HOW TO DRAIN DOWN HEATING SYSTEMS - GRAVITY FED - Plumbing Tips
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2014
- This video explains the basic process of draining down a gravity fed heating system. We cover turning of the water supply, turning of the electrical supply and finding a suitable drain cock to attach your hose to. We also cover venting the system so you can have a go yourself
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Thanks James. I have been doing my first en-suite rip our at home and finally plucked up the courage to fit a new radiator! Thanks to your really helpful videos I was able to drain the system down, re-do the pipework, top the system back up again and even add some inhibitor to the system. Thanks again!! Hold Tight!!
I usually latch the levers on the motorised valve(s) to the mid/manual position to help draining and refilling as well.
Thanks for another spectacular vid PP.
Hold tight!!!!!
Good video and just helped me drain down my central heating and stop a leak until a proper plumber can replace the length of pipe. Thanks for the clear instructions. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for all the advice and knowledge you give. My sytem is a Y plan system and what's happening is the overhead tank is over filling with water coming through the feed pipe at the bottom of the overhead tank. Will be very great full for your help
Thank you so much for your videos buddy they’re the best out there. I have learnt a lot watching them and your tip about filing the radiator bleed key was a brilliant idea!! Works a treat. And the tip on putting inhibitor into the radiator on one of your other videos is a cracking idea!! Top bloke 👍🏻 keep them coming.
another great video me and friend will be doing work next week and feel more happy about draining down system thank you plumberparts
Thanks pal. Your videos helped me fit my first radiator.
Hi, great video. Does this technique drain the entire system including the flow and return pipes at the boiler? I need to remove the flow pipe to replace the flow switch o ring. Thanks in advance
This really help me out, cheers buddy.
Awesome video thanks for your hard work. Is it nessesary to turn off the gas when draining out an F&E system?
Hi. Great vids and used on other issues. But, I need to re-do a pipe leg to a ground floor radiator as too short. How do you drain the pipes under the suspended floor boards of the ground floor if the drain valve is higher up by the rad? Cut into the pipe and catch as much water as possible? Is there anyway to siphon etc?
Thank you
you make it so easy to understand excellent keep up the good work
NO WORRIES!
Thanks for the video. I've managed to drain down the rads from the upper floor successfuly. When i open the bleed valves on any of the downstairs rads, water comes out from the bleed valve instead of air being sucked in!Have checked that both valves on the rad were open. Have i missed something?
Nice one james so thats what i've got to do thank you
Hi thanks for the video.
I have 4 rads downstairs, one has been removed ready to put on a trv.To empty the system i removed another radiator nearest to the front door so i could attach a hosepipe, i opened all the bleed valves upstairs and they emptied fine but 2 rads downstairs remained full of water. Any idea why this is please ?
I gambled and removed the old valves and put on a new lockshield and trv but I expected water from the remaining rads to come gushing through .
Thanks
Awesome video thank you
Brilliant . Please keep up the gd work !
Hi, please can you do a vid or explain how to drain a combi boiler? Where is the best place to drain from? I have two drain valves, one on my boiler and one on my downstairs rad... do i need to add inhibitor to the system when filling again? I am changing a radiator in the bathroom, and was told to add inhibitor direct to the new rad?.... please advise cos you're the best! 😊
Hi,having a problem with kettling at the moment, what can i do if i cant find any drain valves on the bottom floor, also ,if i empty the system can i just add an inhibitor or do i need a cleaner also, many thanks
Fantastic explainer, feel confident I can replace a radiator now :-)
PP, if I isolated the valve as shown would that not just isolate my secondary water not my primary? Would it be easier to pop into the loft and tie ball cock up?
Cheers for the vid mate. Wondering if you can help. I turned my hot water off with the red stop tap in the hot water tank cupboard. Anyway done the job i needed to do and turned the tap in the cupboard back on. Anyway the tap in the cupboard just keeps turning and will not stop turning. I tried to turn it the other way and it just does the same. I have no hot water coming out of my taps the heating is fine. Just wondering do i need to change this stop tap and use this system before hand. I thought it was an air lock at first tried all the methods but i am pretty sure now it is this stop tap. What do you think.
Just found your channel; subscribed on the basis of this video. Simply excellent.
I don't think I'll vent my radiators into the drain though if it's full of chemicals? I was also expecting to see it all black and nasty; I have no doubt mine will be. I'll check your other videos for tips on recharging with inhibitor.
Hi James, how about a situation where the pipework for the downstairs rads is under the floors and thus below the level of the radiators. How would one get the water out of the lower pipes?
Cracking video, cheers
Hi, great video and thank you.
Is it safe to dump glycols/biocide/molybdate etc straight out onto the ground oe drainage? Wont this leach into the surrounding soils and eventually into the water course?
great video
a little tip if you get stuck like I did. my system had drained but the f and e didn't empty there was either a little blockage on the f and e pipe or an airlock somewhere at the top of the system. I had to give the f and e pipe a real good shake to free it up, then the water came gushing down and fully drained the system.
Could have been an airlock.....can happen mate! SUBSCRIBE! ➡️👉 ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts 👈⬅️ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! 😎
Excuse my ignorance but do i need to bleed the air out of the rads if there is an aladdin auto. valve on upstairs bathroom rad. ? cheers cm
Quality stuff mate
This has helped a lot.
I'm looking to do this on my open vent system in a property just recently bought.
I want to flush system then add F3 Fernox and let it run for a few days then drain again then top up with inhibitor and sealer.
For some reason, i already have drain taps fitted on every single radiator in the house.
Do you know why they have done this.
Thanks. i donot have this valvle near any radiator. i see one under the sink in kitchen cabnit, near mains-shut off valve, can that be drain-off valve:
What about turning off the water to the radiator tank do you have to do that as well?
You are a ⭐️ many thanks bro 😎
Hi, have turned off the water to stop the f&e tank filling. I opened the lowest drain off (a myson valve on the rad by the back door) but no water starts to gush out ... so I opened the highest rad bleed (en suite towel rad upstairs) BUT instead of letting air IN, it just lets water out (like a normal bleed). So why isn't it draining ? Have i got a valve or possibly an air lock somewhere keeping it in? (I also set the 3 port valve to manual HW & CH to allow the drain). Stuck.
Unstuck ! (The drain off valve needed a 'kick') : )
However ... I now have x3 of the 4 downstairs rads still full. (The one drained may be on the 'drop down' as mentioned on the vid?). Nevertheless, what do I do to drain them also please? When I have tried to open them to let air IN, they actually bleed as normal and spout water OUT even with the the inlet valve and the lockshield valves closed ? ? ? What to do? Do you have to drain them off individually? Take them off? Stuck again.
I dont have a f and e tank just a cold water tank above the hot water cylinder in a flat is the principles the same?
Great video!
I’ve followed the steps but nothing is coming out of the hose and when I try to open radiator (starting with the towel rail) it just sprays water. I’ve already removed some of the radiators both upstairs and downstairs for decorating - could that be what is stopping it from working?
Nice and clear - with a bit of humour - thank you. :-)
Great videos, thanks for all the help. Currently my heating is stuck, I’ve spoken to Drayton and they say it sounds like the Actuator and Port Valve are not working properly. They helped me diagnosed the system over the phone. I have the Drayton 3 Port Valve and Actuator new part. I’m ready and think I can do it myself.
What I wanted to ask was my Radiators downstairs are old, and the heating on them is barely working at a third or not at all. (I have bleed them countless times, and heating at the top of rad, and very cold at the bottom)
Because the heating is stuck, do you think I should change all the rads first then the 3 port or the other way round? Or something else?
Thanks again
I can't find any drain offs, on the radiators? @plumerparts
Does the motorized valve not also need to be locked open when draining?
@plumberparts To change the 3 way motorised valve on my system do I have to drain the full system down? On my system I have a 22mm gate valve on the feed to the heating system after the 3 way valve. A drain cock on the hot water coil feed just before entry into the hot water tank and after the 3 way valve. There is also a gate valve/by-pass which I can close. Also if I close the exit side valve on the pump it looks like all water feeds to the 3 way valve will be isolated. Hopefully this should alleviate the need to drain the whole system down. The cental heating system is a standard F&E system on 10mm copper. Thanks in advance.
Cheers mate - nicely done :-)
What is your opinion on dumping central heating water/corrosion inhibitor into the drains? At the very least shouldnt it go into a sewage drain or bucket it into a lavatory. Do council waste sites have specialist tanks for this kind of waste?
I never knew plumbing was so interesting until I watched these videos. I have decided to redo the entire plumbing to my house as a hobby!
How'd that work out for you?
@@The_Invisible_Self Worked out great. I have moved onto the electrics now.
How did that work out?
@@craign6019 hoping he didn't move on to heaven!
@@chrisdickinson4576 are you still on this earth Christopher? 😢
Isn't the downpipe with gate valve into the bottom of the cylinder the supply from the main (big) cold water tank, rather than the f and e tank?
Thanks a lot.
Is it ok to turn off the radiators your not touching during the drain down? Or will that cause issues with air locks when you refill?
Great video. My problem is the drain cock on my lowest rad is fed by the pipe work coming from upstairs. Would this mean the other 5 rads on the ground floor will not drain? My boiler is at the lowest point is that a place I could drain the system From? Thank you
Hi. Quick question. Is cheap central heatint inhibitor just as good as fernox or sentinel. The cheap stuff is half price. Thanks
I seem to only have a single tank in the loft. Could my main water tank be acting as the header tank?
Does it matter which down stairs rad the pipe goes on thanks
Hi, I drained my system from the pipe under the radiator as I needed to change the faulty pump and the valves either side of the pump are stuck open, I undid the pump nuts and water started spraying out? How do it get rid of the water going into the pump, the pump is situated next to the copper tank in my airing cupboard, please help.
Hi
I tried to replace the radiator and use a new trv valve at the bathroom radiator but the water is still running and couldn’t stop it ,knowing that there is other radiators on the same floor (top floor )
Do I have to drain them all and open the bleeding valves and fill them all after that?
when draining the system, will the header tank also drain down!! or should these be an isolating valve to the rads
Do you have to drain each rad if only wanting to work on plumping one upstairs?
You make me laugh mate, your a funny guy. Just want to say cheers for the videos, as I am a new plumber, well currently working as a plumbers mate 3 days a week and in college 2 days a week, but I'm finding your videos really educating my man, so keep it up. And thanks again.
I have got another soltuion about draining a system without draining a completely just the heating water whats actually in the system not the whole tank.
I use to take quite often a screw driver and put a rag / cloth around and push it into the bottom of the outlet for system and it helped me quite often to safe time and water it would be to me also the last solution to be honest but it worked out.
Good on you!
Would it be correct to say that if the plumbing work is to be done on an upstairs radiator or pipes only, then there it no need to drain the system downstairs?
I love this guy
One question I empty my all system to change a trv valve and I got 2 heater not heating up 2 out of 11
Pls can you advise I did the bleed with the key In all heater it’s gravity feed
Thanks
You need to balance your radiators, find the radiator balancing video on this channel
Hi PP, I would like to change my upstairs bathroom radiator to a heated towel rail. I would need to modify the pipes to suite the new towel rail. So my question is - do I need to drain the whole system or can I do upstairs only? It's a gravity feed system and rads have thermo valves and lock shields on. Any advice about the easiest way to do this would be really appreciated.
Hi, I need to change a Drayton 3 port valve body which is in upstairs airing cupboard. I can only drain the system through the boiler which is in a downstairs cupboard with the drain plug almost at ceiling height. Do I need to open all the radiator bleed valves. Also won't water gush all over from the hot water cylinder when I removed the 3 port valve body.
Yes mate, drain just like do in this video! SUBSCRIBE! ➡️👉 ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts 👈⬅️ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! 😎
Really appreciate the videos.
1:26 minutes in you mention problems with refilling. I’ve turned mine back on and nothing is flowing through! Any tips?
Did u open back up your lockshields? Open all valves check to see f&e float wasn’t sticking?
01:10 daym, this part alone is putting me off doing this all together 😬
02:10 yikes, all of my downstairs ones are on drop-down legs 😞
I just want to drain down the central heating headers to refit a replacement radiator. I plan to shut off all but one of the radiators to drain the headers, can you see anything wrong with it?. Its a gravity fed cent heating system.
I’m looking to swap 3 rads on a microbore system, as the customer wants trv’s installing. How do I prevent/solve air locks? Thanks
If you don’t have any air in the line or water should you leave it open until some come up
Thanks James, how much roughly will it cost to add one more radiator to the system 600x500 labour only?
My system has sludge in it. I've added Sentinel X800 but I don't think it's cleared it. I don't want to spend £800 on a power flush, so was wondering if I could drain the system and run the boiler and pump at same time to flush it. Or would that cause damage to the boiler?
Needing your help. I've a gravity system with a pump in the hall cupboard below the small feed tank in the loft. I've just replaced two radiators in upstairs rooms. Re filled the system and all 6 radiators upstairs are working fine but the 3 downstairs are all cold. I've emptied and refilled the system several times over the past few days. All radiators and pump have been bled. Tried leaving upstairs rads off to help force the water through downstairs. No joy. HELLLLLLLP!
cheers Davy
Did you find an answer for this? I'm going to change mine and wouldn't want to have the same problem.
Cheers chum.
What do you do if all downstairs rads are drop fed from vertical pipes? How do you drain the ground floor rads?
Where can I safely drain my system down if I have a septic tank?
How do you drain down a back boiler system please?
Thank you
Health N safety? whilst wearing shorts and trainers, you naughty boy hahaha
Keep em coming bre
I prefer bunging a system to change a component if possible/practical. And I'd imagine it'd be quite easy for a DIYer to get stuck when refilling an entire system. Worst one I've had was a choked cold feed on a drop fed system in a bungalow where only some of the radiators had the 1/2" connections on the top. Clearing the air from that system took a looooonnnng time.
cant get lockshield vave cap
I've just been on the hunt for the drain connection and found two next two each other on separate pipes under the hatch at my back door (probs the lowest point in the house) Any idea why I might have two?
Brilliant videos btw, you've helped a complete plumber noob such as myself loads! Keep up the good work!
Hi Iain, two drain offs sounds like one for the flow and the return (or hot and cold water on a basin) So seems fine. Regards, PP!
Great video's. Why can't i have you as my neighbour. Not only would it be a laugh, it would be handy for any help.
OMG, funny guy!
I have an old switchmaster 3port that O have actually sourced a direct replacement for. I KNOW, RIGHT!!!???
Anyway, when I drain down to swap it out, does the tank drain down too? How do I ensure that it does? I thinks me has tankage indirecto.
How to fully drain the radiators on the ground floow
hi do you need to do this if you need to change the taps. I went to a house f and e system and no isolation valves on any of the taps so will I need to drain the whole system to change them
Yes, but the taps aren't on the heating system....so just drain the cold feed tank to the taps! SUBSCRIBE! ➡️👉 ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts 👈⬅️ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! 😎
Thanks James do I also turn off the hot water valve to the tank. Sorry mate new to this.
I have a potterson 50 suprima boiler could air blockage cause a lock out?
No, lock out is only ever due to flame control and safety.
plumberparts, Note: the pipe going up and over the expansion tank is "not" the expansion pipe, nearly all water pushed out of the system by expansion flows up the "feed pipe" coming from the bottom of the expansion tank.
Hi mate. Thanks so much for your excellent and very entertaining videos. You should have your own TV show! I'm having trouble draining my system as the downstairs is on 3 separate legs and after draining the 1st leg (plus upstairs obviously!) I found that I couldn't get anything to come out of the other 2 legs. I've got the bleed valves open upstairs but it seems there's some kind of vacuum that has developed that's holding the water back on the other two legs. Even if I take the drain plugs right out nothing is budging! I want to be able to completely drain flush and then refill it in about 3 weeks time. Any ideas how I can shift the water? Cheers. Tom
Shut one of the ground floor rads you’re trying to drain and remove the whole plug. Pop a bucket against it and then slowly open the rad valve. That should work (towels too!)
Thanks for your kind words mate. Still uploading now so please sub!
@@plumberparts thanks so much for the swift reply!
Hi James, is it possible to use the hot water while the system is drained down overnight....? Will it still warm up the water in the tank....
no
Hi does anything need to be done with the 3-way valve before draining? Cheers.
+James Latch it open.....totally forgot that! ARGH!
Please sub >> ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts
+plumberparts : how do latch it open if the heating is off? My system is an S type with 2 x 2 port valves. Should i only open the one for the hating but not the one to the cylinder? Thanks
I've just drained our heating system. It took 6hrs to drain the cylinder! I attached a hose to the bottom drainer and ran the hose downstairs and outside. It drained continuely, just slowly. Is there a way to make the cylinder drain quicker?
+Mark Herriott It's usually a drain off washer that's stuck. Check our channel as we've done a video on it. Regards, PP!
I have a newly installed vaillant just two months ago. Now im experiencing pressure loss only when i turn on heating.... checked that there is no leaks aswelll.... can you do a video or advise me thanks
Yes mate, check our video on combi boiler loosing pressure: ua-cam.com/video/4meZgMAUecw/v-deo.html SUBSCRIBE! ➡️👉 ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts 👈⬅️ IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! 😎
Can I drain down the primary circuit from a fortic combi cylinder and parkray back boiler setup and still use the cylinder as a direct (immersion) tank until I complete a re rad and gas combi installation. Thanks
is if a good idea to attach the hoover to make the system drain faster?
thanks a lot for your videos btw. Brilliant! !
No! Unless it's a wet vac.
+plumberparts yes ofcourse its a wet vacuum : )
I tried to turn off my stop valve and it just keeps turning! So obviously broken 😩 Any advise would be much appreciated
+Craig Oldham Well you'll need a new one, but knock of the mains for now, then drain down. Best, PP!
+plumberparts I can't find the drain offs?!
awesome man God bless
Sorry just a quick question I've no drain offs on any of my radiators how will I drain the system? And would compression fittings work on pipes going to a rad ? Tia
+Sean Walsh Search online for a 'line tap' that'll help you out!
do you have to vent if your only working on 1 rad
+James Baillie It gives peace of mind to vent them all after!
Sub here please>> ua-cam.com/users/plumberparts
Can't one just turn off the stopcock? ? Then drain??
Since I drained my system down I have no hot water all radiators are hot any suggestions would me much appreciated
Air lock try the methods on here no tools needed.
@@kennylavelle6987 Thanks it was a airlock
draining down my GRAVITY FED heating system do i have to drain all water system in house, Cheers Sean from mayo ireland,
If done like in this video no because your only draining water from the radiators and boiler
@@michaelmcl4979 Thank u great videos ,
@@kellysean25 let me know how it went? I had trouble getting the water out the downstairs radiators but upstairs was empty
@@michaelmcl4979 got on fine all water drained from top to bottom thanks for the help
He says the pipe is the feed that goes from the bottom of the tank down into the system. I thought this was the mains cold water feed to fill the tank.
James H no.
Honestly don't laugh, I've always wanted a brother you would be perfect kidda.
What a laugh you are bro
100 per cent
I am replacing and relocating a radiator. Same wall, smaller rad and different location. Can't drain the system in the normal way because there is no drain valve in the circuit. No prob. That rad is coming out anyway so I can drain the system from the return valve. No prob. Everything linked up and she's draining away nicely. It's taking too long to drain! Now I have a problem. There is only one tank in my attic and this tank has two outlets. I presume one of these outlets is supplying the central heating system. It would appear that it will be necessary to isolate the heating feed by emptying the attic tank completely. I'd rather not have to do that. In my airing cupboard there is a small roundy red tank. No gauges or dials. Just the tank with one inlet and one outlet. There's a shut-off valve on the top pipe. What more can I say?
Sorry!!! Just one feed into the red tank. From the bottom.
My boiler hasn't worked for the last three years and I don't intend replacing it. I don't like water being pumped around the house or the noise the pump makes and ideally would like the whole lot ripped out. Those red handled stop cocks though are rubbish and never shut the water off completely.
yeah, water being pumped around the house....definitely something to be concerned about lol
@@SystemNutrition Yes, my next door neighbour came back from holiday and their house was scrapped by water. Insurance paid up £400,000 to repair a house worth £300,000. So nowt to worry about then.
Not too bad a Northern accent... ya b**d ya!😂