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Cynon Taf is partnering with Evolve, accredited experts in home energy efficiency.

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How to bleed your radiator

Guides

How to bleed a radiator – your step-by-step guide

We’ve all experienced it. You turn on the heating and something isn’t quite right. You might be hearing strange noises coming from your radiators. They might have cold areas across the top. Or perhaps your radiator is not heating up at all.
No need to panic – chances are, you just need to bleed your radiators. It’s easy to do and will have your radiators working as good as new in no time. Our step-by-step guide on how to bleed a radiator shows you everything you need to do to get your home nice and warm again.
What you’ll need:

  • Radiator key (or flat-head screwdriver/Allen key if it fits)
  • Towel or rag
  • Jug or container

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Turn off heating: Switch off your central heating and let radiators cool down to avoid burns.
  2. Locate valve: Find the small bleed valve at the top of the radiator, usually on one side.
  3. Prepare for drips: Place a towel and jug underneath the valve to catch water.
  4. Insert key & turn: Put the key/screwdriver in the valve and turn it slowly anti-clockwise (about a quarter turn).
  5. Listen for air: You’ll hear a hissing sound as trapped air escapes.
  6. Close valve: When the hissing stops and a steady trickle of water appears, turn the key clockwise to tighten the valve. Don’t overtighten.
  7. Repeat: Do this for all radiators, starting with the one furthest from the boiler.
  8. Check boiler pressure: After bleeding, your boiler pressure may have dropped; check the gauge (usually 1-2 bar) and repressurise if needed.
  9. Turn heating on: Turn the heating back on and check your radiators are fully hot.

The following video gives a demonstration from Which?

If you still need some help, please contact Liberty on 0330 123 9622