so ago.
...

Did he take a water sample or check the header tank for signs of corrosion?