I seem to have a challenge in refilling the CH system after draining it
down. My method is to close all the air valves etc., turn on the water, wait
until it fills. Then I bleed the air from the radiators and turn on the
pump/heating. At this point, I hear lots of glugging in the boiler part of
the system, as if it was previously closed off to the water until the
pump/heating is turned on.

I have turned the screw cap in the centre of the pump to then bleed the
system again, and then bleed all the radiators again to get rid of residual
air in them.

However I'm not convinced I'm getting all the air out of the system near the
boiler as I get some overheating issues on the boiler (it goes away again
when I drain and refill the system, pointing to an airlock).

Am I missing something? Is there a way to open the valve in that area of the
system to fill it up before turning it on?

Thoughts on technique or other appreciated
Thanks

Greg wrote:
I seem to have a challenge in refilling the CH system after draining it
down. My method is to close all the air valves etc., turn on the water,
wait until it fills. Then I bleed the air from the radiators and turn on
the pump/heating. At this point, I hear lots of glugging in the boiler
part of the system, as if it was previously closed off to the water
until the pump/heating is turned on.

I have turned the screw cap in the centre of the pump to then bleed the
system again, and then bleed all the radiators again to get rid of
residual air in them.

However I'm not convinced I'm getting all the air out of the system near
the boiler as I get some overheating issues on the boiler (it goes away
again when I drain and refill the system, pointing to an airlock).

Am I missing something? Is there a way to open the valve in that area of
the system to fill it up before turning it on?

Thoughts on technique or other appreciated
Thanks
Your method sounds normal to me. Some systems are just pigs to refill.
One thing you could try is to fill from the drain cock via a hose. This
can be messy if your drain cock(s) are indoors and are the type without
sealing glands to be careful if you try this.
You could alway fit a bleed valve somewhere near the boiler.
Try running the pump before switching on the boiler if you have that
degree of control and bleed before adding heat if that might help.
Have you got zone valves that only open when the boiler is running?

hth
Bob

On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.

I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to
push air out of the system.

--
F

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.

I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to push
air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system fills
you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

Does the boiler have an automatic bleed valve on it - if so - it may have a
cap on it. The needs removing to allow it to work.

"John" wrote in message
...

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.

I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to
push air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system
fills you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

Does the boiler have an automatic bleed valve on it - if so - it may have
a cap on it. The needs removing to allow it to work.


Post the name of the boiler - someone will have one the same and will
confirm if there is an auto air vent that may need uncapping.

On 01/01/2009 13:20 John wrote:

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.
I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to push
air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system fills
you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

I think that's what I was telling the OP...

--
F

"John" wrote in message
...

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.

I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to
push air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system
fills you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

Does the boiler have an automatic bleed valve on it - if so - it may have
a cap on it. The needs removing to allow it to work.


Didn't see an automatic bleed valve, but the boiler is a Baxi Barcelona.

Thanks

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 13:20 John wrote:

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.
I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to
push air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system
fills you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

I think that's what I was telling the OP...

--
F

Sorry - you said (just) the "highest" one. This would leave air trapped in
every other radiator (assuming they are conventionally plumbed and the
bottom.

On 01/01/2009 14:03 John wrote:

Sorry - you said (just) the "highest" one. This would leave air trapped in
every other radiator (assuming they are conventionally plumbed and the
bottom.

I assumed that the OP would realise that after 'the highest' was full of
water, then the rest would have to be bled in turn.

However, when I drain the system down I turn off the valves at both ends
of every radiator that may empty, apart from the highest, before I start
draining. That way all radiators bar that one are full and refilling is
much faster and simpler.

--
F

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 14:03 John wrote:

Sorry - you said (just) the "highest" one. This would leave air trapped
in every other radiator (assuming they are conventionally plumbed and the
bottom.

I assumed that the OP would realise that after 'the highest' was full of
water, then the rest would have to be bled in turn.

However, when I drain the system down I turn off the valves at both ends
of every radiator that may empty, apart from the highest, before I start
draining. That way all radiators bar that one are full and refilling is
much faster and simpler.

--
F

Good idea - and saves introducing more lime.

On 01/01/2009 18:56 John wrote:

Good idea - and saves introducing more lime.

Also saves on inhibitor.

--
F

"Greg" wrote in message
...
"John" wrote in message
...

"F" news@nowhere wrote in message
et...
On 01/01/2009 11:02 Greg wrote:

My method is to close all the air valves etc.

I usually leave the 'highest' one open to allow the incoming water to
push air out of the system.

--
F


You can't fill the system if the air valves are closed. As the system
fills you need to be bleeding each and every radiator.

Does the boiler have an automatic bleed valve on it - if so - it may have
a cap on it. The needs removing to allow it to work.


Didn't see an automatic bleed valve, but the boiler is a Baxi Barcelona.

Thanks

I have tried searching for instructions to your boiler - without success.
Are you absolutely sure you can't find an air vent on the top of the boiler
(inside on the heat exchanger). I believe most have one.