The main problem of living in urban apartments is the heating system. Heating is a rather complicated heating scheme for various industrial buildings and premises, which is based on the regular maintenance of a microclimate that is comfortable for living.
Before the start of the heating season, utilities warn every year that air needs to be vented. In some cases, the cause of air is the release of hydrogen from the water due to the peculiar chemical effects. But this problem can be avoided by installing air vents for heating systems. What are these devices, how do they work, and why are they needed? This will be discussed later.
Why does air appear in the system?
Air can enter the heating system for a variety of reasons.
The most common among them are:
- during the initial filling of the system with water;
- due to poor or worn sealing elements;
- due to water recharge;
- corrosion inside the pipes;
- violation of installation rules when conducting and connecting the heating system, etc.
When water enters the heating system, it contains a large amount of oxygen, which, when heated, expands and forms air jams. They, in turn, reduce the pressure in the system and reduce the rate of water circulation. Thus, if air vents for heating systems are not installed in your apartment, you must manually bleed air. If this is not done, then the room will be poorly and unevenly heated, which, in turn, will negatively affect the comfort of living.
Kinds
There are two types of air vents:
Automatic air vents in the heating system are more practical and convenient to use, since they do not require any human action. However, their cost will be higher than manual counterparts. Their installation should be carried out in places where the likelihood of air congestion is highest. Manual installation is carried out on heating radiators.
How do they work?
The principle of operation of the air vent in the heating system depends on the design features of these devices.
Manual air vents (it is not difficult to guess from the name) require human intervention, while automatic control equipment can be simply installed and forever forgotten, since it will bleed air on its own as such a need arises.
What problems can air heating systems cause?
Before we talk about how to install an air vent in the heating system, let's first look at the main problems that air can cause in heating pipes and radiators. Air impedes the circulation of water through the system, as a result of which the heating efficiency of the room is significantly reduced. In addition, airing will cause vibrations, which over time can lead to physical damage to the heating system in the welding areas of individual elements.
The accumulation of air in the pipes will contribute to their rusting and reduce the life of the pipe. But the worst problem is defrosting the system, because of which you can remain without heat in the winter.
Design Features
Manual and automatic air vents have similar design features, with the exception of some differences.
Both types of devices consist of a channel and a valve, which is responsible for the removal of air from the heating system. To choose what type of equipment to install at home, you need to understand the principle of operation of a manual and automatic air vent.
How does an auto-controlled fixture work?
So, how does an air vent in an automatic heating system work? If there is no air in the pipes, the float is raised, and the needle valve is in the closed position. When an air plug is formed, the float lowers, as a result of which the rocker opens the valve, air is released. When all the air is completely out, the float returns to its original position, closing the valve.
The principle of operation of the manual device
Manual air vents for heating systems (the price of which is lower than automatic ones and starts from 200 rubles) have a simpler design, but the principle of operation remains the same. When the regulator rotates, the valve opens, releasing accumulated air from the pipes. Rotation in the opposite direction brings the valve to the closed position.
Where is installation recommended?
If your apartment has an open heating system, then the air is vented from it through an expansion tank. Difficulties may arise if a pump is installed in the heating system that forcibly circulates the water through the pipes. In this case, the installation of a device for manual or automatic air bleeding is recommended. But where to put the air vent in the heating system?
If you bought a manual fixture, then it should be installed directly on radiators. At the same time, installation is recommended on all radiators, since it is in them most often that airing occurs. When using automatic appliances, the best place to install is the highest point in the heating system. This is due to the fact that the formed air will rise exactly up, where it will be removed from the system through the air vent.
Design
There are quite a few varieties of air vents, which differ among themselves in their design.
In shape, they can be straight, angular, and also vertical or horizontal. According to the principle of operation, this equipment is divided into ball and needle.
Some people who want to save money on heating in their home do not install air vents for heating systems, but ordinary taps. With their help, you can not only lower the air accumulated in the pipes, but also drain stagnant water. But faucets today can be met very rarely, since most people prefer to install air vents, which have already become an integral part of the heating system, which in its importance is not inferior to heating elements and radiators. It is the air vents that are responsible for maintaining the heating system in working condition.
Installation of automatic devices
The efficiency of heating a home and the reliability of its operation depend on the proper installation of the taps.
This work is not difficult, so everyone can cope with it, even if he had never done anything like it before. But here it is important to have an idea of the installation procedure. So how is the installation of an automatic air vent in the heating system?
As mentioned earlier, for their installation, you should choose those places in which the probability of formation of air jams is the highest. Such places include the highest points of the heating equipment, collectors and circuits of the heating system. There is one important nuance here: air vents must be mounted strictly in an upright position. If this is not possible for any reason, you will have to purchase parts with a horizontal outlet.
So, how to install the air vent in the heating system with automatic descent, we figured out. Let’s now talk about how to install a manual tapper.
Manual device installation
For older radiators used in central heating systems, installing automatic air vents would not be the best solution. This statement is true for at least two reasons. Firstly, such heating systems have been in operation for many years, during which they, as a rule, have never been cleaned.
Secondly, air jams in them are formed very often, therefore devices with automatic operation will wear out too quickly and fail. Thus, in apartments with old central heating, it is best to use hand-held devices.
How to install a manual air vent in the heating system? This is pretty easy to do. First of all, a hole is drilled at the highest point of the radiator, in which then a thread is cut and a Mayevsky tap is screwed in. The whole process does not take much time and effort, so everyone can cope with it. It is worth noting that the air vent should be mounted on each radiator, where most often air jams form, which must be removed from the system.
When choosing manual air vents, pay attention to their markings. If there are hydraulic shocks in the heating system , then you must buy the MS-140 or OMES models. They are able to withstand high temperatures, up to 150 degrees.
How to bleed air from a heating system?
We have already figured out the consequences that may result in the formation of air jams in pipes and radiators, and also talked about how air vents are installed for heating systems. Now it remains only to figure out how the air is vented with the help of vents.
The first step is to inspect the heating system for leaks. If any are found, then you need to eliminate them. If forced circulation is used in the system, it is necessary to check the serviceability of the water pump and carry out preventive measures. If everything is in order, then you can begin to bleed air.
This procedure is performed in the following sequence:
- Power is cut off.
- The heater turns off and the water supply to the heating system is shut off.
- The air vent opens to maximum, after which you will hear a characteristic hiss, which accompanies the exit of air from the system.
- Stagnant water is drained until it starts to go clean and without air bubbles.
After all the air has been released from the system, it is necessary to fill it with water. The first step is to fill the water heater, and only then radiators and pipes. It will not be superfluous to add a special substance with anti-corrosion properties to the water. This will significantly increase the life of the heating system and save on its partial or complete replacement.
If during the execution of work you find that the heating system is clogged, then it is necessary to clean it. For this, it is better to use special chemicals that effectively cope with any blockages. You can purchase them at any store specializing in the sale of heating equipment and related products.