How to bleed your radiators In 10 Steps

With Winter quickly approaching, our Greenstar plumbing and boiler experts created this guide to show you how to properly bleed a radiator in ten easy steps; increasing the efficiency of your central heating, cutting your energy bills and making your Dorset home warm during the cold season in Britain.

What does it mean to bleed a radiator?

Bleeding a radiator (sometimes referred to as ‘bleeding a boiler’) is simply the process of letting out air that has become trapped inside your system boiler system and piping. This is a common issue in un-vented heating systems. Trapped air prevents water from heating your entire radiator, creating cold spots. If, when you turn your heating system on, you hear a flowing or clicking sound coming from your radiators, this is a good indicator that you may need to bleed your boiler system.

Another sign of this happening is if the top section of your radiator feels cooler than the bottom half. This means your heating system is working inefficiently – when this happens, you will be paying for heating without enjoying the benefits.

Fortunately, you can easily bleed your radiators yourself, here are 10 easy steps to achieve this:

Step 1 – Turn the Central heating on for about 15 minutes

Step 2 – Whilst the heating is still on, check all radiators for cold spots by running your hand along the top and bottom of the units

Step 3 – Turn the heating off

Step 4 – Find the first radiator to bleed

Step 5 – Locate the bleed valve on the radiator (usually found at the top and side of the radiator)

Step 6 – Put a towel, bucket or bowl on the floor underneath the radiator to catch any drips and leaks

Step 7 – Insert the radiator bleed key, turn anti-clockwise and listen for a hiss – this is the trapped air leaving the pipes

Step 8 – Wait for the hissing to stop and turn the key back again, ensuring the valve is firmly but not tightly closed

Step 9 – Repeat the process for any other radiators that require it

Step 10 – Check your boiler pressure and make sure it’s not too low

Greenstar is one of the South’s leading heating specialists, offering effective boiler installations, services and repairs as well as smart thermostat installations. If you need help with your central heating system this winter, call the experienced Gas Safe registered team today on 01202 355 344.