Bleed your Radiator

Installers such as Belgravia Plumbers carry all types of radiator keys and install and maintain all types of heating systems. On each radiator in a home central heating circuit, there is a bleed valve on one of the top corners, it is a metal block that is square in shape and sits in the middle, allowing a key to be placed over it for adjustment. If you do not have a key, they can be bought from most plumbers merchants.

Method:

Turn off the boiler and isolating the main circulating pump. Using the radiator key, turn the block anticlockwise for one quarter turn. There shouldn’t be any need to turn it further than one quarter, but in case you open it too much, keep a container ready for any spills. This cannot be accomplished quickly, so don’t be tempted to open the valve further than required. This will just result in a mass of water to empty all over the floor. As soon as the air begins to hiss from the valve, make sure that the radiator bleed key stays in place on the block so when the air stops and a dribble of water appears you will be able to immediately close off the radiator to prevent a flood. A Belgravia Plumber can bleed a radiator circuit and balance the system, if you are not confident or unsure. If you get nothing is when you try to bleed the radiator, check in the loft to see if the feed and expansion tank is empty. If the tank is full, then the valve has a blockage. Shut down the radiator down with the inlet and outlet valves on each end, now, remove the screw from the middle of the bleed valve. Using a piece of wire or similar, clear the blockage. Open up one of the radiator valves slightly to produce some water from the hole. Shut the radiator valve and refit the the bleed valve screw. Open up both radiator valves again and test.