Why radiators need bleeding?
All
radiators require bleeding to remove air bubbles that form periodically during
the life of a system. Air can be introduced into a central heating system in
several ways. It can occur when new
water enters the system from the expansion tank or when a routine maintenance
is carried out. It could also be
‘created’ by the movement of the central heating system pump as it turns. When radiators are not working properly, or
when they are not putting out as much heat as they should, some parts of the
house will be colder than others.
When the
house still has cold rooms, people tend to turn the thermostat higher than
normally required, adding considerably to their central heating bill.
How can you tell
if your radiator needs bleeding?
Signs that
your radiator needs bleeding are, if your radiators are taking a long time to
heat up and when the top of a radiator is cooler than the bottom. In severe
cases the entire radiator can be cold when the heating system is on. So to
check if your radiators need bleeding.
Put your central heating fully on.
· Wait for your radiators to reach their maximum heat.
· Feel along the top of each radiator for any cold areas, being careful not
to burn your hands.
· If you feel any cold areas, this indicates trapped air and the radiator
needs to be bled.
It is
recommended that radiators are checked every two to three months.
How to bleed a
radiator?
If you
decide not to contact your heating engineer to bleed your radiators, here are
some useful tips.
1. Turn off the
heat
This is very
important, boiling water could result in injury and a ruined floor. Also some
central heating systems have water pumps that, depending on where in the system
they are fitted, will actually suck more air into the radiator, if the central
heating system is left on when you open the bleed valve.
2. Bleed
radiators in the correct order
In homes
with more than one floor, the lowest floor radiators should be bled first,
beginning with the radiator receiving the water flow last i.e. furthest from
the boiler. The radiators on each floor above should then be done in turn,
again beginning with the radiator furthest from the boiler.
3. Use a radiator
key
You risk
damaging radiator valves by using pliers and although a screwdriver can be used
to bleed some modern radiators, most radiators require a radiator key. These
keys are available in most DIY stores.
4. Always have
cloths and towels to protect yourself and prevent damage.
It is
advisable to wear tight fitting rubber gloves and holding the key with a cloth,
slowly turn the radiator valve anti-clockwise to open your radiator’s valve
until you hear a hissing sound of air escaping. Make sure you have a towel or
cloth below to catch any water. Be careful not to open the valve too much, if
you release the centre pin it could lead to an excessive amount of water loss
and damage.
Once the air
has all escaped and water starts to leak out, tighten the valve by turning the
key clockwise. Be careful not do this too tightly, as you could damage the
valve. With many of the modern screwdriver operated valves water escapes as a
jet, rather than a dribble.
5. After bleeding
radiators always check the boiler pressure
Once all
your radiators have been bled, check the pressure on your boiler gauge. If the
pressure is normal you can switch on your heating and check that there are
still no cold areas. If your pressure is too low, you should rebalance the
pressure.
The
advantage of using a qualified Curve Heating engineer to service your boiler is
that we can check and bleed all your radiators within the same visit and price.
Please Note:
With modern
central heating systems, there is minimal danger, as long as your boiler is
regularly serviced. However, the reason Landlords are required by law to
provide annual boiler servicing, is that without annual servicing, your boiler
can become dangerous.
Safeguard
your home and family and have your boiler serviced every year, by one of Curve
Heatings qualified engineers. For any further assistance contact plumbing services morden.
Address:-
Curve Plumbing & Heating Limited,
127 Abbotsbury Road
London SM4 5JX
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