Why do hydronic systems need air vents?

It may be surprising to some, but in many situations you may need silencers for heating and plumbing systems. They can generate a lot of noise, especially if you need to vent air or steam to the atmosphere. To reduce the sound and improve safety, products like a discharge vent silencer can be essential.

Hydronic systems are still the most common choice for central heating in the UK. They are popular because of the efficiency and economy. If you compare to a traditional duct heating system, they can offer significant savings on energy consumption. You can even use things like a geothermal heat pump or solar panels to help heat water.

Venting

A key thing with hydronic systems though is trapped air can cause a number of issues. Crucially, it can have a massive impact on performance. This includes uneven heating or cooling and a drop in efficiency. Both can result in higher energy bills.

Air in a hydronic system is also bad for the system’s health. It can accelerate corrosion and damage various components. That can lead to more leaks, breakdowns, repairs, and replacements. As a result, it can cause significant costs over time.

In addition, air inside the hydronic system can create noise. It happens for a number of reasons, including air pockets influencing water flows and cavitation if it gets into pumps. Noises can include banging, hissing, gurgling, and rattling.

Air vents are essential

To tackle the problem with air in systems, you may need to install vents. They can allow efficient release of the air to prevent problems. However, you may also need a discharge vent silencer if the release creates loud noises.

It is interesting to look at how air vents work in hydronic systems. Typically, you place them at the highest point in a system; the air will initially be hot or warm, so it will rise.

Automatic vents are the best option because you don’t need to monitor them. Instead, they’ll open and close as necessary depending on the level of water displacement. When there is a lot of air, it will push down a float. In turn, that will cause a valve to open to let air out. As the air level diminishes, the float will rise back to a normal level and the valve will close.

It is important to choose quality automatic air vents that will protect the hydronic systems. Crucially, you want them to be reliable, low maintenance, and efficient. Plus, make sure they won’t release water or allow air ingress back into the system.

Ask us if you need a discharge vent silencer

Ventx is one of the UK’s leading industrial noise specialists. We know how hazardous loud noises can be in various settings, including offshore, in factories, and different plants. It can cause productivity problems, damage equipment, and harm anybody nearby. In fact, permanent hearing damage is one of the most serious health and safety risks in many industries. We help to prevent all of these issues.

The crucial thing with us is we can design bespoke solutions for all kinds of needs. This includes commercial hydronic systems and much more. We have a wealth of acoustic and engineering knowledge, covering different facilities and operations in a number of industries.

So, if you need a discharge vent silencer or other products, please contact us; we’ll ensure you get the most impressive results.