FIX Airlocks in Central Heating: Installing Air Separator

Is your central heating causing you grief? Cold radiators, gurgling noises, and hot water woes?
You're not alone! Airlocks are a common enemy, but fear not! In this video, we'll tackle them head-on with the ultimate DIY solution: installing an air separator!
Join us as we walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right separator to bleeding the system like a pro. Whether you're a plumbing newbie or a seasoned DIYer, this video will have you conquering airlocks and enjoying toasty comfort in no time!
plumbing, central heating, boiler, combi, vaillant, baxi, hive, honeywell, zone valve, ideal, plumber, engineer, training, repair, how to, fix, install, installation, diagnose

[@paulsmith2931]

Close couple the vent and cold feed, done it more times than I can remember over the years, stops the open vent then sucking in air.

[@mendyourhome]

Good tip, with the H couple tip. They need a new boiler though so should see them through until then

[@barrybradfordlocksport]

Correct

[@gasnewbie1941]

Great explanations of how you went about it all. Enjoy your fish and chips 👍

[@mendyourhome]

Thanks I appreciate it

[@Carl-re6zb]

Great informative and well explained brother.
Really appreciate your time making these vids👍

[@mendyourhome]

Thanks so much for the comment

[@MrManj04]

Great video enjoyed 👍⭐️

[@scotthudson21]

Great easy to follow video, my air separator is an old grey one with 4 pipes attached, im guessing cold feed, vent to F&E, one to the pump and one to the boiler? Radiators have no water getting to them or air when bleeding, so im guessing its blocked, if i were to cut the Air separator can i just clean it then connect the pipes back with compression connectors? as i cant seem to find a 4 way one like mine. Thanks

[@b1h2u3p4]

Like your videos keep up the good work 👏

[@mendyourhome]

Thanks, I'm hoping to post more

[@robdickson4071]

Repipe the feed and expansion possibly combine the two and pipe them in before the pump also increce hight of header tank for larger head of water and doesn't help with those boilers as you can't have a pump overrun

[@mendyourhome]

Absolutely, I've quote for a new system this will do for now

[@Stillbusy105]

Air separator! Welcome back to 1980… coulda just flipped the pump back around correctly & did a combined feed & exp set up… fitting Aladdin vents is just gonna hide any air that re-occurs :/

[@grahamhusk183]

gotta agree just fudged it tbh 🤭

[@mendyourhome]

I'd like to see you try at 6-10pm. I offered this solution next day, but it's an Airbnb so I got it done same evening

[@MrManj04]

Hive multizone video would be so helpful when you get a job

[@mendyourhome]

I may videos in my folder, I'll have a look. Editing just takes ages 😅

[@edthelasttribe9580]

😅 I could sass this out in no time , we’ll done my brother , Next time install 3 good crane valves for central heating suitable only , for air separator and future maintenance, hopefully there’s some slack on that vent pipe work 😂

[@stephenmontgomery6186]

Would an Automatic by pass be needed on the system?

[@jonnyallen1232]

Auto bypass only needed on s-plan , if the two valves shut off the water can still pump through the bypass, y-plan systems close in mid position so don’t require a bypass

[@k20aa]

Could you have just pressurised the heating system ?

[@mendyourhome]

Yes, I suggested it they've spent load in other engineers. They wanted it fixed asap as it's an Airbnb HMO so Toolstation was open they had these and boom done same day.

[@drwhoeric]

I am guessing you are not allowed to put a Check Valve on the Expansion Valve (TSP as we call them) outlet?

[@mendyourhome]

No we're not, it's a safety device so anythin potentially blocking it isn't allowed

[@robinwigley1996]

Air separator ahhh always getting blocked up

[@mendyourhome]

After many years yes, system is flushed and boiler needs replacing

[@colinfleming2244]

Put some tape on like all rad plugs the o ring will leak in a couple o yrs

[@mendyourhome]

Thanks for the tip and comment

[@barrybradfordlocksport]

1 x tee at the f and e tank would have fixed it in half hour

[@mendyourhome]

Good advice not a great video though

[@ricardoa.m1322]

That's the worst solution ever ,air separators tend to not separate anything when time passes by just pure blockage better fit automatic airvents remove that air separator please

[@mendyourhome]

I did fit aavs 😅 They block after many years. Hence why I magnacleanse flushed it, I will now maintain it, it 100% won't block. They need a new system anyways. They'll get a new system when time is right.

[@ricardoa.m1322]

@@mendyourhome 100% agreed and if it's to a proper combi even better (well depending on how many radiators) if not system or sealed then will be spot on and please no gravity they just so outdated 👍

[@peterreid4567]

Cut out the stupid air separator. Make what’s called a. H. Open vent to f and e. Then cold feed from tank has pump on it. Drawing down from tank. Always leave pump on speed 2. And don’t forget some fitters don’t fit open vent high enough. And the two pipes on the H. closer than 6 inches