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Many homes still use central heating based on hot water or steam circulation. The life and health of these systems is related to proper set up of the pipes, the pump, the boiler, and other components of the circulation. Because they are installed less and less, fewer technicians have expertise in diagnosing and repairing the problems of the older hot water based systems when they goes bad.

Hot water heating systems have two fundamentally different ways of handling the pressure that builds up when the water inside their circulation heats up and expands. Older systems have an expansion tank in the attic, with a pipe going down to the boiler. As the water heats up, the level of water in the expansion tank rises. As the water in the heating pipes lowers, the level of water in the expansion tank correspondingly lowers, and pressure can be blow out through the expansion tank tube which rises from the top of the tank. A ball and cock system maintains the minimal water level in the tank. If this fails, the tank can empty of water, and the radiators will turn cold.

Modern systems use a sealed circulation and pressure is maintained in a safe range through an expansion vessel, a safety blow-off valve, filling loop, a pressure gauge and a safety valve on the boiler.

One pipe flow systems are found in the older central hot water heating systems. This type of arrangement is inferior, because the hot water flows out of the boiler and from radiator to radiator, and then back to the boiler. The last radiator in the cycle is perceptibly colder than the fist one. Modern systems use a two pipe system. Each radiator gets it’s own supply of hot water directly from the central boiler. 22mm pipes are used for the main flow, and flow to 3 radiators or less can travel through a 15mm pipe. Micro systems are fitted with pipes of 8mm or less, however they can clog easily.

The location of the pump in the hot water circulation is another factor which influences the life of older open circulation heating systems. If the pump is placed improperly, it will draw air into the system. The oxygenated water will cause rust, corrosion and ultimately radiator leakage and blocked pipes. The pipes usually become stopped close to where the cold water feeds into the system.

Other problems can arise in older systems, based on the placement of the peripheral pipes. The ideal pipe placement is for a vertical rise and fall of the hot water. In floors where there are multiple radiators, the horizontal connecting pipes should be exactly level. If they rise to much, than air will be trapped in the bend and block flow. If they fall too much, cold water will settle in the low points, impeding flow.

So while the older systems are long lasting and durable, they do develop problems, and it is important to find someone who knows how to fix them. A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore is a Baltimore plumbing company that does hot water heating systems. If you are having a problem with your hot water heat and live in the Metro Baltimore area than please contact A-1 Plumbing.

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