Hydrogen gas in radiator

[regdennis]

Can anyone suggest a product that will get rid of hydrogen gas in a central heating system. It has been flushed out and has twicw the normal ammount of inhibitor in the system ... but every other day one radiator is cold and full of hydrogen gas ... everything has been tried to solve the problem and any suggestions would be welcome

 

[garrywhite]

Hi how do you know its hydrogen gas not just air?

 

[REDSAW]

a box of matches?

 

[dai the plumber]

Now for a sensible reply. You can get hydrogen in the system if the water is acidic i.e if excess flux has entered the system or an unsuitable inhibitor has been used. Probably the best way to ensure that the problem is eradicated is to flush the system to get rid on any residue the add an inert inhibitor. I'll try and post a suitable one later.
I'd ignore the REMOVED idiots who advocate the use of matches, remember the Hindenberg !!!!!

Which inhibitor are you using? what's the water hardness (round about or area)? and how old is the system?

 

[REDSAW]

I'd ignore the REMOVED idiots who advocate the use of matches, remember the Hindenberg !!!!!

is this remark aimed at me by any chance????

 

[regdennis]

Now for a sensible reply. You can get hydrogen in the system if the water is acidic i.e if excess flux has entered the system or an unsuitable inhibitor has been used. Probably the best way to ensure that the problem is eradicated is to flush the system to get rid on any residue the add an inert inhibitor. I'll try and post a suitable one later.
I'd ignore the REMOVED idiots who advocate the use of matches, remember the Hindenberg !!!!!

Which inhibitor are you using? what's the water hardness (round about or area)? and how old is the system?

Many thanks and I quite like the silly replies !!!
The system has been in for years and the 89 year old lady it belongs to does not want a new boiler .... apparantly her husband used to bleed the radiator in question every 2 days but now he has died.... the company I work for has fitted a new tank and she is now holding us responsible for the radiator problem and complaining to the trading standards people... we do not want to upset her and we are more than willing to solve the problem ... BUT with what ...

 

[fuzzy]

could be air if every two days, hope im not a REMOVED idiot

 

[philtheflush]

why dont she just get another husband to drain off the rads. what did he die of by the way did he spark a *** up when he was bleeding the rads and he blew himself up.

 

[REDSAW]

i am glad there are members who come on here for light entertainment coupled with some knowledge, banter and appropriate advice in due course.
unfortunately there is also those who like to take things too serious and give more of a preference to 'look, i know everything-listen up, every one else is a d******'!. and need to use snide remarks to highlight it.
we each come on here for our own needs whether it be seeking advice, offering it, learning or just following interesting topics.
it is not compulsory to return a comment to something you disagree with and more so in the style that should be left back on site 9-5pm otherwise in real life will get you into bother.
rant over.

anyhow, have you checked the pump position and could it be pulling in air from the exp tube, or a leaking joint near the pump?.

 

[dontknowitall]

To me if it needs bleeding every two days then there is probably a water leak somewhere in the system. Is there an expansion vessel in the boiler? If so, this is probably at fault (or needing to have some air put into it.)

 

[quality]

Old lady, probably old pump return system that's slugged to death and dragging air in constantly sounds like it (the system) needs some attention.

 

[REDSAW]

you could always give her a bag of balloons to fill and sell to the local kids for the funds towards a new system.lol.

second thoughts: have you tried some auto vent/bleed nipples on the dud rad, may keep it at bay for a while?.
or do you really want to rip up the boards and re-plumb?.

 

[quality]

Come on Red if she needs someone to bleed the rads how is she gonna fill balloons

 

[Dannypipe]

I like this thread, very funny.

 

[dontknowitall]

I like this thread, very funny.

Can't wait till Puddle or Croppie get hold of this one ...

I can just picture Winnie the Pooh with his balloon going up to find the bees' honey ...

 

[fuzzy]

when the husband bled the rads, was he not filling up baloons for the local kids without the wife knowing

 

[REDSAW]

think on the positive side regdennis,
if she has the farts at her age, at least she can blame it on you or her rads to her visitors.

 

[Spike295]

Is it an open vented system, could be a simple case that the pump is set to high & drawing in air.

'Matches'.....whatever next! Surely a 'lighter' is the way forward.

 

[fuzzy]

lighters are dangerous as they can explode, use a flint

 

[danielp]

went on a powerflushing course and thats what the man told us to do! is the system old with leaking pipework ? could try and seal it

 

[regdennis]

Hilarious many thanks for all the funny remarks *** !!

 

[kirkgas]

To me if it needs bleeding every two days then there is probably a water leak somewhere in the system. Is there an expansion vessel in the boiler? If so, this is probably at fault (or needing to have some air put into it.)

it will prob be an old open vented system, remember H&S, catch the gas in a bag and take it outside before you try to light it, is that me on the binned list as well?

 

[dripping tap]

Can anyone suggest a product that will get rid of hydrogen gas in a central heating system. It has been flushed out and has twicw the normal ammount of inhibitor in the system ... but every other day one radiator is cold and full of hydrogen gas ...

I did enjoy reading through this thread! But lets be serious Reg, in a very old system where is hydrogen gas going to be produced? Any fluxes left in quantities enough to cause gassing to the degree and for as long as you describe,would have eaten through the pipes and caused leaks long before now. If you only changed the header tank it seems unlikely anything you did is contributing. Far more likely air is being drawn in some point and the problem rad is the first in line after it. Is the water boiling in the boiler?
If on the other hand it is hydrogen look for wires connected to the rad and make sure there are no mad professors in the basement!

 

[fuzzy]

thought it was a bi product of corrosion, therefore could happen in any system

 

[Unregistered]

If there is hydrogen in the radiators. It could be due to corrosion in the rads. It can be due to flux from a new installation entering the system. It can be due to the system pulling in air . Or bacteria in the water. If it's in a hard water area and the boiler is aluminium the stuff you get in the kettle causes blockage in the system. You need to empty the system. If the water is red its corrosion new rads needed. If it's black sludge its flux needs cleaning. If it's clear water it it need the right inhibitors. And the pressure sorting out on the boiler it may be drawing in air. First empty the system see what comes out. If black sludge or red water comes out its a chemical problem where thE metals corrosion or flux mix together causing gases in water. That's why cleaning joints is important when pluming.
If they have been topping it up regularly there is no inhibitors left in there. So any rust causes gases. Drain down and use the right chemicals to st corrosion and put in the right chemicals for the boiler. Steel boiler heater chambers have different inhibitors to aluminium. Use the right ones. Check the boiler is not drawing in air.
This is a lady who learned all this because I had the same problem. A new boiler I had fitted by British Gas. Was badly installed.