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HotsyTotsy
Dec 9, 2014, 08:42 AM
Hello All,

Looking for some help identifying/fixing my problem. I have one baseboard in the house that is not getting hot. I believe it was once a radiator that was converted to a baseboard. About a month ago, I had an oil to gas conversion. After the conversion, everything was working fine. It wasn't until yesterday I noticed the issue. Please bear with me as I describe the (perhaps faulty ?) design.

There are 2 zones. The upstairs zone is fine. Downstairs zone has that 1 baseboard that is causing a problem. There is a 3/4 inch pipe that runs throughout the house. Off that 3/4 inch pipe is a 1/2 inch pipe that branches off from the basement, runs upstairs through the baseboard, and back downstairs into the 3/4 inch pipe.

If I try to bleed it, the water in the pipes will get hot, but will cool off a few minutes later indicating to me that water is not continuously flowing through.

Made a video on YouTube as I thought that was probably the best way to show the problem.

<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdk2h8xUe8" target="_blank">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdk2h8xUe8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogdk2h8xUe8)

I would ask the plumbers that installed it to come back, but I feel like I've paid enough money to them and don't want to be charged anymore.

Thanks for looking

Grady White
Dec 9, 2014, 10:16 AM
That would appear to be a diverter tee system. The bleeding needs to be done at the baseboard. Remove the baseboard end caps & look for any kind of bleeder valve. Would look something like this but may not have the knob. 0590712 - Watts 0590712 - 1/8" HAV Auto Air Vent w/ Manual Override (http://www.supplyhouse.com/Watts-0590712-1-8-HAV-Auto-Air-Vent-w-Manual-Override-3680000-p)

HotsyTotsy
Dec 9, 2014, 01:15 PM
That would appear to be a diverter tee system. The bleeding needs to be done at the baseboard. Remove the baseboard end caps & look for any kind of bleeder valve. Would look something like this but may not have the knob. 0590712 - Watts 0590712 - 1/8" HAV Auto Air Vent w/ Manual Override (http://www.supplyhouse.com/Watts-0590712-1-8-HAV-Auto-Air-Vent-w-Manual-Override-3680000-p)


Thanks for the response Grady White. I found the bleeder and started the process. First just opened the bleeder valve and waited until the water got hot. Closed the valve but it would just get cold again after 5 minutes. Then I tried to close a valve and force water one way through the pipe, bled it. Then opened the valve and bled it again going the other way. Still seems to get cold again though after a few minutes.

Am I doing something wrong?

Grady White
Dec 9, 2014, 03:41 PM
Sounds like you have been trying to bleed the air during a call for heat. Turn the thermostat down or off, wait about 5 minutes, & try bleeding again with no call for heat. Sometimes it works better with a call for heat, sometimes with no call. Let us know how things go.

HotsyTotsy
Dec 10, 2014, 08:58 AM
Sounds like you have been trying to bleed the air during a call for heat. Turn the thermostat down or off, wait about 5 minutes, & try bleeding again with no call for heat. Sometimes it works better with a call for heat, sometimes with no call. Let us know how things go.


Just tried it with the thermostat off but still no good. Luckily though, got a call today that a plumber will be coming over to perform an inspection of the conversion that was done a little bit ago. I'll ask the person what they think and report back.

HotsyTotsy
Dec 10, 2014, 01:51 PM
Just tried it with the thermostat off but still no good. Luckily though, got a call today that a plumber will be coming over to perform an inspection of the conversion that was done a little bit ago. I'll ask the person what they think and report back.


Got it fixed!

So the plumber that came here thought maybe the bucket I was using was too small. I would open the bib, fill the bucket up, close the bib and repeat. Or bleed from the valve on the baseboard and fill the bucket up. He said maybe every time I closed the bib or bleeder valve, air would travel back up the pipes and I wasn't getting anywere.

I ended up attaching a hose to the bib and bleeding it that way. Closed the valve on one side of the pipe and bled it. Then opened the valve and bled all the way out the other way. Seems that did the trick and got the air out.

Hope this helps anyone else that might read this.

Thanks