October is the time to seriously think about the winter heating system checks. Regular maintenance of the heating system will allow you to enjoy pleasant warmth on winter evenings. Check how in a few simple steps you can prepare radiators and central heating for the heating season. Thanks to this, you can avoid unpleasant surprises when you start the heating system for the first time and enjoy the warmth in your home throughout the season.
When radiators should start to heat – recipes.
As the outside temperature drops, the room temperature decreases. The first start of the heating installation depends mainly on what is happening behind our windows. The start of the season does not have a specific date. The heating is started in accordance with the agreement between the customer and the heat supplier. The energy law only defines the period when companies distributing heat to apartments must be ready to start providing the service. Usually, the decision to turn on central heating is made individually by a housing association. On the other hand, owners of single-family homes and their own heating stoves can decide on the inclusion of heating.
Cleaning radiators before winter heating system checks.
Usually at the end of the heating season and turning off the radiators, most people forget about them for several months. During home cleaning, they are often not wiped down exactly. If you skip the cleaning of the radiators, after starting the heating for a few days there may be an unpleasant smell of burnt dust. In addition, various pollutants rise up with warm air, which spread throughout the apartment and affect the respiratory system. Cleaning radiators, especially in nooks and crannies, can be facilitated by using e.g. a brush on an elastic stick. Outside, use a soft, soft cloths. With heavily soiled water and soap can be used to clean the radiators. Stronger detergents could damage the radiator surface. However, you must remember not to damage them during cleaning. Leaving wet clothes with detergent residues on the radiator will contribute to corrosion. Violation of their coating can lead to leaks, which shortens the life of the radiators. It is worth checking from time to time to see if there are scratches and chips on them. And if any small defects appear, they should be protected with a stick or spray varnish. Small defects in the coating very often become corrosion centres.
How to bleed the radiator?
If cleaning the radiators from the outside is already behind you, the next step will be venting them. The fact that you are dealing with an air-filled radiator is evidenced by several things: loud work, i.e. bubbling water, noise, whistling and uneven heat dissipation by the radiator. Bleeding the radiator is to remove accumulated gases from the radiator – in addition to air, it is sometimes also hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. Their presence may cause uneven heating of the device, and in extreme cases also bothersome bubbling and whistling for the household members. Before answering the question of how to bleed the radiator, let’s first focus on the preparation activities:
- Check the pressure in the central heating system (best in the range of 0.9-1.2 atmospheres). They can also be slightly increased so that the air is pushed to the top of the radiator and easier to remove.
- Turn off the boiler and the circulation pump of the central heating system (this is equivalent to stopping the circulation in the system).
- Check the mounting of the radiator – it should hang so that the end where the vent is located is higher than the end with the radiator valve.
- Close the radiator valve.
Central heating radiators usually have a special valve that allows you to bleed it yourself. This operation can be performed using a screwdriver or a device equipped with a knob to unscrew the vent in the radiator. The problem with the air in the radiator itself is a natural process. Its causes should be seen in the process of diffusion or incorrect filling of the CO installation. Bleeding the installation is not a difficult task and you can easily do it yourself, using only home tools. People who have automatic air vent do not need to do anything because the radiator will vent itself.
- Not just airing
When, after starting the installation, some central heating radiators are very warm, while other summer or even quite cold, this does not always have to indicate a problem with the air in the radiator. This problem may be caused by incorrect presetting. In other words, the amount of water flowing into the radiators is not correct. In this case, the solution is crazing, i.e. performing initial adjustment. Appropriate adjustment of the water flow in the radiators is done by optimal selection of settings. To this end, it is necessary to suppress the flow of water in one place and increase the intensity in another.
How to perform preliminary radiating of the radiator?
- System pressure level
Another thing to keep in mind when maintaining your heating system is to check the system pressure level. A pressure gauge located at the boiler is used for this. If its indications deviate from those recommended by the installer or manufacturer, the water level in the installation should be raised or lowered. Valves located near the furnace are most often used for this. It is necessary to check the connections of the installation for any leaks and leaks. If you see these types of problems, it’s best to seek the assistance of a qualified installer.
- Modern radiator control
When central heating radiators are ready for operation in the next heating season, it is time to ensure optimal operating costs. This is possible thanks to the use of intelligent automation. Radiator heating control can significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed while delivering the ideal amount of heat. Thanks to the remotely controlled radiator thermostats, you can reduce your heating bills and at the same time get the optimum room temperature. The right temperature will promote well-being, optimal concentration on tasks and relaxation. Radiator heating control will allow you to control your heating throughout the entire season. When there is no one during the day, you can automatically lower the temperature by several degrees and save with good results also for the environment.
- Prepare the device for the heating season
Regardless of what type of device provides heat to radiators, it is important to properly prepare it for work in the new season. Above all, older devices need careful inspection and maintenance. The best time to do such activities is the period just after the end of the season (in summer), but if you have not done the basic tasks so far, September is the last bell for doing such work. Early intervention will eliminate possible faults and prevent a sudden break in heating in the middle of the season.
- Make sure you are ready for the winter
Properly preparing for the season helps to avoid problems during the first start of the heating installation, as well as at the stage of subsequent operation. Cleaning the radiators, their proper maintenance and reasonable control of the radiator heating will allow them to heat our house for years efficiently and economically. So that the work effect of central heating radiators is not adversely affected by external factors, it is also worth checking the tightness of windows and doors, building insulation and humidity. Also, remember that obtaining measurable benefits from the operation of each heating system is the right selection and installation of heating devices for the needs of home installation.