The automatic air bleeder in my hot water heat system leaks. I have to screw the little cap down to stop the leak, but then I lose my air bleeder function. WHere do I buy a new one? WHat is the thing called?
Its a saftey pressure release, dont block the blow off or operation or it could BLOW. Did you try turning down the temp, You only need the amount of hot water to take a shower without adding cold. It will save you alot. Also its summer, your house and incomming water are warmer .
It's called "YOU NEED TO HIRE A PLUMBER".
Are you referring to a small brass cylinder about 3-inches long and 1-inch in diameter that has what appears to be a tire stem valve on top with a screw-on cap? If so, if you go to the counter at a heating/plumbing supply firm and ask for an "automatic bleed valve" they will undoubtedly know what you want -- just describe it and tell them it is for a hot water rather than a steam system they will know what it is. I always found that mine started to leak eventually because of mineral buildup on the internals surfaces but found that leaving the cap screwed down except when I heard bubbles in the system was ok. When I suspected air in the system I'd just unscrew the cap and let it vent and then screw it back down until the next time.
Maybe I wasn't clear in my original post so I've taken some pictures (One reply did get it right though). Visit link
It looks like your bleed valves are slightly different than what I had but probably operate on the same principle - a float that falls when there is air present and floats in liquid to block the opening. My system had at least five of them in various locations, mostly upstairs although there was one down near the boiler. In any case, take a look at:
Is it on the radiator, or on top of the boiler?
Radiators are the domain of heating guys.
It's called an air eliminator. Spirovent makes a really great one, I've heard much better than the competition.
Most HVAC guys have them on hand, or can get one from the parts house.
there is one on the boiler and 1 on the return pipe whats the life on one of these things? the house was built in 67 but I have no idea when they started leaking.
Something else is whacky. You shouldn't have to tighten the bleeder valves. They have a little piece of cardboard in them that swells up when it gets wet, closing the vent. Thus, they are automatic. But if you have been tightening them, you might have permanently compressed the cardboard and broken them.
Or, maybe the pressure is too low in your system and the water level is too low and the air is not being pushed out.
I really don't know. Probaly depends a lot on if you have well water, and if anyone drains the system ever. And if it's steel or copper pipes for the water.
I've seen fill valves go bad....
Does the system bang and clank when the pump is running?
Nope. I just have to flush the air out every year. Its a combination of iron and copper pipes. Original construction (1967) is iron but the new construction (1987) is copper.
Right now I put a bucket under the air vent and released the little cap to see if it will de air itself. It's been 2 days now and it still sounds gurgly. Guess I have to go thru the flush routine again.
New vents are on the list to buy.
The picture you showed is very similar to mine. I installed the air scoop, as well as the auto-bleeder. But it seems like I installed my Expansion tank in the other hole on the air scoop.
On the bottom of the air scoop is the expansion tank and the bleeder is on the top. I'm not standing in front of it, but I think that's the way it is. Works very good for me. I used to have one heck of a time bleeding all the air out of my system, but with this setup, it's done automatically...though it sometimes takes a week or two. My pipes have never been quieter.
I'd replace the bleeder altogether, with one similar to what is described here. They get full of mineral deposits pretty easy.
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