Bleeding your radiator is a task that you will no doubt have to undertake when you are at home and your radiators don't seem to be working as they used to. The team at Elements Heating Installations have outlined just how to do this in our latest blog post.
Here's a more detailed explanation into the specifics of each step...
1. Gather your tools and determine which radiators require bleeding.
You'll need a few popular tools to complete the task. What you'll need to bleed your radiator system is outlined below. A radiator key is used to open the radiator bleeding valves. This operates the radiator vent valve. These are available at hardware stores and internet merchants. A bucket and a cloth When the air has completely departed from your radiator, it will leak water, so catch it before it wets your floor. A set of gloves. These will keep your hands safe from any hot pipes or surfaces. To determine whether you need to bleed a radiator, switch on your heating system and allow it to warm up your radiators. Listen for any clanking or rumbling sounds while they're warming up; these might be pockets of air flowing through your heating system. They will ultimately settle when the system heats up, so go through each radiator in turn to gain a rapid grasp. Once adequately heated, you should feel the surface for any temperature fluctuations, especially around the top of the radiator where air is prone to become trapped. If it feels cooler than the rest of the body, you know there's an air pocket there. Please use caution here since the radiators will be hot, so wear gloves.
2. Turn off your heating and let your radiators cool off
Ascertain that your central heating system is turned off. This will prevent your circulation pump from running and pushing heated water and air through your pipes, allowing your radiators to cool and become safe to bleed. All thermostat valves must be opened. Wait roughly 1 hour (or 2 hours if you are very cautious) after turning off your heating to verify that all radiators are cold. This protects you from being burnt if hot water or steam escapes during the bleeding procedure.
3. Insert the radiator key into the valve.
This is where you'll start bleeding the radiator. First, identify the radiator valve, which is normally placed on the upper side of the radiator - other models will have it in a different location. It seems to be a small, round hole with a little square within. Place the bucket beneath the valve and keep your cloth pushed against the wall to guard against water spray.
4. Carefully open the valve and bleed the radiator
Turn the radiator key anti-clockwise slowly. A quarter to half turn should be enough to release the valve and allow air to escape. When air drops out of the radiator, you'll hear a hissing noise; this is how you know you're bleeding the radiator properly. If you continue to open the valve after hearing a hiss, you risk losing extra water from your radiator. You have effectively bled that radiator and may close the valve after the hissing stops and only water exits the valve. It should be noted that water can get discoloured as a result of time spent in the system; this is no cause for concern.
5. Turn off the radiator valve.
Allow a little quantity of water to drain before shutting the valve. Turn the radiator key clockwise to close the valve. This ensures that all trapped air in the radiator has been removed. If you seal the valve too tightly, you risk damaging it.
6. Repeat the preceding procedures for the remaining radiators.
You should bleed any radiators that are impacted by trapped air, however, it doesn't harm to bleed every radiator and guarantee there is no air remaining in the system. It's simple to verify simply by opening the valve and listening for hiss - if there's no hiss, your radiator is OK. Because air is lighter than water, it will naturally ascend, so bleed all radiators on the first level before proceeding upstairs if you have a multi-story building. This ensures the greatest outcomes and saves you time going back and forth.
7. Check the water pressure and switch on the heating system.
Before resuming heating, check the system's water pressure by checking at the pressure gauge or digital display on the boiler - you may see an F22 failure code (please refer to the operating instructions for guidance if you are unsure). When the central heating is turned off, the boiler should measure 1 to 1.5 bar of pressure. If the pressure is too low, the heating water must be refilled. If you're not sure how to refill your boiler, watch our pressurising your boiler video here. Finally, make sure that all radiators are warming up evenly and that any sounds have been decreased. It's as simple as that! To achieve optimum heating performance, bleed your radiators on a regular basis.
