bleed your radiators
Get your heating working ready for winter
‘Swot up on how to re-pressurise your boiler before bleeding – check your boiler handbook for information’
Bleeding your radiators means letting out air that’s become trapped inside your heating system, obstructing the normal flow of water around it. doing this will make the whole system more efficient, allowing the water level to be topped up, which means a warmer home and should save you money on your energy bill too. tell-tale signs that your rads need bleeding include cold spots (you could find the top half doesn’t heat up) or if your heating system makes gurgling sounds (a sign of trapped air). if you are unsure, talk to a qualified heating engineer first.
You will need
a radiator bleed key or screwdriver a tray or bowl a large towel or rag
1 Turn all your radiators up to maximum temperature, and leave them to run for at least 15 minutes before turning off the heating, and letting the radiators cool down.
2 start with The radiator nearest The boiler. Turn the radiator valve off, and place your bowl or tray underneath ready to catch any water that may escape. Keep your towel handy too.
3 use The radiator key or screwdriver to release the bleeder valve – turn it to the left to release the
air until water comes out. Take care not to open the valve completely as it can be tricky to get back on again. As soon as water starts coming out, tighten the valve again.
4 work your way around your home, starting from the ground floor and finishing at the top, bleeding every radiator in turn.
5 switch The central heating boiler back on and check the pressure is between 1.5 and 2 bar (read your boiler handbook for more information).