As we head into November, it's likely that we'll be needing our heating more. And for many, it might be the first time the radiators have been used in months.
It's likely that when the heating is fired up for the first time, some radiators may be lukewarm, or even stone cold. With that in mind, the experts at BOXT have come up with a step-by-step guide on how to know if your radiator needs bleeding or not, as well as how to do it yourself.
Andy Kerr, founder at BOXT, said: “Bleeding your radiators can help you to achieve a more efficient and environmentally-friendly home.”
How to identify if your radiator needs bleeding:
Your radiator is cold at the top.
There are damp patches or condensation surrounding the radiator or above it.
Your radiator makes funny noises when heating up.
How to bleed your radiator:
Start off by turning your boiler on and allowing your radiators plenty of time to fully heat up. This way, you can easily identify which radiators need some TLC and which can be left alone.
Carefully have a feel around the surface of your radiators (without burning yourself!) for any cold patches. If any make a funny noise when heating up, have patches that heat doesn’t reach or you notice a radiator is cold at the top, it is definitely worth bleeding them.
Once you’ve identified the radiators that need some attention, turn the heating off and allow the radiators plenty of time to cool down. If you attempt to bleed a radiator with your heating on, you risk hurting yourself with the hot air or water from your radiators. You don’t want any trips to A&E just from trying to bleed a radiator.
Bleed your downstairs radiators first, then move on to upstairs.
Place an old towel and a container below the radiator valves to catch any liquids to protect your home from any dirty radiator water spillage.
Use an old cloth or thick gloves to twist your radiator key anti-clockwise and open the valve.
Don’t open your radiator valve completely or keep it open for too long. Turn the valve enough to hear the hissing noise of air escaping. Allow all the trapped air to escape until the sound stops and a steady stream of water starts to leak from the valve.
Wipe away any excess moisture or condensation once you’re done, in order to avoid any rust forming around your radiator valves.
Double-check that your efforts have paid off. Firstly, check your boiler pressure. It’s normal for your pressure to decrease slightly after radiator bleeding. However, for reference, it should be around 1.0 - 1.5 bars when switched off and can rise to around 2 bars when switched on.
If your boiler pressure appears fine, it’s time for a ‘heat test’. Boot up your central heating and have another feel of your radiators. All being well, there should be no more cold patches, meaning you and your family can feel the full benefits of a warm home and save some cash on your bills - it’s a win-win situation.
