As you may be aware, hydronic floor heating in Melbourne utilises hot water to heat a home during cold weather. The water is heated to a desired temperature in a boiler before flowing through pipes that have been laid in the slab; the heat transfers up through the floor and into the room. The presence of air in the system, however, can cause serious problems with noise and efficiency.
How Does Air Get In?
When you fill or back flush your hydronic heating, city or well water is allowed to enter the system. This water contains compressed air so, as the water flows through the system, the air is able to settle in high spots. Over time, this can create air pockets that severely reduce the efficiency of the system. These pockets are also known to create noise in the pipes.
How Do I Get Air Out?
In order to remove air that is trapped in your hydronic heating, you will need to circulate cold water through the system, one loop at a time. Do not use heated water, as this will compress the air and it will not be released as it passes the scoop and vents. For additional information on getting air out, you should read your owner’s manual for specific instructions.
Can I Prevent This?
Unfortunately, air will always get into your system and build up over time. You can, however, make sure that each loop (or area) has a vent and that your system has a whole house air scoop installed. These preventative measures will help to keep your hydronic heating operating at peak performance and will lower the number of times you need to flush it out.
If you have noticed that your hydronic floor heating has stopped working as efficiently as it used to or that the pipes are rattling whenever the system is turned on, you may have air in the pipes. Even though there is no way to stop this from happening, it is important to remember that the air can be removed – just make sure you do it properly to fully rectify the issue!