It’s 2021, and it is quite uncommon to keep boilers and radiators at home. But some people do own these systems, and if you are one of them, here’s a helpful little guide for you. The brief guide will discuss how it operates and how you can maintain it.
It is easier to maintain the boilers whose parts are easily accessible, like the HB Smith boiler parts. You would understand better by learning how the system works.
Table of Contents
How does it work?
People still consider radiators in 2021 because they are effective and provide comfortable heat to the building. Radiators do not absorb much moisture from the air or blow dust around. They also have a long life, especially when you maintain them well.
This heating system has a boiler, radiator, and connecting pipes that are filled with water. It is called a closed system because the water keeps running throughout the system and does not drain. The boiler heats the water inside, which then passes to the radiator, and then the surrounding air is also heated up through a process called convection.
However, the water does not stay heated. It keeps moving from the radiator to the next radiator and starts to cool down in the process. When it reaches the boiler again, it has a cooler temperature. The most common reason for non-operative radiators is the damaged boiler parts. You should make sure that the boiler parts are in good condition and replace them after a certain time. It helps to consider reliable suppliers like HB Smith boiler parts. They promise longer life and hence increasing the life of the radiator.
Types of Radiators
You might have seen radiators made of varying metals. If your home has an older system, chances are that it has cast iron radiators. Cast iron radiators work like cast iron cookware. Meaning, the metal tends to heat at a slow pace but retains its heat for a long time. Even if you turn off the cast iron radiators, they will keep their warmth for a long time. Thus, they are efficient for homes. They work the best with high-quality boilers. If you own a cast iron radiator at home, improve its performance using boilers like the HB Smith boiler.
However, many people prefer steel radiators because they weigh lighter than cast iron ones.
Maintaining Your Radiator
The prior thing to do is bleeding the air into the system, which is quite easy to do.
Bleeding the Air
Turn off the system and let the water cool down. Open the valve located on the top of the radiator to release the air. Use a bleed key to do so. Rotate the key clockwise and hold the bowl right there. You’ll hear the sound of hiss when the air is released. Then you can close the bowl again.
Check the boiler pressure.
Before turning on the system, check the pressure of your boiler. Whether you own an HB Smith boiler or any other brand, there is a boiler gauge under the service panel, which should read 12 psi when the water is cold and 18psi when it’s hot. If the reading is low, add cold water by opening the valve and close it when the gauge reaches 12psi. Similarly, if the pressure is higher than 18psi, you will need to release the water through the system’s drain.
Maintaining the combustion chamber.
The combustion chamber uses fire to release heat. It may not work properly if there is too much grime built up in the chamber. Instead of cleaning the parts, call an HVAC specialist to fix the system once a year. Prefer a good boiler if you do not want to call the maintenance every once in a while. Consider an HB Smith 28 series boiler or a reliable boiler that you have heard of.
Keeping all of it in mind will help your system run smoothly and more efficiently.