The heating system needs constant monitoring. Air jams often occur in it, which disrupt its functioning and can cause an emergency. To avoid this, you need to know ways to bleed air from the batteries. Thanks to this, it is possible to improve the quality of space heating and eliminate unpleasant sounds, which often appear in such cases.
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Causes of airiness
Although the heating system is sealed, air often accumulates in it. This problem is especially often observed in apartment buildings and private buildings in the first days heating season. The main reasons provoking it are considered to be the following:
In some cases, aeration is related to the composition of the water. To fix the problem, you need to install a special filter. Often used in private homes plastic pipes , so the appearance air lock may indicate the use of low-quality barrier valves during installation.
Signs and dangers of air locks
Some argue that it is not necessary to ventilate the battery in an apartment or private house before the start of the heating season, but this opinion is erroneous. If you take a thermal image of a radiator in which air bubbles are present, you can see that the places where they accumulate have low temperature. They are cold to the touch.
That is why when the system is aired, the heating efficiency drops noticeably. Even when the temperature outside does not drop below -3 °C, the room will be cool. In a private house, when the heating boiler is operating, low heat transfer is also observed due to the presence of air in the radiators or pipes.
Home owner trying to get work started heating system can hear bubbling and gurgling in the batteries, which indicates the need to deflate air masses. In some cases, the sounds are sharper and resemble knocking on metal with a wooden stick. This needs to be corrected urgently as the boiler may malfunction. If there are no signs, but the radiators still heat unevenly, you can knock on them in different places metal object. In the area where air masses accumulate, the sound is louder and higher pitched.
If there is a large amount of air, the pump that helps fill the heating system with water simply cannot push it into the pipes. At the same time, a sharper and louder knock appears. This often leads to failure of not only the pump, but also the boiler, since the latter overheats due to the lack of normal coolant circulation.
The battery tap is for releasing air and draining water.
In addition, the metal of batteries and pipes with prolonged contact with air begins to thin out, areas of corrosion appear, which gradually disable the device. It is also worth considering that constant and uneven heating of the material harms the system and provokes emergency situations. That is why it is recommended to bleed the heating radiators when the first signs of traffic jams appear.
Ways to solve the problem
Today there are several methods that help release air from a heating battery. In apartments and private houses, this process may differ. As a rule, this is due to the principle of operation of the system in the house, and in multi-apartment buildings central heating functions in the same way.
To work you will need a special adjustable wrench. If the radiator is of a new generation (bimetallic or aluminum), then a regular screwdriver will do. It is worth keeping a sufficient number of rags nearby, as well as a wide basin, since water leakage is inevitable. After this, you can begin deflating the airlock using one of the popular methods.
Mayevsky crane
A Mayevsky crane is often used in apartments. It is a kind of needle-type valve located on top of the battery. Models are available with and without a plastic handle. In the first case, no tools are needed. When working with a tap, there is no need to shut off the entire riser and wait for the coolant to cool. This will lead to a decrease in operating pressure. To bleed air, you must perform the following manipulations:
Next, you need to close the tap. If the manipulation was carried out in an apartment, the system is automatically filled with coolant. In a private home, it is necessary to fill it again when the pump is turned on manually.
Automatic air vent
This system is called a float, it is fully automatic and does not require human intervention. The air vent is installed on the radiator in a horizontal or vertical position, reacts to the amount of coolant and releases them when air masses accumulate. When the amount of water decreases, it lowers and the valve automatically opens, releasing the plug. This is very convenient and eliminates various emergency situations.
#86. HOW TO RELEASE AIR FROM A HEATING RADIATOR?
However, the device has a drawback - it is very sensitive to chemical composition coolant and in the presence of a large amount of harmful impurities quickly fails. Special water filters and regular replacement of the O-ring will help to avoid this.
An automatic air vent is considered ideal option for a private home, since it does not require restarting the system and draining a large amount of water. At correct operation can last a long time.
Battery plug
The previous methods are relevant provided that modern radiators are installed in the apartment or house. However, in many buildings cast iron batteries work properly. Properly bleeding air from them is problematic due to the lack of a Mayevsky tap. Instead, special plugs are installed on the radiators, fixed with paint and tow. In order to bleed air, you must perform the following steps:
The plug must be screwed in carefully but firmly. It is recommended to additionally wrap the threads with a special tape, which will help prevent coolant leakage. Only after fixing is it possible to open the tap supplying water to the system again. This method is rarely used in homes and requires certain skills. If they are absent, it is better to contact a specialist.
In a private house
Many houses have Mayevsky installed, so when airing the system you can use the same method as in apartment building. However, usually such devices are not available, which is why the only way would be to descend through expansion tank.
Such a device is mandatory element any heating system in the house. It can be open and closed type. The first option is easier to operate, and airing the system usually means lowering the water level in the tank. To eliminate the problem, it is enough to replenish the missing amount of fluid.
If the heating system has a closed tank, the only solution to the problem is to bleed air through the radiators. Before doing this, it is recommended to try to completely fill the system so that at least 10 liters of water flow out of the control pipe leaving the tank.
After this, you need to start the system again. If the problem persists, it is recommended to lower air masses from the battery, following general recommendations. It is worth noting that in old-style heating systems, air may appear in the radiators during intensive operation of the heating boiler.
This is especially often observed when installing solid fuel models without a built-in thermostat. The water heats up excessively, begins to boil and pours out through the control pipe of the expansion tank. As a result, it becomes empty and, if there are cracks that break the tightness, air masses begin to enter the system. Then you can bleed the air using any of the listed methods, but before doing this, you need to eliminate the holes or cracks. Otherwise, the descent will have to be repeated regularly.
How to bleed air from the Audi 80 cooling system. [@2015]
Prevention methods
In order not to constantly bleed air from the radiators, it is necessary to perform all actions correctly when starting the heating system. Open type The system provides for independent filling of pipes with coolant. To do this, open all the valves, ensuring the unhindered movement of water.
The pressure should not be too great. It is recommended to pay attention to the drain valve, which must be closed when filling the radiators. If the heating system is closed, the algorithm is slightly different. The first step is to close all the valves except the one that starts the water. Next, you should connect a pump that ensures stable pressure in the pipes. The next step is to fill the system with coolant. Only after this should you bleed air from the radiators using a Mayevsky tap.
Air in the battery is a common problem in houses and apartments, preventing normal heating of the room. If you follow the recommendations of specialists, he will be able to cope with it. a common person without professional skills.
Is a problem that prevents the system from working efficiently. The fact is that the battery in this case cannot heat up completely. prevents water from spreading throughout the radiator. Naturally, the issue needs to be resolved immediately. Otherwise, you will pay money for poor-quality heating and freeze, wrapped in a blanket.
The reason for this problem is repairing or preparing the system for the season, improper filling of pipes with water, poor sealing of elements, and the presence of air in the liquid itself. If the radiator heats very poorly, then you need to learn how to bleed air from the batteries. In principle, the procedure is not difficult, so you can do it yourself. Naturally, all actions must be done very carefully so as not to break the radiators.
First of all, you must make sure that your system is equipped with special air vents with valves on which faucets are installed. Before bleeding the batteries, decide whether you need any tools for the job. In principle, they are only required for manual air vents. In this case, for the procedure you will need a simple key or a screwdriver. WITH automatic systems everything is much simpler on the way down. However, they are very sensitive to dirt.
Before deflating the batteries, try tapping them lightly with a hammer. If you hear very ringing sound, which means there is a traffic jam in this place. Now you can start deflating. Since water will begin to drip from the pipe after it comes out, you will also need a towel or small container to collect it. Now take a wrench or other tool and open the valve. At this time, you should listen to the sounds that will be heard from the battery. The air should come out with a whistle or hiss.
Since it is quite simple to bleed air from the batteries, you should still be careful. Once the plug is gone, water will begin to ooze from the radiator. This indicates that there is no more air in the system and the valve can be closed. Do this carefully so as not to break anything. Otherwise, you cannot close the battery and you will have to call a repairman.
If, after carrying out this work, the heating does not work efficiently enough, then you will have to wash or blow out the batteries. If this procedure does not help, it means that the system is not well filled with water. You should also take into account that the air lock comes out faster if the liquid in the radiator is hot.
It should be noted that it is quite difficult to remove the problem from batteries made of aluminum. Therefore, try to bleed air regularly, even if the system heats well. If the heating is autonomous, then to combat the plug, sometimes you have to drain water through the expansion tank.
Now you know how to bleed the air from the radiator yourself. Let your home be warm and cozy during the cold days of winter. Good luck!
Oxygen is dissolved in small quantities in water.
However, over time it can lead to greater difficulties in the heating system.
And if you have at least one radiator in your apartment (or house), you should definitely know how to bleed air from a heating radiator. And you can do without calling a specialist!
Airiness, or air lock, is an accumulation of air in the upper part of the heating device (or pipeline).
IN apartment buildings Residents of the top floors suffer especially from the problem.
There can be several reasons for airiness. Let's list the main ones:
- Repair work (if the pipeline has been manipulated, this leads to air entering the system).
- In city apartments, it is difficult to put the main line into operation without traffic jams, since ideally, the system should be filled with water very slowly, with simultaneous bleeding.
- There is a leak somewhere (even a small leak at a joint should be fixed immediately).
- Difficulties often arise with a heated floor system if its branches are not laid strictly horizontally and at different heights.
- In any water, when the temperature rises, oxygen is released. In private homes, over time, all the air escapes, and if the coolant does not change, you can forget about the problem. But in central heating, portions of liquid are constantly renewed.
If you really can’t do everything yourself, you can leave a request at serving the house company to send a master.
But the implementation of the system usually takes two weeks, so there is no need to rush to complain before this time.
How to determine it?
It is easy to detect a traffic jam; it will make itself known:- Batteries may begin to gurgle;
- The temperature in the rooms will drop for no apparent reason;
- Part of the radiator will warm up, while another area will remain almost cold.
Lightly tap the top of the radiator with a metal object, and then compare the sound of the knock at the bottom of the unit. Where the traffic jam appears, the sound will be louder and higher.
What can airy heating lead to?
The phenomenon paralyzes the operation of the system - circulation is disrupted, which leads to overheating of certain sections of the heating system and insufficient heating of others.
Due to prolonged contact with oxygen, many metals become covered with scale and are subject to destruction. Aluminum radiators are especially sensitive to starting the heating system.
In private houses with forced circulation, the air is in contact with the circulation pump. The service life of the device is reduced.
How to properly bleed air from a battery
In the gravity system of a private house, all bubbles themselves exit through the expansion tank located at the highest point.
In city apartments, an air vent is installed on each radiator:
- Manual (Maevsky crane).
- Automatic valve.
Depending on what is installed, the operating technology will change.
Aluminum, bimetallic or cast iron
Aluminum– not the most suitable material for heating. He is actively involved in chemical reactions and releases hydrogen. But due to its modest price and good thermal conductivity, it is often used. To combat the shortcomings of aluminum, it is coated from the inside with a layer of a special film. But over time, it stops working, and hydrogen inevitably begins to be released.
Bimetallic radiators- another invention that improves the quality of heating devices. Where there is contact with the coolant, a different metal is used. And the fins are made of aluminum.
If a thermostat is installed on the battery, you just need to periodically open it and wait until the air comes out. The process of bleeding air from bimetallic batteries is no different from working with an aluminum radiator.
Video on the topic
Apartment owners apartment buildings and everyone who has central heating has often encountered the problem of air locks in heating systems. This is reflected in the appearance of various noises, poor heating of the batteries and corrosion of metal parts.
It is typical that even from a perfectly designed and executed system central heating You need to bleed the air periodically. Its appearance inside is possible not only due to possible poor tightness of the system, but also for other reasons.
Reasons for air entry
Let's look at the reasons why air locks occur:
- In case of heating repairs.
- In apartments it is quite difficult to de-air the pipes by immediately filling them with water.
- This problem often occurs with heated floors, in cases where their lines are not completely horizontal.
- The appearance of gas in water is always associated with an increase in its temperature. In autonomous heating systems, no air remains after a while, however, if the coolant is constantly renewed, the problem will appear again and again.
Problem Definition
To identify air pockets in heating you need:
- try to touch the batteries, and if part of the surface is cold or barely warm, this will mean there is air in the system;
- if the temperature in the room drops for no reason;
- if gurgling is heard in the radiator.
It is very easy to check whether the system needs bleeding by tapping a metal object on the top of the battery, and then doing the same at the bottom. Where the traffic jam occurs, the sound will be louder.
Consequences of airy heating
If the plug is not removed in time, prolonged contact with oxygen will negatively affect the metal, and it may become covered with scale and begin to deteriorate. In addition, the airiness of the system affects the circulation of water, as a result of which some places overheat and others are poorly heated.
Exist various ways for bleeding gas, and priority should be given to one or the other depending on the choice of coolant. And also, on the method of water circulation in the system: natural or forced.
As a result, it is used air valve, allowing you to release the air lock from the radiator or the Mayevsky valve.
How can you bleed air?
Forced circulation systems use a small air plenum at the top for venting. However, it can only be vented if the supply pipe is at an angle in the direction of flow of the coolant.
In this case, the air pockets that rise with it will exit through a series of special valves.
Today, the use of manual and automatic methods more often used to bleed air and enter water into the system. Hand-held devices (Mayevsky taps) are distinguished by their compact dimensions
It should be taken into account: You can bleed off only after the coolant has completely cooled down.
Features of automatic air vents
In order to bleed air into, such as a warm floor in a house, human participation is not required.
High performance does not reduce the strong sensitivity to impurities in the coolant, so they are installed together with filters. Filters are installed both on the supply line and on the return line. In order to remove air most effectively, their design has stages, which makes it possible to remove oxygen from each group of devices.
If the pipes were installed in a private house at a slight angle in the direction of water flow, the drain mechanism allows the heating to be ventilated with a large flow of coolant and increases the pressure.
Removing air through a bleeder in aluminum, bimetallic and cast iron batteries
The advantages of aluminum batteries are affordable price and excellent thermal conductivity. But aluminum is not a very good heating material due to its ability to react and release hydrogen.
When such a battery is air-filled, a Mayevsky crane will help solve the problem of dumping excess air. In order to expel hydrogen from the inside, such batteries are covered with a special film, but this is only enough for a while, and then the gas is not removed.
Bimetallic radiators are another great invention. Where the internal parts touch the water, a different metal is used, and the fins are made of aluminum. In cases where a thermostat is installed on the radiator, opening it allows you to bleed the system and release oxygen. The airing of such radiators is similar to other types.
Details of the use of thermostats in heating radiators are discussed in this article:
Cast iron batteries are also vented through a Mayevsky tap or an automatic air vent, thanks to which plugs in the pipes can be removed.
Using the Mayevsky crane
The device is very popular due to its simplicity. If the system gets airy, he helps to blow it out heating pipe excess air. The Mayevsky faucet is a compact, convenient air vent that is mounted on the side of the battery. When the pipes are airy, you should take a screwdriver and a small container, since in addition to releasing the air, some water will leak out.
It is important to know: air shortens the life of the water pump!
Use a screwdriver to unscrew the tap and place the container. Further, if there is a cause for airing, you will hear a hissing sound, after which the air will begin to escape with drops of water through the air vents. The air will be completely deflated when a small stream of water flows through the vent. This will increase the service life of the boiler. While the system is pushing through the gas bleeder, water droplets may occur.
Using an automatic air vent
For ease of bleeding, you can install this device, especially on bimetallic batteries. It has a float that tightly closes the discharge hole when there is water in the system. When air enters, the float lowers and releases it out.
True, in order for the devices to work correctly, it is recommended to use only very clean water, which is practically never found in heating systems. Therefore, you need to install filters.
Before this you need, which takes a lot of time. However, even this cannot guarantee that the mechanism will work correctly, since it will sometimes need to be cleaned.
Note: There are times when you need to shake the battery a little to force air out. You can install a regular tap at the bottom of the battery with water supply in the water supply. If you need to release air, open the tap and let the water flow. This allows it to be driven through the system and pushes the air through the air vent system.
If the heating installation sites have an incorrect slope, additional air vents can be installed.
Air may also appear in the water supply system, which negatively affects its operation: pipes and adapters are destroyed, air in the pipes can cause water hammer, cracks appear and the pipe bursts. Ball valves, valves, automatic air vents, and Mayevsky valves help get rid of air in the water supply system.
Watch the video in which a specialist explains how to determine if the system is airy and how to bleed air from the batteries:
If some batteries remain cold when the heating system is turned on, this is a consequence of their airing. That is, air bubbles form in them, requiring mandatory removal. In some cases, the system begins to noticeably gurgle and murmur, as small forest streams do. All this indicates that the heating needs to be ventilated. Let's see how to bleed air from a radiator and what tools we need for this. We will also tell you where the air comes from in closed and open systems.
Reasons for airing
Many people are interested in why air appears in heating systems. And this is truly surprising, because heating systems are sealed. In fact, airiness is a fairly common phenomenon that manifests itself in private homes and apartment buildings. Only in multi-apartment buildings the problem of de-airing is dealt with by specialized specialists from the heat supplier. IN own home You will have to deal with this issue yourself.
Before we tell you how to bleed air from a heating radiator, we will tell you about the main reasons for the formation of air locks:
- Natural air formation during use aluminum radiators and some other types of low quality batteries. Air bubbles are formed here as a result of the reaction between metals and water;
- Penetration of air along with water - this may contain dissolved gases that do not appear under normal conditions, but are released when heated and in contact with metal surfaces, due to which the coolant will become airy;
- When conducting repair work– the battery may indeed become airy after last renovation. If you do not bleed the air, the battery at the repair site may be cold;
- Violation of heating system installation technologies - air in the heating system may appear even at the stage of installation installation work. And if the installers did not observe the slopes and did not install valves that allow air to bleed from the system from the batteries, then the problem becomes permanent;
- Cracks or random gaps in the elements of the system - air from outside is sucked in through them.
An air lock in the heating system is not always a sign that the installers did their job poorly. If the batteries are constantly airing, this may indicate problems with the water - you need to analyze it and install a water treatment system. Most often it is aluminum batteries that will air, while bimetallic radiators are practically not susceptible to this.
There is another reason why air gets into radiators - through plastic pipes. Some of their types are equipped with far from the highest quality oxygen barrier.
What does air affect?
The thermal image especially clearly shows how much the presence of air pockets affects the temperature of the battery.
The presence of air in heating radiators is an obstacle to their normal functioning. In the place where air pockets accumulate, a cold area is formed. As a result, operating efficiency decreases and the rooms become noticeably cooler. If the air is not released, the heating will not be able to work at full capacity.
On startup circulation pump You can hear a slight gurgling sound from the radiators and pipes - this is a direct sign that your heating system is airy. The pump cannot press through the air pockets, which is why they circulate in place, causing the formation of gurgling sounds. And it is useless to increase the pressure, since you need to either bleed it or try to add water to the system - sometimes this really helps.
Sometimes air pockets form directly in the pipelines of heating systems. As a result, the coolant cannot get through to the batteries, since air interferes with it. You need to somehow get rid of it, otherwise the heating boiler may fail - it will simply overheat due to the lack of normal circulation.
How to remove an air lock from a heating system
Medical experts say that diseases can be treated, but it is even better to prevent their occurrence. The same applies to heating and air congestion. Let's see how to get rid of existing traffic jams, and also talk about how to avoid their occurrence in the future.
Preventing the formation of air pockets
You can avoid the appearance of air in the heating system even at the very initial stage of its startup. To do this, it is necessary to correctly fill the pipes and batteries with coolant. IN open systems this is done in the following way:
- We open all the valves to ensure unhindered movement of the coolant;
- Leave the drain valve closed;
- We begin to carefully fill the system with water.
Please note that the pressure is not very high.
When filling a closed heating system, bleed air in the following way:
- We connect a pressure test pump, which allows pumping stable pressure in the heating;
- Close the taps on the radiators;
- We are waiting for the system to fill up.
Despite its apparent simplicity, the Mayevsky crane is extremely effective tool, performing the assigned task perfectly.
Now you need to fill the batteries with water and get rid of the air using Mayevsky taps. We go through everything sequentially heating devices, carefully open the valves, let in the coolant, remove air masses using the above taps, after which we close the valves. The pressure in the pipes must be maintained at one atmosphere, so it is more convenient to perform the operation together. At the final stage of work, we turn on the heating, wait until the set temperature is reached, and then repeat the procedure with the batteries.
Help prevent the appearance of air in the heating good radiators, for example, steel or bimetallic - in them the likelihood of air pockets is reduced to almost zero. When carrying out installation work, it is necessary to pay attention to tightness, carefully and completely tightening all connecting parts. It is also recommended to install automatic or manual air vents.
One of the air vents is installed at the highest point, since air in radiators and pipes tends to accumulate in the upper parts of heating systems.
What to do if air pockets form
Our task is to properly bleed air from the heating system. If a house or apartment with individual heating has cast iron radiators that are familiar to many, then the matter is complicated by the fact that they may not have the means to eliminate air locks. Bleeding air from a cast iron battery is done in several ways:
- By carefully unscrewing the plug using a gas wrench;
- By removing the coolant and installing valves that allow air to be released at any time;
- By using high pressure water - allows you to break through the airlock.
The first method is the most difficult. Firstly, the plug may be painted over with numerous layers of paint - it needs to be peeled off somehow. And secondly, the plug may completely rust to the battery body - in this case, you should use some kind of liquid to loosen the grip of the rust.
The well-known WD-40 liquid, which penetrates well into the deepest layers of rust, will help you unscrew the rusty plug.
When planning to bleed air from a cast iron battery, do not forget to place a bucket, basin or any other container under the plug into which the water will be drained. By the way, it is water that indicates that the air lock has already come out. After that, screw the plug back.
The next method is to install in cast iron battery automatic or manual air bleeder. The place for its installation is the same plug. We cut a thread in it and install an air vent. Now, as soon as an air lock occurs in the heating, use the vent and your problem will be solved.
If you don’t have a Mayevsky tap, you can remove the air using powerful water pressure. Connect the heating to the water supply, open water tap with water and wait until the pressure can remove the air lock. This method is well suited for old heating systems, where no one thought much about the problem of airing.
Removing the air lock using bleeders
Automatic or manual bleeders (Mayevsky taps) will help to bleed air from the heating radiator, and at the same time from the pipes. Today they are mounted on all radiators, since airiness can manifest itself anywhere, even if all standards and rules for installation work are observed. An air valve for radiators is inexpensive, but it has many benefits - it will allow you to clear out any air congestion that has formed at any time.
In order to bleed air from the battery using a Mayevsky tap, it is necessary to determine the location of the airlock. This is done by touch, you just need to feel the heating devices after starting the boiler. Where you find cold areas, there are plugs that interfere with the operation of the heating - it is these that we need to remove using the Mayevsky tap.
After the location of the plug has been determined, it is necessary to turn the tap and ensure that the accumulation of air detected there comes out. Don't forget to use a bucket or basin to avoid flooding the floors. A signal that the entire air lock has been safely released is a trickle of water oozing from under the valve. While the water is bubbling, it means that air masses are still escaping. We carry out a similar procedure on other batteries where plugs are found.
The easiest way is to install automatic air vents on radiators. Their main advantages:
- Independent work that does not require human intervention;
- Compact design - they will not spoil the interior;
- Reliability - being in good working order, they will not let you down.
Automatic descenders allow you to lower even the most small quantities air. That is, they do not allow its accumulation. But the accumulated air masses not only interfere with the heating, but also lead to the formation of corrosion.
Now you know how to remove air from radiators - the easiest way to do this is with automatic bleeders. If you still don't have them on your system, there's nothing stopping you from mounting them in summer season when the heating is turned off. If it is not possible to install drains on batteries, they can be mounted side by side, directly on the pipe, by cutting out a small section and installing a tee with a valve there.
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