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Removing air from forced hot water system?

dc_2
dc_2 Member Posts: 6
in THE MAIN WALL
Hi, I'm a home owner new to this site. I have a utica 100 gas boiler and every year it needs to be bled of air in the lines. It is a loop system with split lines but only one thermo for up and down stairs. How can I go about doing this? I'm tired of paying $$$ for something that takes minutes. Also it has the old style expantion tank, can I replace this with a newer type?
Thanks, Dan

Comments

  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Consider a device called an "Air-Trol" fitting by Bell & Gossett. It installed in a plain expansion tank and will stop the problem.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    whar the pump installed?

    Is the pump on supply or the return piping? If its on the return and steel exp tank with no airtrol fitting, you will have a yearly problem... Replacing with PROPER sized bladder tank will helps...
  • dc_2
    dc_2 Member Posts: 6
    air troll

    Thanks for the tip, one question bfore I look into it. Does this go into the tank itself or on the line going to the tank?
  • dc_2
    dc_2 Member Posts: 6
    pump

    From the look of it I think it's on the supply side
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    It installs on and extends into the tank with the line leading to the tank connecting to the device.
  • dc_2
    dc_2 Member Posts: 6
    air trol

    Thanks Mike, I went to B&G site, found pdf of air trol install. It shows two parts for tank and boiler, do I need both? also it shows supply line going in at supply side and my setup has it on the return side (See attchment) is this ok?
  • rjm
    rjm Member Posts: 60
    reversed

    I think you have it reversed, The pipe out of the top is the supply(along with your x-tank) and the pump is on the return.
    silly question but, Is your circulator(pump) pumping in the right direction? (arrow on the housing)
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    The "second part" is an air separator. Some boilers (certainly Weil-McLain cast iron and perhaps others) have a simple but effective air separator built-in. The connection is usually very close to the supply outlet, but may never have been unplugged or used. If your boiler has one of these, you connect the line leading to the Air-Trol (and compression tank) there.

    If no built-in air separator you're [probably] OK without one if you have standing radiators or convectors. After you bleed them ALL a few times over a few months the Air-trol fitting will do it's job of preventing air in the tank from "wandering" into the rads. If you have baseboard radiation, I'd HIGHLY suggest an air separator AND converting to "pumping away" if necessary and at all possible.

    Take the proper steps and your air problems will be history and that plain tank will probably still outlast the newer style diaphragm tanks as their diaphragm wears out over time while the plain tank is nothing but a tank...
  • dc_2
    dc_2 Member Posts: 6


    yes you are correct it is on the return side (I was thinking supply as outside water) and yes it is pumping correct direction
  • dc_2
    dc_2 Member Posts: 6


    Mike,
    I don't understand the pumping away term? It is baseboard rads.
  • Dave_4
    Dave_4 Member Posts: 1,404


    Quite literally the subject of a VERY GOOD, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND INEXPENSIVE book written by the owner of this website. He explains "pumping away" with EXCEPTIONAL clarity!!!!!
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