Emptying a pumped gas central heating system
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Emptying a pumped gas central heating system
At some point in the life-time of your fully pumped central heating system you will want to clear it. To work on a metal radiator problem or to extend the system perhaps. Whilst this will be performed typically by an experienced heating engineer it is something that the standard jack of all trades can execute if they have the knowledge of other household maintenance jobs.
In most circumstances Flushing the central heating is executed to clean the metal radiators. Switching off the central heating boiler and heating pump should be the first steps you take. Prevention of any extra water entering the heating system is also a priority.
Your central heating system is filled up with water through the expansion cystern. The expansion cystern uses a ball valve similar to that in a toilet system. As the water reaches maximum level the ball floats on the surface and shuts the valve. The valve will be opened in the water levels fall as the ball will float on the falling water surface. This is what needs to be contained when Cleaning your radiator. To prevent any more water getting in the valve needs to be off.
Once you have completed the above run a hose from an outside clean to the outlet of at the bottom of one of your radiators. Once you vent the outlet valve the water will be able to passage through the hose pipe to the external clear. As there will be water in the bottom floor radiators you will need to attach the hose to one of these to guarantee that the whole gas heating system drains. You now need to be patient and check that all the water has emptied out and that no more water is getting in before any other work is executed on the heating system.
More air can enter the gas heating system if you open the top floor metal radiator bleed valves and this will help things to conclude promptly. When completed work can now start on the system.
