Bleeding A Radiator Query?

[cleoval]

Hi We live in a Housing Association for Pensioners.  Does anybody know if they have to send a Workman to bleed our Radiators as they are not very warm and thermostat is turned up?

 

If not how do you bleed a Radiator please? and any tips.? TIA.

[bookbinder]

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/heating/guides/how-to-bleed-a-radiator.html

It really isn't difficult. If I can do it, anybody can do it.

[albaqwerty]

I believe there are lots of videos on YouTube about bleeding radiators but I'm not confident enough to try it. As a tenant, I'd contact landlord.

[Deskdiary]

It's a piece of cake.

 

Assuming you have a radiator key (if you don't they're only a couple of quid) open the valve about a quarter of way and you hear hissing. As soon as water starts to come out the rad is bled.

[Canary42]

Give it a go, but only turn a smidgeon, it gets a bit messy if the whole thing screws out 🤣

[bhg481]

Have acloth handy - the air will be followed by water which might be rusty.

[kettledrum]

Beware! The water, when it comes out, will be absolutely filthy, so make sure you've covered the valve with a rag / washing up cloth so that your beautiful pale blue carpet doesn't get stained. There will probably be quite a lot of hissing & spitting before all the air has escaped  & the water begins to flow.

[davebro3]

The bleed valve may be stiff - an older person might not be able to turn it.

Wrap an old towel around & below the radiator bleed valve to stop water going on the floor etc.

[fbg40]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but here goes. You need to turn off you CH for about 30 mins to allow the system to settle and to stop the pump from circulating water. Then, as desk diary has said, slowly undo the bleed valve until you here hissing. When you here this make sure you have an old piece of rag below the valve, let the water run for a couple of seconds and then close the valve. Some say you should star on the rad that is the last on the system but I never bother - I don't know which is the last one !! Best of luck.

FBG40

[Canary42]

There is no need to turn the system off.

[1581960]

A thought that comes to mind, if there is air trapped in the radiator it will obviously be at the top, if the heating is running correctly the bottom of the radiator should still get hot. Might be worth feeling the radiator top and bottom before bleeding. 

[Old_Geezer]

If the system is off the air may not get pushed out.

Yeah, use key, turn only enough to hear the hiss, then quickly screw up again when water starts exiting. Do not unscrew it completely !

[fripfrip]

Do it as fbg40 says and turn the central heating off before you try to bleed the radiators.

[douglas9401]

I'd like to thank posters for stating the bleeding obvious. x

[Deskdiary]

It wasn't obvious to the OP, otherwise the question wouldn't have been asked.

[Maydup]

I would call the housing association myself - you probably pay enough in rent or service charges.

[newmodarmy]

I have to do it from time to time but didn't realise until an engineer told me that it leads to a pressure reduction so I should be adjusting the pressure after by turning the boiler pipe valve to let more water in. 

[newmodarmy]

Trust douglas to pipe up with that one. It was a joke folks...a good one.

[chyntialee]

Bleeding a radiator is a straightforward process to release trapped air that can prevent it from heating properly. Here's how to do it:

What You'll Need:

A radiator key (or a flathead screwdriver for some modern radiators).

A cloth or small container to catch any water.

Steps:

Turn Off the Heating: Ensure your central heating system is off and the radiators are cool to avoid hot water spilling.

Locate the Bleed Valve: The bleed valve is usually at the top of the radiator, on one side. It looks like a small square or slotted bolt.

Insert the Key or Screwdriver: Place the radiator key into the valve or use a screwdriver if your radiator has a slotted valve.

Turn the Valve: Slowly turn the valve counterclockwise. You should hear a hissing sound, which is the trapped air escaping.

Catch Any Drips: Keep a cloth or small container under the valve to catch any water that starts to come out. Once water starts flowing steadily, the air is fully released.

Close the Valve: Turn the valve clockwise to close it securely, but don’t overtighten.

Check the Boiler Pressure: After bleeding, check your boiler's pressure gauge. If it's too low, you may need to top up the system with water.

Turn the Heating Back On: Once the system is repressurized, turn the heating back on and check that the radiator heats evenly.

[douglas9401]

Please, watch out for the herds of  wildebeest.

[Deskdiary]

Mea culpa - and apologies. I didn't spot the joke until it was pointed out.