Gravity Hot Water System

Most gravity systems had the radiators connected bottom to bottom.

Gravity hot water system.

A gravity fed heating system uses the force of gravity to circulate water in the heating system. Hot water from the cylinder then travels to the home s hot water taps. An intake that is screened from debris and submerged sufficiently to ensure no air enters the pipeline a properly sized pipe diameter considering the pipeline length the elevation difference the energy available to move water and the water flow required. As water heats it expands displacing the cooler and less dense cooler water throughout the system.

When you re first filling these systems you have to start with all the radiator vents open and fill one floor at a time. In a gravity system the circulation of water is due primarily to thermal and density differences between hot and cold water. Because gravity is the only force pushing the water through the pipes a gravity fed system is often referred to as a low pressure system. It is also the least efficient.

As the water cools at the end of the loop where the last part of the loop is not insulated it is thermo siphoned back into the hot water heater. A gravity hot water recirculation loop works by allowing the laws of nature to come into play. How to increase water pressure on gravity fed systems. A vent pipe is also included as a safety feature.

Hot water tends to rise while cold water tends to descend at the bottom of a contained space. Gravity fed water systems require the following. If you are in a swimming pool you will notice that the temperature of the water becomes colder as you go deeper in the pool. The water rises to the top of the radiator and the cooler water that s in the radiator on start up falls.