Hi --

To replace a broken valve on one my radiators, I've drained the
water from the hot water heating system in my house. Now I don't
know how to refill it! Can anyone help?

I understand that there are manual and automatic filling systems.
In either case, must the boiler be on for it to fill? (It is
not on now.) All the water supply valves leading to the boiler
are already on. However, inline with the supply pipes, there is
also what looks like a pressure regulator with a little lever on
top. I didn't know if that might be a pressure relief mechanism
or if perhaps lifting the lever might allow the water to flow.
Any ideas? I can take pictures if that would help.

Thanks!
-Bob

"Bob Lang" wrote in message

I understand that there are manual and automatic filling systems.
In either case, must the boiler be on for it to fill? (It is
not on now.) All the water supply valves leading to the boiler
are already on. However, inline with the supply pipes, there is
also what looks like a pressure regulator with a little lever on
top.

With the supply valve turned on, it should fill by itself. Yes, the lever
on top will open the valve manually. The problem, of course, is the air in
the system that must be purged. Thee should be a valve to drain the system.
While filling, if you open that valve it should allow the water to flow
through and purge the air. Once you do that, turn the heater on, let it
come to temperature, then turn up a thermostat so it calls for heat. That
will start the circulator and you will again be able to purge residual air.
Ed

"Bob Lang" wrote in message

I understand that there are manual and automatic filling systems.
In either case, must the boiler be on for it to fill? (It is
not on now.) All the water supply valves leading to the boiler
are already on. However, inline with the supply pipes, there is
also what looks like a pressure regulator with a little lever on
top.

With the supply valve turned on, it should fill by itself. Yes, the lever
on top will open the valve manually. The problem, of course, is the air in
the system that must be purged. Thee should be a valve to drain the system.
While filling, if you open that valve it should allow the water to flow
through and purge the air. Once you do that, turn the heater on, let it
come to temperature, then turn up a thermostat so it calls for heat. That
will start the circulator and you will again be able to purge residual air.
Ed

Bob Lang wrote:
To replace a broken valve on one my radiators, I've drained the water
from the hot water heating system in my house. Now I don't know how to
refill it! Can anyone help?

Replying to my own post here, and thanks to Ed for your reply. In
case anyone has a similar system -- it seems that there are many
different types -- here's what you do: The boiler does indeed
have an automatic filling mechanism, but it may not just start on
its own once you empty the system of water. The expansion tank on
the boiler has a schrader valve on it (like the valve on your
car's tires). Take a bike pump and pump it up to about 12psi.
This is what starts the automatic filling system. You'll hear the
water start to flow. It may take a few hours, depending on how
empty the system is. I haven't turned the heat on to bleed the
system yet, but my impression is that the pressurized expansion
tank somehow helps regulate air pressure inside the system,
reducing the need for bleeding. We'll see :-)

-Bob

Bob Lang wrote:
To replace a broken valve on one my radiators, I've drained the water
from the hot water heating system in my house. Now I don't know how to
refill it! Can anyone help?

Replying to my own post here, and thanks to Ed for your reply. In
case anyone has a similar system -- it seems that there are many
different types -- here's what you do: The boiler does indeed
have an automatic filling mechanism, but it may not just start on
its own once you empty the system of water. The expansion tank on
the boiler has a schrader valve on it (like the valve on your
car's tires). Take a bike pump and pump it up to about 12psi.
This is what starts the automatic filling system. You'll hear the
water start to flow. It may take a few hours, depending on how
empty the system is. I haven't turned the heat on to bleed the
system yet, but my impression is that the pressurized expansion
tank somehow helps regulate air pressure inside the system,
reducing the need for bleeding. We'll see :-)

-Bob

"Bob Lang" wrote in message
...
Bob Lang wrote:
To replace a broken valve on one my radiators, I've drained the water
from the hot water heating system in my house. Now I don't know how to
refill it! Can anyone help?

Replying to my own post here, and thanks to Ed for your reply. In
case anyone has a similar system -- it seems that there are many
different types -- here's what you do: The boiler does indeed
have an automatic filling mechanism, but it may not just start on
its own once you empty the system of water. The expansion tank on
the boiler has a schrader valve on it (like the valve on your
car's tires). Take a bike pump and pump it up to about 12psi.
This is what starts the automatic filling system. You'll hear the
water start to flow. It may take a few hours, depending on how
empty the system is. I haven't turned the heat on to bleed the
system yet, but my impression is that the pressurized expansion
tank somehow helps regulate air pressure inside the system,
reducing the need for bleeding. We'll see :-)

-Bob

You have something going on here. The fill valve and the expansion tank are
2 different items. Normal way to fill would be to pressurize the expansion
tank when the system is empty, open a vent, turn on the main supply then
raise the fast fill lever. When the system gets to about 10 psi, lower the
fast fill lever and allow it to finish. Then you need to fire up the boiler
and bleed off the radiators. If you don't get all the air out of the system
it will be noisy. The expansion tank allows the water to expand somewhere
without blowing a relief valve when it heats up.


Nate


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"Bob Lang" wrote in message
...
Bob Lang wrote:
To replace a broken valve on one my radiators, I've drained the water
from the hot water heating system in my house. Now I don't know how to
refill it! Can anyone help?

Replying to my own post here, and thanks to Ed for your reply. In
case anyone has a similar system -- it seems that there are many
different types -- here's what you do: The boiler does indeed
have an automatic filling mechanism, but it may not just start on
its own once you empty the system of water. The expansion tank on
the boiler has a schrader valve on it (like the valve on your
car's tires). Take a bike pump and pump it up to about 12psi.
This is what starts the automatic filling system. You'll hear the
water start to flow. It may take a few hours, depending on how
empty the system is. I haven't turned the heat on to bleed the
system yet, but my impression is that the pressurized expansion
tank somehow helps regulate air pressure inside the system,
reducing the need for bleeding. We'll see :-)

-Bob

You have something going on here. The fill valve and the expansion tank are
2 different items. Normal way to fill would be to pressurize the expansion
tank when the system is empty, open a vent, turn on the main supply then
raise the fast fill lever. When the system gets to about 10 psi, lower the
fast fill lever and allow it to finish. Then you need to fire up the boiler
and bleed off the radiators. If you don't get all the air out of the system
it will be noisy. The expansion tank allows the water to expand somewhere
without blowing a relief valve when it heats up.


Nate


---

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/3/03

Nate Weber wrote:
You have something going on here. The fill valve and the expansion tank are
2 different items. Normal way to fill would be to pressurize the expansion
tank when the system is empty, open a vent, turn on the main supply then
raise the fast fill lever. When the system gets to about 10 psi, lower the
fast fill lever and allow it to finish.

Thanks for the reply, Nate. I follow you up to here. What is the
fast fill lever? Is that the lever on top of my pressure
regulator? No wonder it was taking so long to fill :-) Also, when
you say 'open a vent,' what vent do you mean?

(I actually had to drain the thing again because I messed up on
installing the radiator valve -- which was why I did it in the
first place -- but I think I've got it beat now.)

Thanks again for the reply.

-Bob

Nate Weber wrote:


You have something going on here. The fill valve and the expansion tank are
2 different items. Normal way to fill would be to pressurize the expansion
tank when the system is empty, open a vent, turn on the main supply then
raise the fast fill lever. When the system gets to about 10 psi, lower the
fast fill lever and allow it to finish.

Thanks for the reply, Nate. I follow you up to here. What is the
fast fill lever? Is that the lever on top of my pressure
regulator in the supply line? (Is that why it took so long to
fill the first time?) Also, when you say, 'open a vent,' what
vent do you mean?

BTW, I will have to be filling it up again (don't ask :-) , so if
I do have a fast fill lever, that will come in handy.

Thanks again for the reply.
-Bob

"Bob Lang" wrote in message
...
Nate Weber wrote:
Thanks for the reply, Nate. I follow you up to here. What is the
fast fill lever? Is that the lever on top of my pressure
regulator in the supply line? (Is that why it took so long to
fill the first time?) Also, when you say, 'open a vent,' what
vent do you mean?

BTW, I will have to be filling it up again (don't ask :-) , so if
I do have a fast fill lever, that will come in handy.

Thanks again for the reply.
-Bob

That lever is your fast fill valve. Straight up enables it. You must lower
it when filling is complete or it will over pressure the system. As for the
vent, you should have a drain valve on your piping manifolds with hose
threads on it. Basically you want to purge every part of the system
separately if its completely drained. Start by closing the valves on each
zone, then open your supply and return manifold vents, fill the boiler until
water comes out of these valves then close them up. Each zone should have a
purge valve on the return side. Hook your hose up to one, open it then open
the supply valve for that zone, purge until water comes from the hose, close
the vent then open the zone return valve. Repeat for other zones. If you
only drain one zone you do not need to purge the entire system, only that
zone.


Nate


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BS , ck all the radiators , bleed all, not doing so wont guarntee
the system operates at design.

"mark Ransley" wrote in message
...
BS , ck all the radiators , bleed all, not doing so wont guarntee
the system operates at design.

Yes, you have to do that too but it is much faster to purge a empty zone
first to get the majority of the air out.

Nate


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Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/4/03