I am completing a complete DIY bathroom remodel and the final touch is to install a runtal hydronic towel warmer by patching it into an existing radiant heat loop in place of a section of fin-tube baseboard.
Although I'm comfortable with the piping part of it, I've never drained a boiler loop before and although I've read the theory, I'm wondering if this is something a reasonably competent DIY'er can tackle.
It's a Weil McLane boiler with four zones (I'd only be draining one zone) It's a closed system with what I assume is a bladder type expansion tank (big silver thing about the size of a propane canister). I presume it has an auto-feed valve, but I'm not completely certain.
My understanding is that I would shut off the boiler, drain the zone (from the return manifold side?) connect the radiator into the zone, turn the boiler back on, crank up the heat with the bleed valve open, and wait until water comes out of the valve, then shut it down (repeating with the other two radiators on the zone).
My main question is what are the potential downside. If I don't do it right are the consequences noisy and inefficient radiators, or will I ruin the boiler? The first I can live with fixing, the second, not so much.
Although I'm comfortable with the piping part of it, I've never drained a boiler loop before and although I've read the theory, I'm wondering if this is something a reasonably competent DIY'er can tackle.
It's a Weil McLane boiler with four zones (I'd only be draining one zone) It's a closed system with what I assume is a bladder type expansion tank (big silver thing about the size of a propane canister). I presume it has an auto-feed valve, but I'm not completely certain.
My understanding is that I would shut off the boiler, drain the zone (from the return manifold side?) connect the radiator into the zone, turn the boiler back on, crank up the heat with the bleed valve open, and wait until water comes out of the valve, then shut it down (repeating with the other two radiators on the zone).
My main question is what are the potential downside. If I don't do it right are the consequences noisy and inefficient radiators, or will I ruin the boiler? The first I can live with fixing, the second, not so much.