Sunny Windows, Shady Trees and Other Non-Electrical Supports to HVAC

If you are new to boiler system heat, you may not know how to deal with potential radiator issues such as air trapped in the boiler lines. Understanding the symptoms of air in the system and knowing what to do about it can help you keep your home's boiler heat running as efficiently and effectively as possible throughout the winter season. Here are a few things you should know about your home's boiler system and trapped air pockets.

How Do You Know If There Is Air In Your Boiler System?

You might wonder how you can identify air in your boiler system since its a closed system. If you are attentive to how your home's heating system is functioning, it's much easier than you'd think to identify when there's air interfering with your boiler's operation.

Any time there are air pockets present in your boiler system, you'll notice that the system makes noises when it runs. As the water circulates through the system, the air pockets present in the lines will create some banging, popping, and similar noises that you wouldn't hear otherwise.

In addition, the pump that circulates the water through your system is a fairly low-pressure pump. That means that it doesn't necessarily have the force necessary to push an air pocket along in the system. As a result, you may find that some of your radiators don't heat up when the others do, or they are not as warm as the other are.

How Do You Deal With Air In Your Boiler System?

If you've determined that your boiler system likely has air pockets in it, you need to bleed the system to get rid of them. Your radiators should come with a special key that you can use to open the bleeder valves. 

Turn the boiler system off at the breaker so that it doesn't turn on while you're working. Then, place a bucket or a bowl under the bleeder valve on the first radiator and open the valve. Let the water flow from the bleeder valve until it flows smoothly without any air pockets. Then, close the valve. Repeat this process on each radiator before turning the system back on.

You can also talk with your residential heater services technician about bleeding the system and then installing an in-line air vent that allows air pockets out of the system without disrupting the water pressure. This will keep your boiler heating system running the way that it should.