Houses that rely on gas central heating to keep them warm tend to have water filled radiators to manage the temperature. The radiator is the final part of your central heating system, so it is important to keep it well maintained.  One of the regular maintenance tasks that is easy to undertake yourself is bleeding your radiators.

Signs That You Should Bleed Your Radiator

An essential part of maintaining your heating system is to spot the first signs of a problem. When it comes to radiators, one of the main problems is air bubbles in your system, which means that hot water will not be efficiently pumped through your system.

You will usually know that your system has air in it if your radiator is not heating up fully. Or if your  radiator feels cold on top and hot at the bottom. This is because there is no hot water at the top of your radiator thanks to air bubbles. This is a sign that your radiator needs bleeding.

How Do I Bleed my Radiator?

Bleeding your radiator is very straightforward process. All radiators have a gas valve that can be opened using a special radiator key, which can be bought from most DIY shops. When this valve is opened, it releases the built-up air bubbles in your radiator. This means your radiator will be able to fill to the top with hot water. It is a relatively simple process, but it is important to know what you are doing when undertaking this job.

How Often Should I Bleed my Radiators?

Despite being a fairly routine DIY job, you should not need to bleed your radiator that often. Radiators are designed to be airtight, which means air should not be able to infiltrate your heating system easily. It does not hurt to check your radiator for air pockets every few months or so, but you should not need to check more than this.

If you find that your radiators need bleeding regularly, then your heating system may have an underlying problem. These problems may include a leak in your system, or a water pressure problem in your boiler. If you find that you are having this problem, then you should call Eddie Plumbing Services immediately so we can help identify what is going wrong.

For more information about radiators and how to properly maintain them, please give Eddie Plumbing Services a call on 0800 955 9065 or ask for a quick quote.