Draining radiators on a communal heating system

[PhillipDavies]

Hi all,

I have a small plumbing job to do for which I need to drain the radiators in my property. There are only two radiators, that are fed by a communal boiler, and pass through an immersion heater. I have already identified the isolation valves for the primary flow and the return to my property. I don't have access to the communal boiler, or the specifications for it, and the building manager hasn't responded to my e-mails in months.

What I need to know is, how do I isolate my radiator system from the communal boiler in order to drain the radiators and work on the pipes, and then safely open the flow again once the work is done?

I have no pressure gauge in my property, is pressure something I need to worry about? Or is it as simple as turning off the flow and return to my property, draining the radiators, doing the work, and then turning them on again and bleeding the radiators until they refill?

I'd be very grateful to anyone that can help with this query.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any chance of a picture of where the communal supplies come in eg the valves

 

[PhillipDavies]

Any chance of a picture of where the communal supplies come in eg the valves

Thanks for your reply!

Sure! Flow and return as labelled.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Just turn these off and you should be fine test it’s off before you start doing anything

as for filling it should be an automatic filling unit so you should be fine on that

 

[PhillipDavies]

Just turn these off and you should be fine test it’s off before you start doing anything

as for filling it should be an automatic filling unit so you should be fine on that

So its as simple as turning them off, draining the radiators, doing the job, turning them back on and bleeding the radiators?

 

[SJB060685]

You say it should be an auto top up unit Shaun but I wouldn't be surprised if not .

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You say it should be an auto top up unit Shaun but I wouldn't be surprised if not .

soon find out, I would think it would be low on pressure by now anyway

 

[ShaunCorbs]

So its as simple as turning them off, draining the radiators, doing the job, turning them back on and bleeding the radiators?

correct

 

[PhillipDavies]

Just turn these off and you should be fine test it’s off before you start doing anything

as for filling it should be an automatic filling unit so you should be

correct

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[SJB060685]

soon find out, I would think it would be low on pressure by now anyway

It should have an auto top up unit yes and probably does. I said that based on the image of pipes, they look hastily plumbed in.