How to bleed radiators with no bleeder valve?

[Shaun Eli]

My house (built in sixties) has gas, hot water heat.

The baseboard radiators have no way to bleed them. When the heat's on
I hear running water, which I am told means that there's air in the
line. Last year the plumber emptied and refilled the system to
eliminate (he said) the gurgling noise from having air in the system.

They say that's the only way, and that the expansion tank should
capture any air and that's the way the system was built.

Of course now that the heat's on this winter there's more gurgling
noise.

Anybody have any suggestions? It seems to me that all water from the
tap has some dissolved air so flushing the system just replaces the
water with other water with dissolved air.

Would it work and make sense to have them cut into a pipe on the top
floor, install a vertical pipe to trap air, and have a bleeder valve
built into that pipe?

[ransley]

Thats what I would do, I would be sure its the highest point. So you
have looked yourself and cant find any fitting anywhere on a radiator
or pipe that can be loosened to release air, look at the highest
places the pipe and radiators are. A house can settle unevenly and
trap air in other places

[Ed Pawlowski]

"Shaun Eli" <missin...@BrainChampagne.com> wrote in message
news:453a14e8-f741-4be9...@33g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...

You can do that, but a good system does not need one. Do you have a brass
valve with air stem on top of the expansion tank? That is supposed to let
the trapped air out. It may be bad and stuck closed. I just had mine
replaced and no more noise. If you have a service policy it is probably
covered.

[Shaun Eli]

I would've located it in the upstairs bathroom behind the toilet where
it wouldn't be so obvious.

There are three or four fittings at or near the boiler; the one on the
tank has a tag explaining that it's to prevent excess pressure build-
up; doesn't say anything about air.

Last year when the plumbers were here they opened and closed valves,
pushed water out of the system, put water into the system... I don't
know where the air is coming from but obviously it's getting pushed
through the system or I wouldn't hear gurgling on the first floor.

This year I got a service contract because it was only slightly more
expensive than two cleanings and I figured I could get a cleaning this
past fall (I did) and then another one next fall just before the
expiration. So maybe on Monday I'll call and have them come take a
look. I think my contract covers two visits.

thanks,

[Claude Hopper]

If you look under the tin you should find a bleeder at one or the other
end of the baseboard pipe near the fins. It's a small valve that takes a
square key they you can buy at any plumbing and heating store for $1.00.
If the installer did not put bleeders there he is stupid and not going
by plumbing code. Yours may be so full of dust you can't see them.

--
Claude Hopper :)

? ? ¥

[ransley]

On Nov 22, 7:40 pm, Bubba <LiKeAlAkErem...@iname.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:31:59 -0800 (PST), ransley

> Ransley,
> Will you stop giving out stupid advice? What he and you have suggested
> is ridiculous. On baseboard radiators you need a bleeder installed
> preferably in each corner of each room. Unless you can guarantee that
> where the pipe comes upstairs until it goes back down to the boiler
> that every inch of that baseboard follows the same upward pitch you
> will be wasting your time. What works well also is to have 2 shut off
> valves in the line at the boiler with a boiler drain in between. That
> way you shut off either valve, open up the boiler drain valve and let
> the water fly. Then shut off the other valve open the other and let it
> fly again. Now open them both and most or all of the air is gone. Who
> wants a pipe sticking up in the middle of their home like you suggest?
> Where do you propose to hide this useless device?
> Learn a trade ransley and stop dolling out stupid advice .........just
> like your System 2000 crap. What a pile of dung.
> Bubba- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Bubbas hack bullshit response again, You drinkin again bubbass, put
one in every room and pay your tech alot. If you read and understood
what you read you would see I mention uneven pipes from house
settling. Only one could be needed if its the high point, and as I
said bubbass at the highest point. Why shouldnt he try the cheapest
route first, but of course you always want the biggest job, thats why
you are not always busy with your company of 1

Since when is it MY System 2000 you inbred, missquoting, toothless,
hackbilly dumbass. I have read about them thats all, so enlighten us
on all the problem issues, or the ones that confuse your uneducated
pee brain. Its not like I would believe you anyway, from all the rude
bs missinformation crap you post, Im sure you just stay away from
anything remotely advanced because it confuses you.

[Heathcliff]

On Nov 22, 4:22 pm, Shaun Eli <missingch...@BrainChampagne.com> wrote:

Do the baseboard radiators have a pipe at each end that goes down
through the floor? If so, each radiator is a local "high point" that
can trap air and needs to be bled individually. It is very unusual
for them to not include a bleeder valve, are you sure they don't have
them? -- H

[Shaun Eli]

I've checked and plumbers have also checked and said they don't see
bleeder valves in the radiators.

You know, I post a question and most of the responses are from people
calling each other idiots, which makes me not want to trust anything
they say regardless of how logical it sounds...

I emailed my local plumbing company; we'll see what they say.