HereToLearn
New Member
I am trying to figure out the best way to restore heat to my first floor. It is a two story split level home and the heat works great on the main floor as well as the 2nd. However, I've already bled out the small bleeder valves on the baseboards. I got a fair amount of air out of what I believe is the last (or 2nd to last technically) in the run. I only have 1 thermostat for the heat so the best I can tell is that I've got a single zone and hot water goes out in a single line, splits somewhere that I cannot see and returns separately from the upper floors versus the ground floor.
Are bleeder valves always located at the end of a pipe run and are the ones in my basement likely the last ones in the line?
I have considered draining the water out of the system but want to make sure I am doing it correctly. A friend suggested opening the valve and letting the existing water out while the system pumps new water in to replace it. It sounds like this would clear the air locks and restore warm water into the piping on the ground floor. I think this would be the capped valve with the red cap in the photos. It seems more likely this is the return side that feeds back into the furnace. However, i am not positive and do want to make any mistakes. There is also a drain valve located under the circulator but that is the lowest on the boiler and seems would drain the actual boiler which i do not believe i would want to do. So i think i need to screw a hose into the drain with the red valve and open it up while leaving the system on to replace the water i'm flushing. Does that sound right?
As best i can tell, city water comes in, goes through my hot water tank and then feeds into the water expansion tank. It then perhaps gets sent upstairs or possibly into the furnace. Although that last part doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me and it seems more likely it goes straight up through the system. And then the pipes behind feed return water through the circulator pump, through the boiler, then up and past the expansion tank into the home. You cannot see the pipe from behind the vent but that one goes up into the house and is the hottest. The pipe in the basement that is higher with the bleeder is also warm and i believe could be the return from the 2nd floor. This joins in with a lower pipe that is often cold but if I bleed it enough it becomes hot.
Any help is MUCH appreciated!
Are bleeder valves always located at the end of a pipe run and are the ones in my basement likely the last ones in the line?
I have considered draining the water out of the system but want to make sure I am doing it correctly. A friend suggested opening the valve and letting the existing water out while the system pumps new water in to replace it. It sounds like this would clear the air locks and restore warm water into the piping on the ground floor. I think this would be the capped valve with the red cap in the photos. It seems more likely this is the return side that feeds back into the furnace. However, i am not positive and do want to make any mistakes. There is also a drain valve located under the circulator but that is the lowest on the boiler and seems would drain the actual boiler which i do not believe i would want to do. So i think i need to screw a hose into the drain with the red valve and open it up while leaving the system on to replace the water i'm flushing. Does that sound right?
As best i can tell, city water comes in, goes through my hot water tank and then feeds into the water expansion tank. It then perhaps gets sent upstairs or possibly into the furnace. Although that last part doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me and it seems more likely it goes straight up through the system. And then the pipes behind feed return water through the circulator pump, through the boiler, then up and past the expansion tank into the home. You cannot see the pipe from behind the vent but that one goes up into the house and is the hottest. The pipe in the basement that is higher with the bleeder is also warm and i believe could be the return from the 2nd floor. This joins in with a lower pipe that is often cold but if I bleed it enough it becomes hot.
Any help is MUCH appreciated!