Plumbing/heating question

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Jan 13, 2011 | 02:04 AM

ArdWrknTrk

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pedant

Joined: Jan 2008

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From: EXTREME southwest CT

Plumbing/heating question

I just moved to a new (to me) house with hydronic baseboard heat.
I can hear bubbles coursing through the system and there are certain areas that seem too cool.
There are no bleeders anywhere. It's freezing and I really don't have the place to purge the whole system.
Could I use saddle/needle valves at the high points to get the air out for the time being, until the heating season is over and I can fix it right?

Thanks in advance for any expert advice.

Jan 13, 2011 | 09:50 AM

GLR

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From: NY and VA

Usually there are bleeders by the units them selves. There should be a bleeder at the boiler itself.

Jan 13, 2011 | 09:57 AM

ArdWrknTrk

Thread Starter

pedant

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 23,576

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From: EXTREME southwest CT

No there is no seperator or bleeder on the boiler.
Not a scoop or even the little brass can with a valve stem that looks like an oil pressure sender.
This place is built like ****.

How would I get air from the second floor down to the boiler anyhow?
It seems like the water is just flowing along the bottom half of the tubes in my bedroom.
And making lots of wooshing, gurgling sounds while doing it.
At least the thermostat isn't in there or it would never stop calling for heat.

Jan 13, 2011 | 02:47 PM

Charlie Bravo

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From: PA

It seems to me that that should work. It is a water boiler and not a steam boiler, right?. I would place the saddle valves where you will put the bleeders. Best, CB

Jan 13, 2011 | 03:03 PM

ArdWrknTrk

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pedant

Joined: Jan 2008

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From: EXTREME southwest CT

It is just hot water slant fin, fine line 30.

I'm used to seeing bleed elbows where the riser comes up out of the floor.

I have no idea how to get air from three floors up into the basement without isolating the boiler, opening the drain and the fill.
Maybe then I could push it all out, but then I'd be replacing the coolant with aerated water and this too would eventually end up at the top, wouldn't it?

Jan 14, 2011 | 01:56 PM

dustybumpers

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From: In my own world

there should be a vent at each heat exchanger. is the system copper? I would try maybe a icemaker tap valve in the line after the fins. I did that to my one houses where the hot water heating system was improperly installed. all my systems are water fed, not coolant fed. you could be low on water, and the system can't self bleed. are there any guages on your boiler?

Jan 14, 2011 | 02:09 PM

ArdWrknTrk

Thread Starter

pedant

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 23,576

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From: EXTREME southwest CT

Thanks Charlie,

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustybumpers

there should be a vent at each heat exchanger.

But there isn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustybumpers

is the system copper?

Yes, Slantfin, as stated above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustybumpers

I would try maybe a icemaker tap valve in the line after the fins. I did that to my one houses where the hot water heating system was improperly installed.

Exactly what I'm suggesting. So, it worked for you?
I posed the Q? to see if there was a reason NOT to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustybumpers

all my systems are water fed, not coolant fed. you could be low on water, and the system can't self bleed. are there any guages on your boiler?

There is a boiler fill and gauges. Everything seems normal downstairs, psi, temp, elevation.
I cracked the boiler drain and pink came out. I assume some kind of glycol. There's a backflow check valve so I doubt any could contaminate the drinking supply in the event of a main break or other drop in pressure.