How to properly bleed this system?

heritz

Hi all,

Just bought a newly built 2-floor house and noticed that 3 of the radiators on the ground floor were not working. I rang the builder and they sent a plumber about a week ago, he bled them and they started working again.

A few days ago, I noticed that I wasn't getting any hot water in the taps. So I had a look at the hot water cylinder and noticed that a valve labelled "balancing valve" was closed. I opened it and the cylinder immediately started receiving hot water. I have hot water in the taps now, but this seems to have introduced air into the system again, as the same 3 rads on the ground floor are cold to the touch.

Today I decided to bleed the system. I let the system cool down to room temperature and started bleeding every radiator from top to bottom. By bleeding I mean just opening the bleeding valve, waiting for all air to come out and close it when water starts flowing; then move on to the next. I did this to every rad in the house. I didn't touch the thermostatic valves at all though.

Now I think I messed it up even more because the bottom floor is barely heating at all. Top floor is working fine.

Does anyone know how to properly bleed this system? Do I need to wait for the boiler to reach max temp before bleeding it?

Also, from the attached image, did I do right by opening the "balancing valve"? I am also curious about what the "filler loop" valve is for.

Sorry for all the questions. I appreciate any suggestions you can provide. Thanks!

Alkers

If you've just moved in you need to get back to the builder. If you're bleeding rads, it I'll only be the upstairs rads that will let air out. What were you trying to achieve by bleeding each of the rads?

Charlie19

It's a similar system to my own but the pipe where you have labeled hot water draw(flow pipe) should have a an air vent.

Our vent leaks slightly so I have it closed but every week or two, I open it and release a small bit of air.

dodzy

OP, you have 2 mechanisms for hot water; the immersion element or the central heating system will also give you hot water but the balancing valve needs to be partially open. You may have inadvertently reduced the pressure in the system with all the bleeding so you may need to open the filler loop to re-pressurize the system via this valve. Open it for 30secs and then close it again. There should be a pressure gauge on the boiler that ideally shout read approx 1 bar or thereabouts. That should hopefully sort you out

heritz

dodzy wrote: »

OP, you have 2 mechanisms for hot water; the immersion element or the central heating system will also give you hot water but the balancing valve needs to be partially open. You may have inadvertently reduced the pressure in the system with all the bleeding so you may need to open the filler loop to re-pressurize the system via this valve. Open it for 30secs and then close it again. There should be a pressure gauge on the boiler that ideally shout read approx 1 bar or thereabouts. That should hopefully sort you out

Legend dodzy! that worked. I had to do some reading on why the balancing valve had to be halfway open, but it all makes sense now.

Pressure gauge is on 1.5 and all rads are heading properly. Thanks!

dodzy

heritz wrote: »

Legend dodzy! that worked. I had to do some reading on why the balancing valve had to be halfway open, but it all makes sense now.

Pressure gauge is on 1.5 and all rads are heading properly. Thanks!

Good man, result. PM sent with your bill

jimf

dodzy wrote: »

Good man, result. PM sent with your bill

merry xmas my arse :P:P:P:P:P