It’s bleeding cold outside
Nobody likes being cold, especially in their own home. But, with energy costs rising as temperatures drop, many people are favouring an extra jumper over an extra hour of heating.
So it’s even more important that when you do fire up your boiler to heat your home, that your radiators are working as efficiently as possible.
By bleeding your radiators, you can release air trapped in the system which can be the cause of the following symptoms:
Your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom.
If your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom, there’s probably air in your radiator system that’s preventing hot water from circulating correctly. Bleeding the radiator will get rid of the air and restore its proper function.
You hear strange noises coming from your radiators.
If you notice hissing, bubbling, or banging sounds coming from your radiators, that’s a sign that they need to be bled. These noises are caused by trapped air in the system, and bleeding the radiator will help to remove both the air and the noise!
Your energy bills have spiked for no apparent reason.
If your energy bills have gone up but you can’t figure out why, it could be because your radiator isn’t functioning properly due to air in the system. When radiators aren’t working correctly, they have to run for longer periods of time to heat up your home, which uses more energy and drives up your bill. Bleeding your radiator will help it run more efficiently and lower your energy costs.
How to bleed your radiators
Bleeding your radiators might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually pretty easy to do. You don’t need to be a professional plumber and you don’t need anything more than a bleed key and a towel.
Read out simple four step guide below to get started:
Step One: Prepare your radiator for bleeding
The first thing you’ll need to do is turn off your heating system – you don’t want to be bleeding your radiator while hot water is still flowing through it. Once your heating system is off, locate the bleeder valve on your radiator. It’s usually a small square knob at the top right or left of the panel.
Step Two: Open the bleed valve and release the air
Once you’ve found the bleed valve, use a radiator bleed key to turn it counterclockwise until it’s open (you might need to put a bowl or towel underneath the valve to catch any drips). Wait for the air to start hissing out of the valve and continue to leave it open until the hissing stops.
Step Three: Close the valve when you see water
When the escaping air is replaced by water (hence the towel), use the key to close the valve and seal the radiator. We recommend waiting a few minutes before repeating the three steps again to release any additional trapped air looking to escape.
Step Four: Turn your heating back on
Once you’ve bled all of the radiators that need bleeding in your home, you can turn your heating back on. It’s important to note that releasing air from your radiators can lower your boiler pressure which may need to be topped up before the central heating system can run properly.
Still got a problem?
If you’ve bled your radiators and re-pressurised your boiler, and your heating still isn’t working as expected, you may have a leak.
Central heating system leaks can be difficult to find and the low pressure of your boiler could even be due to a leak in your mains supply pipe.
At Miracle Leak Detection, we’re experts in finding and fixing all types of internal and external water leaks. Call us for free on 0800 037 7078 to arrange a free visual inspection today.
