air in,air out

paul sr

today i told my boss that i have been taking the automatic air vents off of the non bladder expansion tank systems and plugging them. i explained to him the theory of air in and air out systems. well, he looked at me like i was purple, and said he would ask some of the older techs. my problem is, i have discussed it with one of them (older tech)and he disagrees (he says hes old school). i think that its ignorance with an unwillingness to learn. this (older tech) also doesnt think its important to pump away from the PONP, pipes steam boilers in copper, and doesnt believe in drop headers.

now, im 32 years old, been in the trade for 4 yrs, dont try to be a know it all, and listen more than i speak. im willing to try new things, i believe theres always room for improvement,as technology allows it.

what does everyone think about air in, air out systems? id like to show this to my boss tomorrow with your opinions. im not much as one man, but i think many of the same opinions may change things at my company.

Mark Eatherton1

You are on the right track...

Heres proof!

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=45

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=60

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=75

If those three articles don't get them to warm up to your way of thinking, THEY have no hope...:-)

Good luck in your endeavors.

ME

jbplumber

Paul

Keep on a plugging be ok.Best Wishes J.Lockard

jbplumber

Tell him this...

There's no way to keep the air in the expansion tank from going into solution except for maybe having an Airtrol in the tank. Once the air does go into solution, it will most likely find an automatic vent. When it does, the air is gone from the system. With enough time you will lose enough air that the expansion tank will get waterlogged. I'm surprised that B&G Airtrol fittings aren't used more on conventional tanks.


I'm a ho-moaner and I recently mounted a bladder tank in place of the conventional tank. I noticed a huge and immediate difference in my upstairs heating branches. Two of the bedrooms used to pick up air over the period of a month or so and we both know where they were getting the air from. Part of the reason was also that the expansion tank is off the supply riser and the circulator is mounted on the return. Had I put an air separator on the supply side before the circulator and an Airtrol in the bottom of my conventional tank, I think that too would have stopped the air from going upstairs.