How to Drain & Refill a Water Heating System
Heating systems in the home can use hot water instead of forced air to provide heat. A heat system that uses water typically has a boiler that is used to heat the water. This type of system has a supply tank that can develop mineral deposits and sludge that will need to be cleaned. If your supply tank requires maintenance you will need to drain and then refill the water heating system. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Turn off the boiler, the gas supply or electrical depending on how your system is powered.
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2
Open the top of the supply tank to access the ball valve. Use a small board to prop up the valve arm so that so water will come into the tank.
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3
Connect a garden hose to the drain nozzle or outlet valve on the hot water tank.
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Run the hose outside or into a drain, if one has been installed in the floor.
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5
Open the drain valve to let the water drain from the tank and the radiator.
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Wait for the water to completely drain from the tank.
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7
Clean the tank or perform any repairs that are necessary.
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8
Release the valve arm to allow water to begin refilling the tank.
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Tips & Warnings
Water will drain from the tank more quickly if you open one or more bleed valves on the radiator.
Use rope or string to tie up the valve arm in the supply tank if you do not have a small board.
The water coming out of the supply tank may be hot and can cause burns.
References
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Comments
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zymer
Feb 02, 2011
This article is confusingly advised and written. The author is really instructing how to FLUSH out the boiler rather than merely instructing how to drain it. Water will not simply drain unless the system is thoroughly vented via opening the radiator vents, particularly those on the uppermost level of the building, which is mandatory; not a tip. And needless to say that for simple draining you need to CLOSE the boiler's supply valve, not open it. (to be cont.)
