How To Bleed A Radiator
If you want to know whether your radiators need bleeding, turn your heating on, allow your radiators to heat up to their full capacity, then check them for warmth at the top. If you have any radiators that are cool at the top warm at the bottom, it means you have air trapped inside.
Divine Water have five quick steps to help you ‘bleed’ your radiators so your system works well and eradicates cold spots in your home.
Have at hand a Kitchen roll or cloth and your radiator key. If you have lost your key you can find one in most DIY stores or online.
Turn your central heating off. This will stop more air from leaking into your radiators.
Go to your first radiator, start at the top of your house and work your way down. Locate your bleed valve. Normally this is found at either end of your radiator, at the top, sometimes on the back panel and sometimes there are two. The valve will look like a square hole surrounded by a nut - you should be able to fit your key into this. Place your cloth beneath the radiator where the valve could start ejecting some air and water, if you have had the heating on recently, keep the tea-towel wrapped around your hand to prevent burns.
Insert and turn your radiator key anti-clockwise. You must turn the key gradually and slowly to release the air which will expel in a low hiss. Once water begins to drip from the keyhole, close the valve tightly and wipe away any moisture.
If neither water nor air comes out of the radiator you may need to top up the boiler water pressure. In any case on combi and unvented systems you will need to top up the water pressure to replace the air with water.
Once you have bled your radiators you should make sure that everything is working. Check the water pressure gauge or indicator on the front of your boiler and use the manual top up if you need to, then turn your heating back on. After you have given it some time follow yourself around the house to see if your radiators are all working efficiently.
See video below:
Your radiators should now be in fully working order. If you do not find this is the situation then it is time to ask for assistance from a professional. If you are not confident with bleeding the radiators we would be happy complete for you and at the same time we can to show you how.