Bleeding radiators

[sherrardk]

Need to bleed my radiators as they are cold at the top and the bathroom room rail is very gurgly. I have never done this so I have a few questions (sorry for sounding dim).
- how do I know when I have bled each one enough?
- do I have to do them in any particular order?
- does it make any difference that they all have their own temperature controls on?
- will I need to top the water up in the system, and if so, how do I do this?

Thanks

[sandyRoe]

The boiler needs to be switched on so that the water pump will be working. When you turn the key you'll hear a hissing noise as the water in the radiator forces the air out. When the water reaches where the key is you'll feel moisture on your fingertips and it's time to close it.

[spudqueen]

Have an old towel handy as there can be black muck come out, and the water can be hot!

[The Builder]

If it's a gravity system (roof tank), it'll re-fill itself. If you have a combi boiler ........... look for two knurled valves under the boiler and open them up ......... sometimes it's just one valve on the filling loop.......... either way fill until the guage shows 1 - 1.5 bar

[sherrardk]

Thanks all. For the Builder, at what stage in this process do I open the valve(s)? Thanks again.

[scotman]

Remember that when you start bleeding that you only open the bleed screws until you hear/feel air start to come out. Do not take the screws all the way out as you may have trouble getting them back in when the water comes.

[sherrardk]

Thanks Scotman - I class this as a 'man job' but my husband is really busy at the moment (it's on his 'to do list') but I thought I would give it a go. Got to go and get a key thing first.

[The Builder]

Sherrard ............... open valves only when you've finished bleeding rads. Quite logically, you simply replenish the water lost in bleeding.
Good luck

[sherrardk]

Thanks The Builder - does the water just stop when the system is topped-up enough?

[sherrardk]

Thanks Doc - the radiator/towel rail in the bathroom sounded half-empty last night (I might have to wait for the husband to have the time to do it - I'll go and get him a key thing though).

[sherrardk]

Hi Doc - this is sounding like a bit of a chore now, might have to do it to prove to myself that I can do it - it's only a bit of water and turning a key, how hard can it be?

[sherrardk]

Better not get it on the carpet - it's a rented house!!! I'll start off in the bathroom which has some weird, industrial metal stuff on the floor - that should stand up to black gunk. (Does it make any difference that the screw things are not the usual shape (the triangle shape) - these are round with a line through them, it's not a sealed system or something?). Sorry to be a pain about something which sounds quite straightforward.

[douglas9401]

As well as all of the above have the heating and hot water functions on the boiler "off" while recharging to the 1.5 bar.

[sherrardk]

Thanks for your help Douglas.

[flobadob]

I thought that you were supposed to bleed radiators with the boiler and pump turned off. Think that's what I was told when I posted a similar question.

[sherrardk]

Hi Flobadob - might have to change it back into a 'man job' - starting to sound way to complicated for me.