Thank you for suggesting the mains pressure refill technique. I tried it yesterday but unfortunately I still have the same annoying downstairs airlock that I get when I fill up from the loft tank. All the rads are full but there must be a cul-de-sac in the pipes somewhere. Whoever invented these central heating airlocks deserves the Raspberry of the century award. I bet it was that Archimedes bloke. He was always bragging about the smart Alec stuff he does with water. Another Raspberry goes to the flares and Bay City Rollers loving chappie in the 70s who mounted our heavy bedroom radiator using just 4 one inch screws. Thanks very much. I took off the old leaky valve and the bloomin' thing just fell off the wall. Grrrrrrr! Finally, a special big Raspberry to the wasp that tried to fly into my ear in the loft. It's amazing how fast someone can move in a confined space once the adrenaline kicks in.
Thanks for making a video of my suggestion Al. I have always drained and filled my heating system using this method. Although I did forget to say motorised valves should be opened manually bit someone picked that up in any case.
Backfilling from the mains. Fantastic idea. Tie up the f&e float valve. Check that some clumsy oafs, usually those folk who put in additional loft insulation, haven't wrecked the warning/overflow pipework and that it actually solvent welded and clipped up. Otherwise, in absence of another pair of hands/eyes, you might inadvertently install another invigorating cold shower. Coming thru a bedroom ceiling.
Yes too true loafer ha ha. Keep well mate and all the best. By the way do you still have that video of your apprentice doing a live stopcock change? Would love to use it. Al.
Most interesting. Thank you, sir. A thought: might draining a central heating system SLOWLY help prevent create a strongish vacuum, in the first place, that would draw down air?
Thank you, sir, for your reply. I was thinking of my experiences of draining cars' cooling systems (and how they should be filled up gradually to prevent airlocks). I might try filling a c/h system gradually to see if that works. Besr regards.@@dereton33
Hi Al and Jan😊, this is a great tip Al, whish I'd known of this a few years back, it would have saved alot of head scratching at my daughters house, cheers mate, I hope you two are doing ok , and looking forward to christmas, stay safe, best wishe's to all, Stuart UK.
I have removed F&E tank and added a expansion vessel and created a seal system. Problem solved no more noise&air lock. Happy customer. I knew about this method which work, but if separator is blocked it might not worked.
🚨Urgent!! where would i find the drain off valve that you soke about? ar the bottom of the ground floor radiator or on the pipe at the top of thecradiator on my boiler pipes feed in fron the top open vented
I've had my water switched off at the mains for a few days and emptied the tanks due to a leaking loo now when the water has been turned back on it's not filling the loft tank. Can you advise please? Thank you.
Hi Al many thanks for your videos. I'm stuck with lots of air in my system now after draining down to change a mid position valve. Using the main's pressure makes a lot of sense unfortunately there isn't an expansion pipe that I can see in my loft. what would happen to the air in this situation ? Cheers Al.
That one will be the one from the cylinder hot water side. You may just have an auto air valve. Still worth a go with the mains, if the air valve is stuck the water will not enter the system even mains. Check your loft for one of those.
@@dereton33 Thanks for your reply Al I appreciate it. All is well now after 4 days of struggle and 4 drain downs I left it running for 2 hours and next time I looked all the rads were on and the hot water as well and no noise from the boiler. But I will look around the loft to see if I can find an auto air valve. Thanks again Al.
Hi I'm a new viewer, and have landed on this video because I reckon I've got a sludgy old system with possible air locks I need to deal with. I'm not a plumber or any kind of expert in this, but I'd have a worry that the water company would (in theory) take issue with connecting a central heating system directly to the mains like this? By the way I'm not having a moan, you've got a good presentational style and I've subbed!
I see in the drawing the HOT water comes DOWN from the top floor to the first floor and back to the boiler? Interesting that the circulator pump is on the feed. We only see the pump installed on the RETURN side. Therefore pulling the water back to the boiler.
Most common system used in UK, Ireland and also Europe I believe aswell.. not sure about Australia and New Zealand though, but I'd imagine they probably have the same as they tend to use same appliances as UK. We don't have ability to cut down trees so log/wood burners are expensive to run and also now widely banned in UK and Europe for climate BOLLOX reasons lol You guys are lucky having so few restrictions.
Thank you for suggesting the mains pressure refill technique. I tried it yesterday but unfortunately I still have the same annoying downstairs airlock that I get when I fill up from the loft tank. All the rads are full but there must be a cul-de-sac in the pipes somewhere.
Whoever invented these central heating airlocks deserves the Raspberry of the century award. I bet it was that Archimedes bloke. He was always bragging about the smart Alec stuff he does with water.
Another Raspberry goes to the flares and Bay City Rollers loving chappie in the 70s who mounted our heavy bedroom radiator using just 4 one inch screws. Thanks very much. I took off the old leaky valve and the bloomin' thing just fell off the wall. Grrrrrrr!
Finally, a special big Raspberry to the wasp that tried to fly into my ear in the loft. It's amazing how fast someone can move in a confined space once the adrenaline kicks in.
All good plumbing tips. Thanks, ha ha
Thanks for making a video of my suggestion Al. I have always drained and filled my heating system using this method. Although I did forget to say motorised valves should be opened manually bit someone picked that up in any case.
Thanks for the idea! Thought it was a good idea worth sharing.
Excellent video mate, what a great method with pressurising it with an outside tap, genius
Thanks 👍
Backfilling from the mains. Fantastic idea. Tie up the f&e float valve. Check that some clumsy oafs, usually those folk who put in additional loft insulation, haven't wrecked the warning/overflow pipework and that it actually solvent welded and clipped up. Otherwise, in absence of another pair of hands/eyes, you might inadvertently install another invigorating cold shower. Coming thru a bedroom ceiling.
Yes too true loafer ha ha. Keep well mate and all the best. By the way do you still have that video of your apprentice doing a live stopcock change? Would love to use it.
Al.
@@dereton33 No, Al. That wasn't me. Think it was chunky lad from Leeds. Allen Hart. He's a really nice fella.
Most interesting. Thank you, sir. A thought: might draining a central heating system SLOWLY help prevent create a strongish vacuum, in the first place, that would draw down air?
Worth a try but never worked for me.
Thank you, sir, for your reply. I was thinking of my experiences of draining cars' cooling systems (and how they should be filled up gradually to prevent airlocks). I might try filling a c/h system gradually to see if that works.
Besr regards.@@dereton33
Hi Al and Jan😊, this is a great tip Al, whish I'd known of this a few years back, it would have saved alot of head scratching at my daughters house, cheers mate, I hope you two are doing ok , and looking forward to christmas, stay safe, best wishe's to all, Stuart UK.
Our pleasure! All the best to you too Stuart.
I have removed F&E tank and added a expansion vessel and created a seal system. Problem solved no more noise&air lock. Happy customer. I knew about this method which work, but if separator is blocked it might not worked.
Great tip! Thanks.
Great videos mate. In that house layout u are using. Where would the mains switch for the boiler be installed???
Usually under the boiler, if not then switch off the breaker to the boiler.
@@dereton33 ok, cheers mate. i will have a look into it.
🚨Urgent!! where would i find the drain off valve that you soke about? ar the bottom of the ground floor radiator or on the pipe at the top of thecradiator on my boiler pipes feed in fron the top open vented
Bottom ground floor rad or on pipe work.
I've had my water switched off at the mains for a few days and emptied the tanks due to a leaking loo now when the water has been turned back on it's not filling the loft tank. Can you advise please? Thank you.
The valve in the tank is stuck or blocked
@@dereton33 Thanks, thought it could be airlock?
Hi Al many thanks for your videos. I'm stuck with lots of air in my system now after draining down to change a mid position valve. Using the main's pressure makes a lot of sense unfortunately there isn't an expansion pipe that I can see in my loft. what would happen to the air in this situation ? Cheers Al.
Just an update Al, there is an expansion pipe it goes into the cold water storage tank. I was looking at the CH header tank. Doh;
That one will be the one from the cylinder hot water side. You may just have an auto air valve. Still worth a go with the mains, if the air valve is stuck the water will not enter the system even mains. Check your loft for one of those.
@@dereton33 Thanks for your reply Al I appreciate it. All is well now after 4 days of struggle and 4 drain downs I left it running for 2 hours and next time I looked all the rads were on and the hot water as well and no noise from the boiler. But I will look around the loft to see if I can find an auto air valve. Thanks again Al.
Not for the faint hearted Al bung the tank 💪💪💪 pull a vacuum gets the bum cheeks rattling
Ha ha too true Paul.
Thanks Alan 👍🏻
Very welcome
Set the motorized valve to the fully open position manually ?
Yes can do.
do you have to or it will happen itself
@@dereton33do you have to or it will happen itself
You have to do it yourself
Hi I'm a new viewer, and have landed on this video because I reckon I've got a sludgy old system with possible air locks I need to deal with. I'm not a plumber or any kind of expert in this, but I'd have a worry that the water company would (in theory) take issue with connecting a central heating system directly to the mains like this? By the way I'm not having a moan, you've got a good presentational style and I've subbed!
Thanks for subbing and do not worry the water company would not be interested.
Thanks 😊
No problem 😊
I see in the drawing the HOT water comes DOWN from the top floor to the first floor and back to the boiler?
Interesting that the circulator pump is on the feed. We only see the pump installed on the RETURN side. Therefore pulling the water back to the boiler.
It quite often will be on the flow especially if going into an air separator.
Maybe its just me, but I found it a bit hard to follow
Sorry about that.
Nowhere to be found in North America. peculiar system
Most common system used in UK, Ireland and also Europe I believe aswell.. not sure about Australia and New Zealand though, but I'd imagine they probably have the same as they tend to use same appliances as UK.
We don't have ability to cut down trees so log/wood burners are expensive to run and also now widely banned in UK and Europe for climate BOLLOX reasons lol
You guys are lucky having so few restrictions.
Thanks for the info guys.