| Most domestic heating systems today are gas | | | | Once the radiator has been isolated from the |
| central heating which consists of a boiler and a | | | | system, you can then prepare to drain any water |
| series of radiators to provide heat to individual | | | | from it. This is done by loosening the nut on the |
| rooms or areas in the house. The boiler is the | | | | radiator valve that is connected to the radiator. |
| heart of a gas central heating system and will | | | | You may need to also use grips alongside your |
| pump water to the pipes feeding the radiators, | | | | spanner. Before loosening the nut, place a shallow |
| which in turn, radiate heat. | | | | tray beneath the valve to catch any water as it |
| It is common however, for radiators to become | | | | expels from the radiator. You may also want a |
| clogged or blocked with sludge and debris which | | | | bucket on hand to transfer the water. Do this for |
| can cause a gas central heating system to under | | | | both valves. |
| perform and subsequently lose heat. Any sludge in | | | | Now that the radiator has been drained, you can |
| a radiator can also cause the boiler itself to | | | | remove it from the wall and prepare it for |
| become damaged as it may be pumped through | | | | maintenance. Take care with this as even without |
| the system causing the boilers pump to fail which | | | | water in, some radiators are very heavy so if |
| may prove to be very expensive to remedy. | | | | you can, have a helper to assist you with this. |
| We must therefore prevent damage to the boiler | | | | Cleaning The Radiator |
| by regularly maintaining the radiators and ensuring | | | | Take the radiator outside into the garden or yard |
| they are functioning correctly. If you are | | | | and turn it upside down. Take a hose and start to |
| wondering how to know if a radiator has sludge in | | | | flush it out with water until the water is running |
| it then there are some obvious signs like 'cold | | | | clear. Badly contaminated radiators may also need |
| spots', whereby only parts of the radiator will be | | | | the addition of chemical agents which are available |
| hot while others are noticeably cold. | | | | from your local plumbers merchants. |
| In any case, it is good practice to regularly | | | | Take the radiator back in an position it back onto |
| maintain the system to ensure or prevent any | | | | the brackets on the wall. Connect the valves back |
| such sludge from building up in the system. There | | | | as they were and ensure they are securely |
| are also a range of additive that you can employ | | | | nipped up with your spanner. Older radiators may |
| into the water that will assist in keeping your | | | | also need a couple of turns of pfte tape before |
| central heating system clean. | | | | tightening. |
| Changing A Radiator | | | | When valves are nipped up correctly, you can |
| Changing a radiator is actually quite easy and as | | | | proceed to turn the isolation valve back up so |
| long as you follow the correct procedures, it will | | | | that water will flow back into the radiators. Check |
| not take long to do. You will need to firstly ensure | | | | closely for any leaks as you do this. You will need |
| that the water supply to the radiator itself is | | | | to go back to the boiler and add a little water if |
| isolated and this can be achieved by turning the | | | | need be to accommodate the water that was |
| radiator valve all the way down so that the | | | | drained earlier. Make sure that the water is in |
| isolating valve is in its closed position. Repeat this | | | | accordance with the manufacturers |
| for the valve on the other side of the radiator so | | | | recommended settings. All you have to do now is |
| that both pipes feeding the radiator are now | | | | go back to the radiator and bleed it for air which |
| isolated and no water can enter the radiator. Lock | | | | can be done with a radiator bleed key which is |
| shield valves are quite obvious when they have | | | | available form any DIY shop. Bleed the radiator |
| been turned off but with some thermostatic | | | | until water flows through the bleed hole at the |
| valves, it is not always obvious when they are in | | | | top side of the radiator. Check the radiator once |
| their isolated position so double check to ensure | | | | again for any leaks. |
| that any thermostatic valve is completely isolated. | | | | |