Modern pressure tanks separate the water from the air with a rubber bladder. Old steam systems can actually suck air in. As the steam cools, it shrinks dramatically, causing a partial vacuum. This is a job for a plumber. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. How to Bleed a Radiator. By Andy Engel. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. When you insert the radiator key into the bleed valve, you will feel them lock together. A quarter to half a turn will be enough. Never open the valve fully, because once all the air has escaped, the water will start to come out. Tip: If you do not have a radiator vent key it is sometimes possible to use a flat-headed screwdriver on modern radiators.
Once the hissing has stopped or water has begun to come out of the valve, close it by turning the radiator bleed key clockwise. This will seal the radiator.
Repeat this bleeding process with all the radiators that showed signs of trapped air. We suggest starting on the ground floor and working your way up your property because the air rises through the system. Once you have completed the task of bleeding all your radiators, you will need to re-pressurise your heating system.
When you bleed a boiler heating system, you always lose some water. If the water pressure in your system is correct, the needle gauge on your boiler will be facing green. It looks like a tap and is connected to your main water supply; for reference, the pressure in a typical family home is usually between 1. Always turn the tap and slowly adjust the pressure. In the unlikely event that you add too much pressure and the needle faces the red, there is also a bleed tap.
You can find more information on that topic in our article about boilers losing pressure. We advise bleeding your radiators at the beginning of the heating season, before you really need it, to ensure your boiler and heating system is running at its best without any trapped air. If you prefer video content to text, you can find our YouTube video that demonstrates exactly how to bleed your radiators with easy-to-follow steps and illustrations.
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Trying to find out whether your gas boiler is Gas-Safe registered? Discover how to find this information with Viessmann. Welcome to Viessmann United Kingdom! Next, rinse the air vent and blow through it. If air moves freely through the vent, you can reattach it to your radiator. If not, repeat the cleaning process. Air vents on steam radiators often get accidentally painted over, which can clog them up and stop them from working properly.
Remember that if radiators have cold spots or are warm at the bottom but cold at the top, they likely have air blockages. Make a careful note of the radiators which need bleeding during this check. A good tip is to put post-it notes or stickers on the malfunctioning radiators, so you can be absolutely sure which ones to start on. Bleeding your radiators with the heating on could seriously injure you, as scalding hot water is likely to burst out of the bleed valve as soon as the air has come out.
When all your radiators are entirely cold to the touch, you can get started on bleeding your radiators. You need to let at least some water to drip out from your radiator so that you can tell when the trapped air has fully escaped. As a result, we suggest putting down towels and dust sheets to protect the floor around your radiators and avoid water damaging your floors or carpet.
Turn the key in an anti-clockwise direction use a rag to help grip the key, if the bleed valve is particularly tight. You should hear a hissing noise, which is the trapped air in the top of the radiator starting to escape. The release of the air from your radiator means that the water in your system now has room to rise. Modern radiators can release water as a jet and you want to avoid as much spillage and low water pressure as possible.
You should start with the radiator that is furthest away from your boiler. If your property has two stories, start with the most distant radiator on the ground floor, and work your way up to the top of the house, ending with the radiator closest to the boiler. If you've decided to bleed your radiator your first step should be to find something to open the radiator's "bleed valve.
On this valve, there will usually be small square bit which can be turned to adjust the valve. Radiator keys, cheap metal implements designed for opening and closing radiator valves, are available at most hardware stores. Find a radiator key that's the correct size for your valve or, alternatively, search your tool chest for a small wrench or other tool that's the right size to turn the valve. When bleeding one radiator, it's best to bleed every one in a house.
Turn off your heat. Ensure that your central heating is switched off before bleeding, as an active heating system can introduce more air into the system. You want your radiator's contents to settle completely before releasing the air trapped within. Allow time for the heat in your system to dissipate, then feel all over your radiator for heat. If any part of your radiator is still hot, wait for it to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
Open your radiator's valves. Ensure that both the intake and exit valves of the radiator are turned to the "open" position. Then, insert your radiator key or screwdriver, etc.
Turn the screw counter-clockwise to open the valve. You should hear a hissing sound as air escapes from your radiator. Catch drips from the valve. As air escapes from your radiator, water will likely sputter from the bleed valve.
Hold a kitchen towel or cloth under the bleed screw to catch any drips. Alternatively, use a small bowl or dish. Wait for water to squirt out of the bleed valve. When a steady stream of water not a sputtering mixture of air and water droplets squirts through the bleed valve, you've released all of the air trapped in your radiator.
Re-tighten your bleed valve turn the bleed screw clockwise and ensure that there are no leaks. Use a rag to wipe up any water that's splashed around your radiator. Repeat this process on all the radiators in your house. To ensure all excess air has been drained from your heating system, it's best to bleed all of your radiators, even if you've only been having problems with one.
For a well-maintained heating system, you should try bleeding your radiators regularly. An annual bleeding plus a bleeding after any repairs or modifications to your heating system is usually plenty. Check your boiler's pressure level. By releasing excess air from your radiators, you've lowered the overall pressure of your house's heating system.
If the pressure's fallen too low, heat might not reach some of your radiators especially ones on the top floors of your house. To restore your heating system's pressure, it may be necessary to top off your boiler with water.
The higher the pressure, the greater the height the height that heat from your system will be able to travel. Especially short or tall houses may require lesser or greater boiler pressure, respectively. If not, add water manually - open the boiler's water feed valve until the pressure gauge reads about psi. Method 2. Look for symptoms that your car's radiator isn't working. A car's radiator needs bleeding for the same reason that a home's radiator does - pockets of air have become trapped in the car's cooling system.
This prevents antifreeze from circulating effectively, causing the car to overheat. If you observe one or more of the following symptoms, your car's radiator may need bleeding: Abnormally high temperature readings on your dashboard temperature meter. Fluid boiling out of your radiator.
A low coolant light when you first start the vehicle. Additionally, it can be a good idea to bleed your radiator after performing maintenance or part replacement on your cooling system. Air can be introduced to the system during maintenance work - keep an eye on your temperature gauge after modifying your cooling system in any way. Locate and loosen your car's bleeder valve. Some cars have bleeder valves incorporated into the cooling system which function by releasing trapped air, just like the bleeder valves on a home radiator.
Consult your owner's manual to find the precise location of this valve - usually it's located at your cooling system's highest point to most effectively release air, which naturally rises. Use a cloth to catch any sputtering coolant, then re-tighten the valve when the valve releases a steady stream of coolant. Some cars don't have special bleeder valves. Don't worry - it's still possible to bleed these cars' radiators via other processes see below. Be sure the car is cool when you do this—don't try to get the air of of a car that's still hot.
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