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Bleeding Radiators

Does your radiator feel colder at the top than at the bottom? Sort out the problem with a few minutes of your time.

Bleeding your radiator simply means releasing the trapped air that causes problems. It's a relatively simple task - take the following steps for a quick fix.

You can troubleshoot boiler problems in the section called Gas & Central Heating Problems or use the Appliance Fault Advisor. Also see our Video section - How to Bleed a Radiator, How to Fix a Leaking Radiator Valve and Troubleshooting Cold Radiators & more.

If this doesn't help you sort out the radiator trouble, it's best to call in a Heating Engineer - repairs to gas appliances can be dangerous so need to be carried out by a Gas Safe Register* approved tradesman.

To keep boiler breakdowns at bay, it's a good idea to look into Annual Boiler Servicing - when it comes to heating repairs prevention is definitely cheaper than cure.

To protect your home against sudden heating problems that can hit the pocket hard, you might like to choose Gas Boiler Cover or Central Heating Cover.

What to Do

• Turn off your central heating. This prevents more air entering the system.
• Find the bleed valve, this is square shaped and usually on one side of the radiator near the top.
• Place a cloth underneath the bleed valve to catch any leaking water.
• Fit the radiator key (these are found at most DIY stores) into the bleed valve and carefully turn it counterclockwise a little - usually just a 1/4 or 1/2 turn will do the trick. The air will start escaping with a hissing sound similar to a bicycle tire. When water begins to dribble out, all the air is purged.
• Tighten the valve as soon as water begins to flow, and use the cloth to clean up - be careful as the water can be scalding hot.
• Problem solved. Now you can switch the heating back on.