Flamcoevent air separator query

[bill2]

hi, we have a Flamcovent 3/4 air separator in the airing cupboard, connected to a sealed/pressurised central heating system (Glow-worm Energysaver condensing boiler). BG Homecare engineer will be returning later in the week to with new parts for the boiler.

He had to drain the system and refill it today. He noticed the Flamcovent device was dripping ever so slightly. At first he thought it was a 'filter' until I googled and discovered it is an air separator.

BG Homecare said they can't supply an exact replacement unless we source one ourselves for them to install. The engineer has proposed fitting an automatic air vent when he returns later this week if it continues to drip.

What is the difference between an air separator and an automatic air vent, and is BG's advice to fit air vent okay? (I presume there was a reason why an expensive air separator was originally fitted)


Only BHL seem to be able to source the flamcovent but there is a long lead time. Costs £70


Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Best]

An air separator does what it says - separates the micro bubbles of air & it has a built in auto vent to release the air out of system.
An auto vent only removes air fully that is at that point when no pump running & does not take out fully the micro bubbles & a larger amounts of air that is passing through the system.
Hard to say if it is essential to have an air separator on a sealed system, but the flamcovents are very good. Better on open vented systems, as they absorb & release air constantly.
An auto vent may be fine.

 

[bill2]

Thanks for the reply. So an air separator is not mandatory in a sealed system.

Would these microbubbles and large amount of air perhaps just simply collect in the radiators, and so just need more 'frequent' bleeding if an air separator was not fitted?

Are there any readily available alternatives to the flamcovent which are readily available ?

 

[Best]

Yes, often the air will collect in one or more radiator, causing a nuisance bleeding rads in an open type system often for ever.
Sealed systems, once bled, tend not to give any trouble with air as they are not open to atmosphere. But seperators are handy to remove air when a system is filled with fresh water. They work on the principle of an open chamber which causes negative pressure plus they have little stainless steel parts inside to catch the tiny bubbles.
Flamcovent are the only type I use (but there are others) & think flamcovent easily available. I have at least one, but wouldn't waste it on a sealed system.

 

[Nostrum]

If British gas can't source a direct replacement then they should fit a similar item at their expense if your covered by a homecare plan?

as far as I know, they use the spirovent air separator so shouldn't be an issue, maybe a slight alteration to pipe work.

 

[bill2]

Cheers. Just googled spirovent. We will take this up with BG Homecare.

ah, so deaerator is an alternative descriptive name for an air separator.

 

[plumber0808]

Never seen the flamcovent before but it does look very similar to the spirovent version, its a more robust auto air vent so depends on how much you want to pay.
A auto air vent will do the job but will not last as long, pipework will need to be altered as well