How to Bleed a Baseboard Hot Water System
From time to time your baseboard hot water system may need to be bled. A common cause for this is air trapped in the pipes. A clue to let you know that you have air in the pipes and need to bleed the system is the sound it will begin to make. This is a common problem and one that is easily fixed.
Bleeding the system from the basement
- Turn the heat on and let it run to ensure that the water is running through all of your pipes. This could take 30 minutes or more. It is a good idea to do this on a cool day.
- Go into the basement to look at the tank. Find the bleed valve on your system. The bleeder valve will look similar to the hose valve outside your home, except the handle will be different.
- Place a bucket under the bleeder valve once you have determined where it is. This bucket will catch the water that will come pouring out once you open the valve.
- Open the bleeder valve to allow the water to run. Once the water is running in a stream without starts and stops, all the air has been released from the pipes and you can close the valve again.
Bleeding the system from the baseboard
- Run the heat for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
- Find the valve on the baseboard. You will have to take the end piece at the edge off to locate the valve. It is going to be where the pipe comes up from the basement. If you have a two story house, begin at the second story. Work on the baseboard farthest away from the tank first.
- Turn the valve to release some of the water, have a rag or cup positioned to collect the water. Once the water is running in a stream, close the valve and put the front piece back on.
- Move on to the next baseboard and continue in the same manner.
- Work on each baseboard upstairs, then move down and do the same for the baseboard on the first level of the home.
Not every heating system will have valves located on the baseboard themselves, so not everyone will be able to use this method.