If you have a broken pipe that needs repairing or if you need to install a new radiator, you may need to drain your central heating system. Even a new boiler would require this task that is often seen as a ‘bit of a headache’, however it doesn’t have to be. The process can actually be surprisingly simple if you go ahead and follow the step-by-step instructions listed here.
- The first step is to disconnect the boiler from the power after switching it off and putting out the fire (if you have a solid-fuel burning boiler).
- You now have to turn off the water supply. If you find that your home is without either a switch or central heating drain valve, there is an alternative to keep things under control. Have a piece of wood sitting across the cistern fixed to a piece of string that is keeping the ballcock held together.
- On the pipe work, towards the bottom you will find the draincock. Once located, go ahead and connect the extractor hose here.
- Make sure you secure it with a clip and then put the other end of the hose in a waiting ‘waste area’.
- Once all the above is completed and sufficiently checked, the draincock can be opened which will see the water start to flow through the hose.
- The next step is to bleed all your radiators starting upstairs and working your way down. Obviously, ensure that the water levels have dropped to prevent any accidents; it is a good idea to carry a cloth or container around with you just in case water decided to spill out.
- After a while you will notice that the water from the hose slows down, when this happens you have successfully completed draining central heating.
If you follow these instructions step-by-step, you will have a nicely drained system for you to carry out the required repairs. When you are finished, all that’s left to do is to fill the system back up which means that you do the above in reverse order.
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Make sure you have shut off the draincock (Valve for draining the water from a boiler) and that all the radiator valves have been closed. - Take the hose off of the draincock and turn the water back on (if you used string and wood, remember to take this away when finished).
- Bleed the radiators once more but this time from downstairs up until the water has reached an appropriate level.
- To avoid problems with the pipes later on, ensure that the water in the cistern is not above the ballcock.
- Finish by reconnecting the power and turning the boiler back on.
So there we have it, the task that many people dread and don’t trust themselves to do is actually relatively easy. As long as you follow all the steps correctly and take all the precautions necessary, there is no reason why you cant do drain your Central Heating System for your own home!
Also, make sure to check the video bellow as you might find it very useful for draining central heating!