- Joined
- 23 Feb 2004
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
I have a Halstead Ace High boiler running twelve radiators. They heat the house very unevenly, and there are two radiators in cupboards (a bit unnecessary I'd say), so I'd like to fit Thermostatic valves, and remove the two offending rads.
Is the best method to drain the system down entirely before doing the work? I see lots of different suggestions on this forum to avoid draining the system, such as using freezing kits, shutting all radiator valves and draining water from the pipes only, or even (this one seems unlikely to me) bleeding out excess water via the boilers bleed valve and relying on the vacuum created to hold in the water.
If I do need to drain down the system, what are the pitfalls? A couple of DIY sites I've seen say closed systems are too complicated for DIYers to drain. Is that right?
As far as I can see the basic procedure is:
To Empty: Shut off boiler, open bleed valves, open up the draincock with a hose attached, empty somewhere appropriate.
To Fill: Put correct amount of inhibitor or system into one of the rads, fill, bleed, fill, bleed etc. tilll pressure is back up.
What have I missed? Or should I just stay well clear?
Thanks very much!
Is the best method to drain the system down entirely before doing the work? I see lots of different suggestions on this forum to avoid draining the system, such as using freezing kits, shutting all radiator valves and draining water from the pipes only, or even (this one seems unlikely to me) bleeding out excess water via the boilers bleed valve and relying on the vacuum created to hold in the water.
If I do need to drain down the system, what are the pitfalls? A couple of DIY sites I've seen say closed systems are too complicated for DIYers to drain. Is that right?
As far as I can see the basic procedure is:
To Empty: Shut off boiler, open bleed valves, open up the draincock with a hose attached, empty somewhere appropriate.
To Fill: Put correct amount of inhibitor or system into one of the rads, fill, bleed, fill, bleed etc. tilll pressure is back up.
What have I missed? Or should I just stay well clear?
Thanks very much!
. Not familiar with the boiler but there is a fair chance the automatic air vent will be stuck when you fill back up and the boiler will bang crash and overheat.....if you're doing it on the weekend it is worth buying one just in case, that is the only complication with draining sealed heating syystems otherwise they are much more simple than open vents. Bunging the system to hold on a vacuum is fine for a single valve or pump etc, but not for all the rads, especially if you have a working auto air vent.
