How to Bleed Hot Water Pipes
Hot water heating systems, which started as radiator-based systems and later became baseboard systems, are common in homes and businesses. They are efficient, quiet and produce a large amount of heat quickly. Aside from cleaning, they require little maintenance. One job that should be performed annually is bleeding the air out of the pipes. Perform this task in the early fall before the heating season begins. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rags or old cloths
- Bucket
- Work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Bowl or newspapers
Instructions
-
-
1
Turn the thermostat to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and let the heat run for about an hour. Water must circulate throughout the systems before bleeding can begin. After an hour, turn the heat off. Locate the bleed valve on the system tank; it looks like a hose outlet fixture at the base of the tank.
-
2
Cover the hose outlet with an old rag to protect the floor from spills, or position a bucket underneath the outlet to protect a finished floor.
-
-
3
Turn the bleed valve slowly to the left to open it. A hissing noise means the air is bleeding out. Both the air and any leaking water are hot, so wear safety goggles and gloves.
-
4
Turn the handle to the right, closing the valve once water starts coming out steadily.
-
1
