They gave you heating, but the radiators are cold? I'll tell you how to bleed air

A common problem is that the heating is on, but the radiators are still cold. If you can hear the gurgling of water, you can assume that the system is airy. It is necessary to bleed the air from the battery. The procedure will take no more than 15 minutes.

Step by step guide

If you have a Mayevsky tap, bleeding the air from the battery is not difficult. The Mayevsky faucet is not really a faucet, but rather a plug with a plug. It looks like this (most often):

There are also other types of air vents. We will talk about them separately.

So, Mayevsky's crane has been discovered. Now you need to remember where the key to it is. After installing the batteries, many people throw it into the back drawer. If you have no idea where it is, use a flathead screwdriver.
A wrench (flathead screwdriver), a bucket with a handle, and rags in case of an emergency are all you need to de-air the battery.
We hang the bucket on the ledge of the battery. You can use a large bucket of sour cream, mayonnaise, ice cream.
Insert the tip of a screwdriver or wrench into the slot of the screw. Make 1-2 turns counterclockwise 180 degrees. You should not completely unscrew the screw: this will not speed up the process. Moreover, returning the part to its place will be extremely problematic - the pressure in the system will not allow this to be done.
As soon as the screw is loosened, a thin stream of water will flow from the hole on the side of the faucet and a characteristic hissing sound will be heard. All the air needs to come out.This usually happens within the first few minutes.
The event is considered completed when warm water appears. The flow should be uniform and no extraneous sounds should be heard.
Now you can close the tap by turning the screw in the opposite direction (clockwise) 1-2 turns. After this, the water will stop dripping, the batteries will become warm very quickly.

The air outlet hole should be at the bottom. Adjust its position before starting work. Otherwise, the water will not flow into the bucket, but onto the floor or wall.

If there is another tap on the battery

Mayevsky cranes appeared quite a long time ago - in 1933 - and immediately began to be used by specialists. Before this, conventional water taps were installed on the batteries. However, the population drained hot water for their needs. With the help of an air vent, unauthorized drainage of the coolant was stopped.

The Mayevsky crane can have a completely different look:

On old cast iron batteries it is often painted over and is almost unrecognizable.

In fact, all Mayevsky cranes are structurally similar:

All manual air vents are used in the same way. The only difference is in the choice of tool for unscrewing the locking screw - it can be a key, a screwdriver, or an adjustable wrench. Often a handle is already attached to the screw - then you can simply turn it with your fingers.

The exception is automatic type air vents. They release air on their own. Externally they differ in the presence of a cap.

Such devices are installed only on modern batteries. They remove air as it accumulates, but are prone to clogging. If the air vent becomes clogged, air will not be removed. Moreover, the valve may leak.Automatic air vents are difficult to clean. Usually they are changed.

There is no place for air in batteries. Air locks are not only cold in winter, but also the cause of metal destruction.

The tap does not open

Sometimes it is not possible to bleed the air in the battery for one simple reason - the tap is rusty. In such a situation, it is important not to rush. If you apply too much force, you may strip the threads. Then calling repairmen cannot be avoided.

Try softening the rust by soaking the threads in kerosene or WD-40. After applying the product, wait 5-10 minutes. Turn the screw again. Now he must give in. To avoid recurrence of the problem, turn the valve back and forth 1-2 times a year.

Questions and answers

How to bleed air if there are no valves on the battery?

Air vents are installed at the highest points of the heating system. Residents of the lower floors of an apartment building are not required to have them. You can install such a crane, but the event will not be effective. All the air accumulates at the top. You need to ask your neighbor to vent the air or contact the utility company.

It is forbidden to unscrew the blind plugs (even partially). You won’t be able to screw them back in later, and the gushing boiling water will bring a lot of negative emotions and a loss to the budget.

Who should be responsible for deaerating batteries?

Unfortunately, Russian housing legislation does not establish who should deal with this issue - the management company (MC) or the residents of the upper floors. One thing can be said for sure: poor heating of batteries is the professional business of the management company. What means will be used to make the batteries hot should not concern you. You can also bleed air from the batteries in the basement, using the so-called “blow out of the risers.”If you cannot ventilate the system yourself, feel free to submit a written request-message to the Criminal Code about poor heating. In case of written refusal, write a complaint to the State Housing Inspectorate.

There is nothing complicated about bleeding air. You just need to unscrew the screw on the side of the battery, place a bucket and tighten it after 5-15 minutes. Be prepared to repeat the event several times. If the problem still does not disappear, then you need to look for the cause elsewhere. Old batteries and risers can be very dirty (“clogged”). It is also possible that the coolant does not have enough pressure. All these points are taken into account and regulated by utility companies.

After supplying heat, utility workers are given 10 days to de-air and adjust the heating system of problem houses.