Draining a CH system

[ozzrahog]

First off hello, my first post

Probably a dumb question but I am leaving my house empty so need to drain it all down, have read the FAQs and seems ok but one question.

Will turning off the mains water supply stop the tank in the loft refilling or is it
a separate system?

Told you it might be a dumb question

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

If you dont ask you dont know.

The mains water supply should shut off the whole house, so yes. (Exceptions are some older properties that may have an additional supply originally feeding an outside W.C., known this to be used to feed a later addition such as a shower.)

There may (will probably) be 2 tanks in the loft. Smaller feeds central heating, larger serves hot water cylinder. Be aware for frost precautions, even with the cold storage tank emptied, the cylinder will remain full unless drained seperately.

 

[ozzrahog]

Thanks for that, I appear to have hit a new problem. I cant find a drain cock on the downstairs rads. There is on on the hot water cylinder

Below shows 2 of the 3 downstairs rads and the hot water cylinder (with its drain cock).

Any suggestions oh now to drain this down? Thanks in anticipation.

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• ozzrahog
• 12 Oct 2010
• 1

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• ozzrahog
• 12 Oct 2010
• 2

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• ozzrahog
• 12 Oct 2010
• 1

 

[ozzrahog]

Bumping back up.

Any advice please as this has got me stuck and I reckon I might me missing something obvious

Thanks

 

[pmx_super]

mine is on an external wall, have you checked outside?

 

[ozzrahog]

mine is on an external wall, have you checked outside?

The only pipe work on the outside is the outside tap I fitted for a hose pipe.

Totally confused

 

[kevplumb]

mine is on an external wall, have you checked outside?

The only pipe work on the outside is the outside tap I fitted for a hose pipe.

Totally confused

sometimes the drain tap is outside with the pipe going through the wall

 

[ozzrahog]

If I cant find the drain tap is it possible to fit one to the rad nearest the back door (and so easiest to drain from)? Its the middle of the 3 photos above

 

[DIYDANDY]

One of Tom's Tips might help.

 

[kevplumb]

turn the valves off
drain and remove the rad

attach a hose to the valve and drain that way

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• kevplumb
• 18 Aug 2010
• 3

might be worth fitting one of these