Author Topic: Sound of water in home heaters (Read 311 times)

cav58d · « **on:** December 10, 2007, 04:46:52 AM »

For the past week now I have experienced a very strange noise coming from the floor heater panels in my home (top and bottom floor). Randomly, but specifically with an increase in heat, I am hearing the sound of running, dripping and sloshing water. I've never heard anything like this before, and I was hoping to try and diagnos it myself with help on the internet...

Heat is still working and responding in a timely manner....

No water leaks anywhere in house.

Any idea's?

AKH · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2007, 05:07:01 AM »

Air in the system?

cav58d · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2007, 05:19:51 AM »

I don't know, and how would I determine that? I've never heard any indication of air, just running/sloshing and sometimes dripping water.

C(Sea)Bass · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2007, 05:34:36 AM »

ghosts?

Jackal1 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2007, 06:15:35 AM »

Just curious...what kind of a heater system do you have?

Nilsen · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2007, 07:51:52 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKH
Air in the system?

Either that or the flux capacitors are out of alignment.

My vote goes for an airhead in the system though.

bada beep!

Thruster · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2007, 07:58:51 AM »

Short of any other signals, I bet it is air in the system. But you need to get a flashlight and check. As far as where to check for air in the system I understand that radiant floors work just about the sane way all radiant systems do. Which means you have a fitting to fill the system with and probably only a couple of sites to bleed (possibly only one). Generally this would be at the "top" of the system or the highest point of the installation. Probably just a little bleed valve like they have on radiators, might even use the same style key. Do you have a funny looking little key the installer gave you and warned never to lose?

The question is how did the level get low. Again all I can say is visual inspection. If there's a leak it's real important to figure out where the water's going.

cav58d · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2007, 08:18:23 AM »

I believe im using radiant heating and i have to check, but i'm pretty sure the water level is too low...I'm going to have to pull out some papers and double check, but thats what I believe the problem to be. Will let ya know in a bit when I have this figured out and hopefully fixed.

AWMac · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2007, 08:22:55 AM »

Swamp Rats.

Just get a hugh cat and toss it in... takes about 40 minutes to clean out the system.

Mac

Heater · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2007, 09:15:35 AM »

Cav,

is it a close-loop system?

if so check the water level and the pressure on the system (this is normally on the boiler unit) if both are ok then it sounds like there is air in the system and it will need to be bled off.. be very careful on this, as most of these system's are under 3@4 BAR and the water temp is around 80 Deg C.

FiLtH · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2007, 10:00:50 AM »

Check to see if enough water is in boiler. Gauge, if working, should be around 15-18 psi.

Usually even if you add more water, air will still be a problem if so it needs to be purged.

Of course this should be done by someone qualified to do it, as you are dealing with scalding hot water, but this is a good way to purge the air from your heating zones.

I always turn off the boiler ahead of time to let it cool down a bit. Both so I dont get burned and also so Im not dumping cold water into the boiler.

This is a common older setup, although many systems today have the circulators on the supply header.

This is how I purge the zones. One at a time. Its good to have another person to hold the hoses in the bucket so they dont fly around the room making a mess. If you have antifreeze in the system, use antifreeze instead of water in the bucket mixed to desired amount h2o/antifreeze.

Make sure you dont overpressure the boiler. I usually go no higher than 25lbs to keep 30lb relief valve from popping off.

Again, this should be done by someone who knows what they are doing, but if in a jam, and you are careful, this is how I'd do it.

cav58d · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2007, 10:20:05 AM »

I connected a hose to the different lines and drained about a gallon and a half per line (2) before spitting out a good 2 minutes straight of pure air.......

Everything sounds in order, but i'll know for sure when I return back home in a couple hours after some flying..

thanks for the help

FiLtH · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2007, 10:22:59 AM »

You might want to check if your automatic feeder is working.