This can “quickly” fix a radiator that isn’t getting warm
People have been urged to perform a simple task to ensure their heating systems run at peak efficiency. Failing to complete this basic maintenance could lead to a colder household and higher energy costs in the long run.
In a post shared on social media platform X, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) advised homeowners to bleed their radiators throughout the winter months. The regulator explained: “Make sure your heating system is working as efficiently as it can – bleed your radiators this winter.
“Radiator bleeding removes trapped air that stops the hot water circulating properly inside them.” The Government body then pointed followers towards comprehensive guidance on radiator bleeding available through the Which? website.
Consumer specialists at Which? explained: “Radiators need bleeding every few years to get rid of trapped air bubbles. These air bubbles rise to the top of a radiator when it’s on, so place your hand on the top while the heating is on. If the top of the radiator is cool, or much colder than the bottom of the radiator, it’s a sign your radiators need bleeding.
“Bleeding your radiators is usually a simple job and can quickly fix a radiator that’s too cold. But if your whole house feels as though it’s not heating up correctly, you might have an unbalanced heating system. This is a bigger issue to fix, and will need a plumber or heating engineer. “
How to bleed a radiator
“Bleeding a radiator is a task you can carry out yourself,” Which? advised. “All you need is your radiator bleed key, and a spare cloth or towel.
“You’ll also need a container to catch any water that comes out of your radiator when you start bleeding it.”
Follow this step-by-step guide from Which? to bleed your radiator:
- Turn the heating off – let the radiator cool down for 20-30 minutes so you don’t risk burning yourself with hot water
- Locate the radiator’s bleed valve – Usually located on the side of the radiator, at its top. If you’re bleeding multiple radiators, start with the one on the ground floor furthest from your boiler
- Place a container under the valve – This is to catch any water that may drip out of the valve. Also hold the spare cloth or towel under the valve
- Insert the radiator bleed key and open the valve slowly, turning anticlockwise, until you hear a hissing sound – This is the trapped air escaping. Only open the valve a maximum of half a turn, so any water doesn’t escape too quickly
- Close the valve when water starts leaking out – At this point all the trapped air has been removed, so turn the key clockwise to close it. Repeat for all the radiators you need to bleed
- Check your boiler’s pressure – After bleeding several radiators, it is normal for the heating system’s pressure to drop. Check the boiler’s pressure indicator, which should be between 1.0 and 2.0 bar (often highlighted green)
- Increase the boiler pressure if needed m- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to do this. If you’re unsure contact your boiler manufacturer or a qualified heating engineer
- Turn the heating on – Give your radiators time to heat up and check the cold areas at the top of the bled radiators have gone
British Gas recommends bleeding your radiators “regularly” for best results and especially after long periods when they’re not used. “Bleeding your radiators is key for keeping your boiler running efficiently, which in turn keeps your home warm and your energy bills as low as possible,” it said.
There’s a simple way to know if your radiators are overdue being bled:
- Turn on your heating and wait for it to warm up
- Feel each radiator – if it’s hot at the top and cold at the bottom, it doesn’t need bleeding
- If it’s hot at the bottom and cold at the top, turn off the heating and read on to find out how to bleed it.
- If you don’t have a radiator key, don’t worry. Not all radiators do, and more modern designs can be bled using a flat-head screwdriver, while others can even be bled using an Allen key.
“As long as you make sure you’ve turned your heating off and allowed your radiators to cool down, you can use various tools to bleed your radiators,” British Gas added.
