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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think someone should have told me?

79 replies

SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:22

How to bleed a sodding radiator.... I’m 32, I have no idea how to bleed a radiator, everyday my pipes are making a terrible racket and I don’t know where to start... why doesn’t anyone tell us about these things before we have to actually ‘adult’ and at what point are we suppose to suddenly know how to do these ‘adult’ activities?!

Please tell me I’m not the only one ‘pretending’ to adult here? There must be things you wish someone had told you about before you actually had to fend for yourself and fake adulting Grin

OP posts:
toomuchfaster · 22/11/2018 21:23

YouTube?

OftenHangry · 22/11/2018 21:23

Youtube. Absolute god send

Notsurewhyimdoingthis · 22/11/2018 21:24

Does it actually need bleeding? Is it hot at the bottom and cold at the top?

EspressoButler · 22/11/2018 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 22/11/2018 21:26

I thought everyone checked Youtube for this sort of thing?

VladmirsPoutine · 22/11/2018 21:26

I find adulting comes in waves. I don't for example begrudge my parents for not telling me things. I find solutions to problems as they arise. Most of everything can be found via Google. But I have no empathy for those (with no additional needs) who seem to consider it an achievement to reach age 25 or something without knowing how to do laundry or cook a meal.

HariboLecter · 22/11/2018 21:27

It's easy (and satisfying) get the key & and an old towel. Turn key on the nubbin bit at the top til a bit of water comes out. Make sure it's tightened up again.

So pleased my Dad taught me bits & bobs when I was younger.

Poloshot · 22/11/2018 21:27

Buy a radiator key, bleed radiator. Start downstairs with radiator furthest from boiler then repeat upstairs.

Original poster
SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:28

@Notsurewhyimdoingthis oh I don’t know... I’ll have to check that... see I didn’t even know that :/ They make a horrible noise when I switch them on... like a huge gushing sound... ah yeah YouTube should definitely help! I think they should have lessons for this stuff at school 😬

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 22/11/2018 21:28

But that said, my mother had us all changing light-bulbs, helping with dinner, cleaning etc once we could walk unaided and speak in full sentences. 'Start em young' was her motto.

candlefloozy · 22/11/2018 21:29

It's easy to do. I love doing it!

bellinisurge · 22/11/2018 21:30

My Dad taught me. He also taught me stuff which is now less useful- changing a fuse and changing a plug

Original poster
SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:31

@HariboLecter that sounds surprisingly easy... I’ve been putting this off for years!!

OP posts:
Original poster
SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:33

@VladmirsPoutine that’s brilliant! Kids should definitely be taught young... there are so many things that shocked me when I became an adult... things like having to take care of my mum & even just being responsible with money... was a huge learning curve!

OP posts:
POPholditdown · 22/11/2018 21:34

I’ve done mine with a screwdriver, think it depends on what type of rads you have.

I bled one for the first time in my life last week, with the help of Google (I’m 28).

There really should be a course for ‘basic adult life’. Compulsory at school, and complementary ‘top up’ courses available throughout adulthood.

sackrifice · 22/11/2018 21:35

When you have bled the radiator, check if you need to top up your water pressure.

Coffeeandcrisps · 22/11/2018 21:37

I fixed my boiler AND unblocked my dishwasher this week. I felt like superwoman, thank god for YouTube!

RandomMess · 22/11/2018 21:37

Just because the pipes are noisy doesn't necessarily mean the radiators need bleeding...

RayRayBidet · 22/11/2018 21:38

I live in Germany and have a radiator key with a reservoir to catch the water.
It's amazing sad that I am excited about this gadget

RayRayBidet · 22/11/2018 21:38

Meant to say I never saw one like it in the uk

Original poster
SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:39

@Coffeeandcrisps you are basically superwoman!! Fixing a boiler is next level adulting!

@POPholditdown YES exactly!! I’d have done all the top up courses by now!

OP posts:
Original poster
SquidgyBanana · 22/11/2018 21:40

@RayRayBidet I’m actually surprised how many have said they love bleeding radiators... maybe this will become my new hobby!

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 22/11/2018 21:40

Luckily you no longer have to wait to hire a book from the library because of the wonder of the internet!

POPholditdown · 22/11/2018 21:40

check if you need to top up your water pressure.

Don’t get me started on when I did this the first time. I’d watched an engineer top my nans up once, with the tube thing. What i didn’t see was him opening the valves - when it needed doing again I spent ages putting the tube on, taking it off wondering why nothing was happening.