HI Andrew


Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article ,
"dennis@home" writes:

"Adrian" wrote in message
...
HI All

I've not used float-type auto air vents before - so I may be doing
something wrong - expert advice welcomed !
The float vent I have in my hand has a screw on the top that appears to
close the vent even if the float is not floating.
I believe it is really for fast filling a pressurised system and not
actually an auto vent to release trapped air.
It looks like you open it to let the air out while filling and then close it
to ensure air can't get drawn in by the circulating water.

The closing is because they don't last long if left open. The ball has
to stay wet to seal, and this means there's moisture exposed. This dries
and eventually leaves deposits behind, and these build up and stop the
seal working, so the valve starts leaking water.

Ah - so they're not so much an auto-air-vent - more of an
'auto-air-seperator-with-manual-vent' - I didn't realise that.

So in normal operation you'd leave them with the cap screwed down tight
- and release any trapped air by unscrewing the valve from time to time...?



There isn't normally negative pressure anywhere in a system -- the header
tank is usually higher than the pump by more than the pressure differential
the pump can achieve, although there are some less well designed systems
which do manage to suck air in the expansion pipe.

Don;t think we've got problems in that department.
As I said - once the air in the big tank is removed then everything runs
very happily - but excessive amount of air in the tank causes the header
tank to overflow as the system warms up and the air expands...

Thanks
Adrian