Got new system installed on 1/12/04. Problem with bathroom rad, smallest rad in house. We keep getting a build up of either gas or air. Installer has checked system again, no leaks. He thought rad was cutting out because room had reached temperature. Have monitored temperatures in room since last wedesday. Rad has been boiling hot up until sunday evening when the right hand side top of the rad began to become cooler. The whole top of the rad is now cooler. Have also removed TRV as instructed, but this doesn't allow the rad to go to full temperature. Question is: how long will I keep getting a gas build up and should we keep bleeding the system? Please any advice greatly appreciated - not getting very far with installer.
Pleasse Help!! Possibly gas in new central heating system
- Thread starter fluff29
- Start date
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2scoops0406
Hi, this is based on personal experience only, I am not a plumber or heating engineer even. We had our central heating installed Oct 2003, we needed to bleed the highest rad about once a week or so for a few months. The heating was initially quite noisy, but it has now all settled down, and is pretty much silent.
When the heating was first installed, our heating engineer, advised us that this would probably be the case due to the amount of air dissolved in the water, which would take time to come out.
Of course follow the experts opinions / suggestions though. Good luck
When the heating was first installed, our heating engineer, advised us that this would probably be the case due to the amount of air dissolved in the water, which would take time to come out.
Of course follow the experts opinions / suggestions though. Good luck
Hi ChrisR
Update on my CH. Have established that I do have gas in my rads (lit the gas last night in a glass tumbler) and this is what makes the rad in my bathroom go cold. Should I continue to bleed it as and when required and will it eventually sort itself out??
Corgiman - copper pipes were used.
Any advice appreciated.
Ta, Jenny
Update on my CH. Have established that I do have gas in my rads (lit the gas last night in a glass tumbler) and this is what makes the rad in my bathroom go cold. Should I continue to bleed it as and when required and will it eventually sort itself out??
Corgiman - copper pipes were used.
Any advice appreciated.
Ta, Jenny
If the gas out of the rad lights, it's hydrogen. This is produced by electrolysis of the water in the system (actually, oxygen and hydrogen will be produced but the oxygen will react with the steel radiators to produce rust).
If it's being produced at a high rate (ie. enough to fill a rad in less than a week) you have a serious problem, possibly also involving an electrical fault in the house. Get someone in who knows about electrolysis in CH systems.
If it's being produced at a high rate (ie. enough to fill a rad in less than a week) you have a serious problem, possibly also involving an electrical fault in the house. Get someone in who knows about electrolysis in CH systems.
It has taken about a week and a half for the radiator to become 1/3 to 1/2 full of gas. Drained it off last night and rad is now fully warm again. The system is still under guarantee (was only fitted at beginning of December and gas build up started out 3 days after installation).
Is there any chance that this will sort itself out after a few months of settling down????
Is there any chance that this will sort itself out after a few months of settling down????
not if its electrolytic 
Hi kevplumb
How will the installer find out if it is electrolytic? We have been had some long winded excuses already (he has been back twice) but now we have lit the gas. However, he had previously said that there may be a gas build up for a few months (caused by the flush solution and inhibitor??) would this be right? If it is electrolysis - what does it mean?
How will the installer find out if it is electrolytic? We have been had some long winded excuses already (he has been back twice) but now we have lit the gas. However, he had previously said that there may be a gas build up for a few months (caused by the flush solution and inhibitor??) would this be right? If it is electrolysis - what does it mean?
means your system is reacting usually dissimilar metals
as they react they produce hydrogen
croyden is right get the installer back and tell him whats happening
possibly some of the flushing solution wasnt drained properly and is reacting
either way it isnt doing any good
as they react they produce hydrogen
croyden is right get the installer back and tell him whats happening
possibly some of the flushing solution wasnt drained properly and is reacting
either way it isnt doing any good
Disagree (in detail 
).
There will always be 'dissimilar metals' in a heating system. eg. aluminium heat exchanger, copper pipes.
Electrolysis requires an electric current to flow through the water between one part (anode) and another (cathode) (or is it in the other direction ?
). This is usually because one part of the system is INSULATED from 'ground' but connected in some way to a source of electricity. This is NOT necessarily an 'electrical fault' as such: the 'connection' could be because a pipe and a wire carrying AC mains run close together for a couple of metres.
Making sure that all the 'equipotential cross-bonding' required by IEE Edition 16 is in place might help.
You need to deal with the problem because a longer-term consequence is often pinholes in radiators.
).There will always be 'dissimilar metals' in a heating system. eg. aluminium heat exchanger, copper pipes.
Electrolysis requires an electric current to flow through the water between one part (anode) and another (cathode) (or is it in the other direction ?
). This is usually because one part of the system is INSULATED from 'ground' but connected in some way to a source of electricity. This is NOT necessarily an 'electrical fault' as such: the 'connection' could be because a pipe and a wire carrying AC mains run close together for a couple of metres.Making sure that all the 'equipotential cross-bonding' required by IEE Edition 16 is in place might help.
You need to deal with the problem because a longer-term consequence is often pinholes in radiators.
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