How do i get air out of a vented hot water system it is air locked?
Question:Ive just refilled the the storage vessel in the loft but cant get it to fill the cylinder downstairs.
Answers:
Try blowing hard down the pipe that vents over the top of the storage tank. If this does not do it, Then get a hose pipe connected from you cold tap to the hot tap and open the hot tap, then the cold tap so that the mains pressure will run up the hot pipe and clear any air lock. let it run for about 15 seconds then remove hose from hot tap and see if it is clear. Turn off cold tap before removing hose pipe.
Run the taps until the blockage comes out, i.e. the air.
if the blockage is in the cold water system it needs releasing at its lowest point - if it is the hot it needs releasing at its highest point.
opening the taps may work as the water forces teh air down as the pressure form the cold tap is released - but it could cause damage on the way.
Your better off getting a plumber out to locate where the blockage is and for him to sort it from there.
Did you turn off the water at a gate valve. These often break shut and even though they turn the valve doesn't open. If that's not the case you can buy a small pump from DIY places that fits on a portable drill. I have often used one of these to suck out an airlock. Connect the pump to the open hot tap with a short length of hose then run the drill for a bit. Make sure the arrow on the pump is pointing the right way. Might be an idea to loosen the joint just pass the gate valve to make sure that nothing has been flushed into the pipe when the storage tank was emptied. I won't tell you what I have found in some storage tanks !!
if you have mixer taps in the kitchen,, place hand over spout, then open hot tap, and then open cold with a hot tap in the bathroom open,,, if this doesnt work,,, turn of hot tap in bathroom, and get a friend to place their hand over the open vent, (the pipe going into the top of your big tank in your loft, then do the same again with the kitchen taps.
sometimes air locks can be cleared if youre lucky by doing the same with the bath taps instead of kitchen taps.
if this fails,,, and you have hot and cold washing machine valves, connect the two up with one of your washing machine hoses, and open both valves,,,, remember,, you may have to hold your hand over the open vent.
good luck
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