How to Drain Your Plumbing System
If you’ve got a problem with your heating system you’ll probably need to drain the system in order to flush the problem out or fix it. This is a daunting thought for many homeowners, but it’s actually a lot easier than you think – especially if you are a dab hand at DIY. Be warned – this is not for the DIY faint hearted.
Step One: Turn off Water Supply
Turn off the water supply and the power supply to your boiler. This will prevent any water from re-entering the system while you’re trying to drain it and ensure that the water you are emptying is cold rather than heated. If you have a traditional boiler with an expansion tank in the loft, than you need to take the ball valve which controls the flow of water out of the water. This is just a precaution to prevent the system from re-filling with water.
Step Two: Draining the System
Once you have turned everything off you need to locate the drainage valve. This is a brass valve which you can connect a hose to, allowing you to empty your system with minimum fuss – it also reduces the chance of water damage. Once you have connected the hose and taken the other end of the hose outside, you can then open the valve to release the water in the system. Sometimes the water will run out slowly, to speed things up simply bleed your radiators which will release trapped air and let the water run freely away from the system.
Step Three: Re-fill Your System
Once your system has been completely emptied remember to close the valves you opened on your radiators to bleed them and the brass valve on your system. Turn on the power supply and water, and submerge the ball valve into the water so your system refills.Once your system has refilled, you will need to bleed all radiators downstairs and upstairs to remove any trapped air.