Bleeding your radiators is a simple but essential maintenance task that can significantly improve the efficiency of your heating system. Over time, air can become trapped in your radiators, preventing them from heating up properly. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to bleed radiators:
Tools and Materials:
A radiator key or a flathead screwdriver.
A towel or container to catch any water.
Procedure:
Turn Off Your Heating: Ensure your central heating system is turned off. This prevents hot water from flowing through the radiator while you work on it.
Identify Which Radiators Need Bleeding: Feel each radiator to identify which ones are colder at the top than at the bottom. These are the radiators that likely have trapped air.
Prepare for Safety: Place a towel or container under the radiator valve to catch any water that may come out.
Bleeding the Radiator:
Using a radiator key or a flathead screwdriver (depending on the type of valve), slowly turn the valve anticlockwise. You will hear a hissing sound as the air is released. Keep turning until water starts to come out.
Once water appears, quickly close the valve by turning it clockwise.
Repeat if Necessary: If there's more than one radiator that needs bleeding, repeat the process for each of them.
Check the Pressure: After you've bled all the necessary radiators, check the pressure in your boiler and top it up if needed, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Turn On the Heating: Finally, turn your central heating system back on and check that all your radiators heat up evenly.
Bleeding radiators should be a regular part of your home maintenance routine, especially before the colder months. It ensures that your heating system runs efficiently, and your home stays comfortably warm.
