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Bleeding is an integral part of maintaining any heating system. There is no doubt about the importance of regular bleeding, yet many people do not know how to do it. Everything you need to know about bleeding is covered in this article.
When we talk about an air-locked heating system, it means that the operating fluid in the system contains unwanted air bubbles. These usually enter the system when filling the radiators, which is why the risk of air-locking is highest at the very start of the heating season. However, air can also enter the system during the ongoing refilling of water into the system or through various joints, valves, and pumps. Therefore, air-locking cannot be ruled out even during the heating season.
Air-locking occurs in all types of heating systems – radiators and underfloor heating, in the case of district heating, and even in individual boilers, in apartments and family houses. Therefore, every property owner must familiarize themselves with the proper procedure for bleeding and heating maintenance.
Bleeding the heating system is definitely not just another unnecessary obligation. Air bubbles in the heating system prevent the proper distribution of water to the radiators, which results in several unpleasant problems:
Higher heating costs: Since the operating fluid in the system is distributed inefficiently and unevenly, people often have to increase the heating output to achieve the desired temperature. This logically increases costs.
Lower thermal comfort: Despite higher operating costs, an air-locked heating system will never heat sufficiently.
Noise: Air in the heating system causes disturbing noises that can disrupt your sleep and concentration.
Corrosion: Air also causes corrosion of the internal walls of radiators and pipes. This corrosion shortens the lifespan of the entire system and can lead to a heating failure.
Reduced performance of heating units for neighbours: If you live in an apartment building, remember that your air-locked radiator negatively affects all radiators on your riser.
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Air-locked radiators do not provide sufficient thermal comfort.
First and foremost, it is absolutely necessary to bleed the radiators after filling them at the start of the heating season. Then regularly check the radiators and, if you suspect air-locking, bleed them at any time during the heating season. This is especially true for older heating systems, which are more prone to air-locking.
And how do you know if the heating system is air-locked? If you have no experience with air-locking or are unsure, focus on these two most common signs of air in the heating system:
Radiators heat unevenly and, when the control valves are fully open (or when a higher temperature is set on the thermostat), they are lukewarm. Usually, the top part of the radiators and the part furthest from the supply pipe remain cold.
Radiators are noisy, emitting annoying sounds of bubbling and hissing water.
Radiators can be bled in essentially two ways – either manually using bleed valves or completely automatically using so-called air separators.
Prepare a cloth, a bucket, and a key/screwdriver for the bleed valve. Open the thermostatic valve to the maximum and use the key/screwdriver to open the bleed valve. For safe handling, use protective gloves to protect yourself from the risk of scalding with hot water, steam leakage, or any sharp edges on the valves. Also, ensure you have enough light to accurately see what you are doing and avoid unnecessary mistakes. Let all the air escape from the valve. You will know the bleeding is complete when the bleed valve first starts to hiss or drip and then water begins to flow out, which you should catch with a cloth or bucket. Be careful – this water is very hot and can cause scalding. Close the valve and check after about an hour to see if the radiators are heating properly. If you are not satisfied with the result, repeat the process.
In the case of bleeding the heating system in apartment blocks and residential buildings, the cooperation of all neighbours on one riser is necessary, and the bleeding must be done simultaneously. First, everyone should open the thermostatic valves to the maximum and then release the air from the bleed valves. If the radiators on the top floors are air-locked, it affects the entire riser, so these radiators are the most important during bleeding.
Although bleeding the heating system using valves is not particularly complicated, for many people it represents a certain burden. To avoid having to think about or manually perform bleeding, there is a solution in the form of automatic air separators. This solution can also be used for bleeding the heating system without a valve.
An air separator is a simple device that is installed on the pipe and continuously removes air bubbles from the water throughout the heating season. The risk of air-locking is thus practically zero and bleeding is completely automatic, you do not have to do anything at all.
Air and dirt separator with Flamco magnet.
There are also combined filters for magnetic impurities and air available on the market. With this device, you ensure maximum protection for your heating system. The vast majority of heating problems and individual components are caused either by air or magnetic impurities.
Thanks to the magnetic filter for heating with an air separator, you ensure:
continuous and effective bleeding of the heating system without the need for any intervention,
continuous removal of all metal impurities and sludge,
low failure rate and longer lifespan of the heating system,
better heating performance at lower costs,
maximum thermal comfort.
Keep your heating system perfectly maintained and choose from our range of quality heating filters from renowned manufacturers such as Flamco and Caleffi, which will save you money and worries.
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