Bleeding a Troublesome Radiator

Published: 04th January 2010

If the weather people are to be believed then this winter is set to be freezing, so you're going to need your radiators to be in good nick. If you've already noticed that you've a troublesome radiator that isn't performing as well as the others, then it might be time for it to be bled. This is an easy bit of maintenance that you can do without calling in the professionals.

A common problem with radiators involves air that has built up in your heating system. One of the major signs of this is that you can feel the heat at the bottom of the radiator, not at the top. All you need to do in this case is get the air out. At the top of the radiator on one side is a screw that you can loosen with the help of a radiator key. As you loosen it you'll hear the air seeping out, but don't get carried away - you need to tighten the screw up immediately when liquid starts to appear.

It's handy to have a cloth or some tissue in your hand behind the screw because the water that comes out of your radiator can be inky and you certainly don't want any of it spraying across your walls and carpet. You'll have another DIY job on your hand if you're not careful! You should be able to feel the heat at the top of the radiator as well by now so you can enjoy a nice warm winter inside no matter the weather.

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