How to Drain a House Radiator
Radiant heating systems work by heating water in a central location-the boiler-then pumping it into your house through a series of pipes and finally through radiators, which radiate the heat from the water through the atmosphere. Occasionally, sludge and other particles build up in the radiator system, inhibiting its effectiveness and increasing energy costs. Servicing the heating system can help prevent this buildup, but in order to do that, first you should drain your house radiator. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Turn off the boiler. Allow the system to cool for at least an hour or until the radiators feel cool to the touch. For extra safety, shut off the circuit at the main panel that controls the power for the boiler. Shut off the water supply for the boiler by rotating the boiler supply valve clockwise.
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2
Locate the drain outlet at the base of the boiler. It should look like an outdoor water faucet. Connect a garden hose to this outlet. Set the other end of the garden hose in a sink or drain. Open this drain valve.
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3
Go to the radiator that is located highest in the house. In a two-story house, for example, go to one of the radiators on the top floor. Open the bleed screw on this radiator. How this is done depends on your radiator model: it might be a radiator key, a bleed screw or an ordinary screwdriver. The water should begin to drain out of this radiator and the others in your house through the garden hose.
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4
Go to the radiator that is located closest to the boiler. Repeat the process of opening the bleed screw as you did in Step 3. This will help equalize pressure so the rest of the water in the system can drain out.
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Tips & Warnings
After draining and before refilling your radiator, you can add a chemical known as a rust inhibitor to help keep your system free from rust and sludge buildup.
If in doubt about any of the steps above, consult a professional.
The above steps are just a guideline. Follow the instructions for your particular make of boiler in your user's manual.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit white radiator image by Ekaterina Sidorenko from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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can I just drain the water out of each radiator room by room.
