Non-motoring > Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: zippy Replies: 5
View Threaded 

New Tue 1 Apr 25 01:49 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - zippy
I certainly didn't - and no this isn't an April Fools!

So we've had an over pressure situation with our combi boiler and called the manufacturer who sent an engineer around.

Late 20s. Heavily tattooed. Pierced face, earrings. Turns out he's an absolute gent. Polite, chatty, explained all the tests he was doing and why.

He spent a lot of time sorting the problem which was down to our bathroom installer cocking up the replacement of the towel radiator and not the newish boiler - no charge - bonus and no damage done to the boiler - bonus. Apparently the installer turned on the re-fill but didn't turn it off.

He thought the radiators might need bleeding. There was a tiny bit of air in them. As he bled them he held a cigarette lighter to the vent. I asked why and he said the reaction of the metal and the heated water can cause hydrogen to form!
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 1 Apr 25 10:23 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - Manatee
I once showed my mother I could light the "air" while bleeding the radiators at home. She was not happy, she thought I might set the curtains on fire.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 1 Apr 25 11:06 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - Bromptonaut
Now it's mentioned I was aware. Can't remember the chemistry bit it's often due to corrosion of iron/steel rads or excess flux in joints with new systems.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 1 Apr 25 14:25 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - Manatee
I'd guess galvanic corrosion, steel rads and copper pipes.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
New Tue 1 Apr 25 20:24 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - Zero
Yeah, I knew, I pranked MrsZ once when bleeding rads by lighting the gas. I told her the plumber must have cross connected the gas and water. She was horrified!
Reply to this message | Report message
      1  
New Tue 1 Apr 25 20:41 
 Hydrogen In Radiators -Who Knew? - CGNorwich
Is there not an electrolytic reaction involving the iron acting as a cathode and copper of the piping acting as an anode with the hydrogen being release at the cathode? Presumably the cleaning of the copper with the flux to remove oxiisation would facilitate and hasten the reaction.
Reply to this message | Report message
       
Latest Forum Posts