Often the pressure in your central heating system may seem to raise and fall, which can cause your central heating system to run less efficiently, and even cause damage to the system itself. This is caused by air that has worked its way into your central heating system, and must be removed in a method often referred to as “bleeding” from radiators, or re pressurising the system through the filling loop in the boiler system. Symptoms of excess air in your system to look out for include unusual noises from the system, pump and boiler itself, or cold or cooler than usual radiators.

The Method

Before you begin, be sure that you actually have a pressurised central heating system installed in your home – all combination boilers run on a pressurised system, along with some, but not all, conventional systems. On your boiler there should be a pressure gauge for a pressurised system which is usually on the face of the boiler or on the bottom that can only be viewed from underneath the boiler. On the gauge, there should be a series of graduating bars that show the level of pressure in the boiler – ideally it should read between 0.8 to 1.5 with the ideal being 1 when the boiler system is cold. Do not be alarmed at a loss of pressure in your central heating system if it occurs gradually over time – this is completely normal, but be sure to regularly check this gauge and re-pressurise when needed.
At this point, how to re-pressurise your central heating system is easy – if the gauge has shown a drop in pressure, then simply add water from your cold water main to the part known as the ‘filling loop’ which is located on your central heating system. This filling loop is usually found below the boiler, but can often also be located on other parts of the boiler itself, under your kitchen sink or in an airing cupboard. If you are ever unsure about the location of your filling loop, or if it is actually the filling loop you have located on your system, be sure to check your boiler installation instructions or manual.
When you’ve located your filling loop, open the valve or valves located upon it, keeping an eye on the pressure gauge as you do so. As the valves are opened, water should usually be able to be heard entering the system, listen carefully and keep watching the pressure gauge – once it shows correct system pressure it is time to turn off the valves or valve on the filling loop. Be very careful not to over-pressurise your system. Your system should now be at a correct pressure, and to finish double check the gauge and ensure that all the filling loop valves are completely shut.

Is it dangerous?

If you follow the instructions here on how to re-pressurise your central heating system closely, there should be no danger in re-pressurising your central heating system yourself at home. The process requires no special tools or removal of parts, so it is near impossible to do damage to your system, unless you over-pressurise it by leaving the filling loop valves open too long. If this occurs, it is advised you contact a registered and reliable plumber immediately to assess the situation. As always, if anything seems odd or unusual in your central heating system, and is causing you concern, it is wise to contact a professional to perform a thorough service.

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