Gas heating systems can be flushed
Gas heating systems can be flushed
At some moment in the life-time of your fully pumped gas central heating system you will want to flush it. To fit a thermostatic metal radiator valve or replace a failed radiator are two cases. Whilst this will be carried out typically by an experienced heating engineer it is something that the general-purpose jack of all trades can execute if they have the knowledge of other household maintenance jobs.
Most frequently cleaning the metal radiators is in the main cause for performing at this task. Before you do anything to the actual radiator you should switch off the heating boiler and any gas or electric that supplies the central heating boiler. Prevention of any more water entering the heating system is also a priority.
Your gas heating system is topped up with water via the tank. A standard ball valve is used in the expansion tank similar to that in a toilet. The ball floats on the water surface raising a metal lever shutting down the valve when the water has reached the correct level. As the water level falls, say through Cleaning, the ball drops in the water tank opening the valve and allowing more water to enter the central heating system. Water will need to be prevented from entering the central heating system if the Flushing process is to complete. To prevent any more water getting in the valve needs to be off.
When all these safeguards have been performed, you should attach a hose to the part of your metal radiator known as the outlet and run the end of the hose pipe outdoors. Water will now flow out of the radiator through the hosepipe into the outside clean. As there will be water in the ground floor metal radiators you will need to attach the hose pipe to one of these to ensure that the whole gas heating system drains. Check now that no water is moving into the central heating system and that the radiators are fully flushed before you do any further work.
If you need to complete this process promptly you can also vent the bleed valves on the heating radiators on the upper floors. You can start work on the gas heating system once all the water has flowed out.