When I was a kid, every fall we would bleed the radiators to get the air out of the system. It stopped the pipes from banging AND made the system work more efficiently.

Now I have baseboard hot water heat and suffer the banging pipes. Our heating contractor says he can flush the system with a garden hose -- which I think just puts aerated water into the system.

I asked about vents -- what would you call them? -- and was told that it isn't done.

Is it? should it be? Can it be? Can I do it? (I did all the plumbing -- CPVC, not copper, sorry -- in the house). And, can I use CPVC for baseboard hot water?

Thanks

David Fuller

CPVC in the heating system???? I have never installed baseboard heat, but I have worked on systems and I thought CPVC for heat was out of the question. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Now, your question about bleeding the baseboards. Yes, you can install bleeders, but they cost money and so it isn't done much any more. If your contractor uses a pump and recirculates the water from the system, he won't introduce too much aerated water back into the system, but most don't go to that bother. I have done the garden hose method but I always feel guilty about that new water on the furnace heat exchanger. Maybe I'm worrying about something that doesn't matter. DON'T do this often, but I have already put a self piercing ice-maker valve into the high spot on a problem loop to bleed the air. I sure wouldn't want to see that trick all over a house!

If this is a recurring problem something else is wrong. Somewhere you have a leak. What should be done is have an "air scoop" or spirovent installed on the main supply out of the furnace. That would take care of any air that circulated past it. Then get the system full and it should stay that way.

EPM