Heating Drain Cock Below Boiler - Any Issues?

[EViS]

Are there any potential issues with fitting a drain cock on the flow or return legs of the heating pipes just below the boiler (near floor level/below the height of any rad)? Being so close to the boiler, is there potential for the 'o' ring to break down (i.e. for the same reason why we don't fit plastic within a metre of the boiler)?

Drain cocks are fairly unsightly things, where do you guys tend to fit them, other than a radiator nearest to the door?

 

[chris watkins]

On the ends of F&R taken straight through the outside wall, if they have suspended floors.
It makes draining down a breeze.

 

[king of pipes]

Drain cocks are fitted on the lowestest point of the system and on each drop from above to a radiator to aid draining the system for maintenance and removal of the radiator for decorating, plastic plumbing must not be connected directly to the boiler and should be fitted to BS 5955 - 8 - cheers kop

 

[EViS]

On the ends of F&R taken straight through the outside wall, if they have suspended floors.
It makes draining down a breeze.

I've always understood this to be a bad idea due to heat loss and the possibility of freezing?

Also, are you recommending a drain cock on both the Flow AND Return? Any reason for this as opposed to only fitting to one of the pipes?

 

[chris watkins]

Made an insulation muff to cover them both.
They will not freeze, well they will not burst if they do, to burst a pipe must freeze in two opposite places & then the ice move together.
Two because it speeds the draining process, useful when you are flushing the system on commissioning or just in a hurry to drain.
For what it costs on installation it is a no brainer.

 

[Best]

I have taken 22mm tee offs on the drops from radiator circuit on a link to an old system and it was brilliant for flushing the system as well as being a proper drain off low point.
I used lever valves on the pipes to ensure they close off

 

[AWheating]

Drain off below boiler is a great idea. If only one then the lowest pipe or opsite side to filling loop to enable mains flushing.