Help/questions about my boiler heating system

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H2oheartny3

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I have a hot water heating system(radiators) in my home. I have some questions about maintenance/changes that maybe someone can help. House is three floors with one rad on 3rd, 3 rads on 2nd, and 5 rads on the 1st. boiler is in the basement. Utica boiler model number 150AGB. It’s has a plain steel tank mounted in the ceiling of the basement. I’ve included pics of the boiler and all it’s valves

1 - I want to make sure it has all of the correct valves. From the pics, do I have the correct valves? And the existing ones are old gate valves(water spigot like). Good idea to replace them?

2 - plain steel tank... I’m thinking it may be a good idea to switch to an expansion tank? If so how do I know how to size it correctly, and is it ok to oversize?

3 - drain/flush - what are the proper steps to do so? I also think I have air trapped in the system. One of the radiators clangs every once and a while. And also the third floor radiator will eventually not get hot water up to it anymore... is this evaporation? There are no signs of any leaks anywhere. Is the steel tank filling up with too much water? When I do drain/flush out the system, how do I ensure there is no more air in piping?

thanks for your info in advance
 

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YES,,it is a good idea to get rid of gate valves and install FULL PORT ball valves
little tip..the valve handle, points the direction of flow,, on a ball valve

drain and flush
turn off system
open lowest drain valve in the system
on each radiator, their should be a little brass fitting with a screwdriver slot
that is a bleeder valve, unscrew the slotted head
it should start sucking air as the system drains

to flush
hook a hose up to each radiator,,,run hose out the window
close the drain
open the fill valve
fill the system with water
let the water run through the system out the windows

turn off flush on 1st floor and 2nd
continue 3rd
run till all you see is water no air
remove hoses
turn on pump bleed air t radiators
wait a few hours. bleed air..wait over night bleed air
 
Also I don’t see any hose hookups on my radiators, just the bleed valves
 

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