Air lock in hot water system (low hot water pressure)
Discussion
We were away last weekend so I turned off the hot water. Got back Sunday evening to discover that the boiler had lost pressure and the hot water was coming out of the taps at a trickle. I re-pressurized the boiler and it is all working fine, however the hot water pressure is still woeful. Bizarrely it seemed to sort itself out Sunday evening as I managed to run a bath but the whole rest of the time it is barely a trickle. I assume there is an airlock somewhere but I've no idea how to get rid of it?
Its a sealed system (megaflo type cylinder, no tank in the loft). I know the boiler is working OK as our bathroom towel rails are on the hot water circuit and they are getting hot as normal.
Anyone got any suggestions how to get rid of the air lock? Should there be a bleed point somewhere near the cylinder?
I've got someone booked to come out next Tuesday but would obviously like to wash before then
Its a sealed system (megaflo type cylinder, no tank in the loft). I know the boiler is working OK as our bathroom towel rails are on the hot water circuit and they are getting hot as normal.
Anyone got any suggestions how to get rid of the air lock? Should there be a bleed point somewhere near the cylinder?
I've got someone booked to come out next Tuesday but would obviously like to wash before then
I’m not sure you can do it with a mega flow tank but I’ve got those pressurised bottles in my airing cupboard with a cold water tank in the loft.
When my hot taps wouldn’t let water out due to an air lock after draining, I was told to put a washing machine pipe from the cold to hot tap for the washing machine under the sink, open hot taps in the house then turn the hot and cold washing machine taps on, pushing cold water at mains pressure through the hot water system, plumber said don’t do it for too long, the hot taps had water in seconds.
When my hot taps wouldn’t let water out due to an air lock after draining, I was told to put a washing machine pipe from the cold to hot tap for the washing machine under the sink, open hot taps in the house then turn the hot and cold washing machine taps on, pushing cold water at mains pressure through the hot water system, plumber said don’t do it for too long, the hot taps had water in seconds.
If it’s an unvented cylinder and nothing is flowing out of the hot taps it won’t be an airlock!. Will either be the tap you turned off when you went away is not back on fully or has snapped off inside or the pressure reducing valve has stopped allowing water through. If your cold water taps are flowing normally it’s impossible to get an airlock on an unvented system the water pressure is too great for it to happen.
The boiler losing pressure is a totally separate problem the water in the boiler and the water out of your taps are on separate circuits.
The boiler losing pressure is a totally separate problem the water in the boiler and the water out of your taps are on separate circuits.
Edited by moles on Tuesday 21st August 21:50
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