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Original poster

How do I bleed a radiator?

42 replies

Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:34

Might seem a stupid question to some, but believe it or not, I've never done it! My first attempt this morning resulted in a soaked bath towel....that can't be right? Do I do it with heating on or off? Help!

OP posts:
Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:39

If water is coming radiator doesnt need bleeding, is it not getting hot?

JanH · 21/09/2004 11:40

Once water comes out it is successfully bled, Earlybird! Hope you managed to get plug thing back in tightly?

lou33 · 21/09/2004 11:40

If a radiator needs bleeding then only air (or gas if the system is completely shot) should come out when you bleed it. When water comes out it means ther is no air lock. If it is heating all up the radiator then it doesn't need doing.

Original poster
Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:41

Nope, not getting hot. I turned it up to about 30, and then tried to bleed about 10 minutes later. Should I have left it longer? There was a slight hissing sound, but mainly LOTS of water.

OP posts:
Miriam2 · 21/09/2004 11:42

They need bleeding if part (mainly bottom) of radiator gettining hot but not rest. That means there's air in the radiator so when you turn the key, air should come out at first. If water, I would guess it's another problem. don't think it matters if heating on or off except water will be hot!

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:42

Lou, would be a little concerned if gas is coming out of your rads, like run very fast worried..

Mum2girls · 21/09/2004 11:42

EB - I find it easier if it's on. I've only ever bled a radiator if, when the heating's on, the radiator feels cooler than the others in the house. What you need to do, is using the little key thingy, very slowly turn it and you can actually feel as you let the air out (which is what you're doing), that it's replaced by water and you'll be able to feel the radiator get immediately warm. You stop turning at the first sign of water. hth

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:44

would think one of your valves buggered, or wankered as seems to be the word today..Are any rads warming?

Original poster
Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:44

JanH - don't have a plug, just one of those key things. Seems to be back tightly as there is no water dripping.

By the way - I'm currently using the immersion heater for water as my boiler needs a part, which the plumber assures me is due any day. Would that have anything to do with the radiator? Sorry to be so dim, but I come from the land of central heating!

OP posts:
JanH · 21/09/2004 11:47

um - what kind of boiler is it? If it needs a part doesn't that mean it isn't working and none of your radiators works either??? [confusedicon}

Sorry, when I said plug I meant the bit that the key turns to let the air out. (That bit will come all the way out if you turn it too far and then you would have fun!)

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:47

Arrr, that explains it... Its not bleeding you need but a bleedin part for yor boiler, the source of the heat for your cental heating!

lou33 · 21/09/2004 11:47

If your system is hot, and a radiator needs bleeding virtually every day, like ours did, then the likelihood is that it is not air coming out but hydrogen. I knwo this because we have been having our heating system replaced. It is dangerous to have hydrogen coming out, but it can happen, happened to us. The water coming out was black as well, which isn't a healthy sign.

Original poster
Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:48

So, basically, my heat/radiators won't work until the boiler is fixed?

OP posts:
JanH · 21/09/2004 11:49

Not if it's not on!

JanH · 21/09/2004 11:50

Have you only got one radiator?

lou33 · 21/09/2004 11:50

Are any others working?

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:51

is this because the oxygen has oxidised the radiator, ie rusted, leaving the hydrogen?

Original poster
Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:51

And immersion heater doesn't act as a substitute for the boiler in heating water? Immersion heater is how I've been having warm baths (not nearly as hot as when boiler is functioning).

OP posts:
Original poster
Earlybird · 21/09/2004 11:52

I have a radiator in every room of the flat. None seem to be heating, and I've checked dials on all of them to ensure they're turned up to high.

OP posts:
JanH · 21/09/2004 11:53

The immersion heater only heats the water in the tank. The boiler does that and pumps some round to the radiators.

So all your radiators are cold?

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:53

The immersion will heat water for taps, but not the central heating, only the boiler can do that.

JanH · 21/09/2004 11:54

Ah! Just hope your plumber soon comes back with the part! Have you got any fan heaters or anything?

littlemissbossy · 21/09/2004 11:54

look on here (sorry can't do links) www.yahoo.assertahome.com/1/ah/da/yahoo/guides/improve/bleedingRadiators.do

lou33 · 21/09/2004 11:55

Yamamoto, I think it was because the system was really old, wasn't working as it should, so the water was getting full of sludge, which caused a build up of gas. I will ask the plumber when he arrives shortly if you want( he is still finishing our system).

Eralybird, I will ask him about your rad too. Afaik, immersions only give hot water, and don't do heating. Or at least mine never have.

Yamamoto · 21/09/2004 11:55

Its a bit like filling a car with petrol, checking the tyres but having no engine..