Over time, tiny leaks or the process of evaporation may mean the water in some radiators is replaced by air.
Octopus Energy is urging UK households to change their radiators – for over £300 savings. Over time, tiny leaks or the process of evaporation may mean the water in some radiators is replaced by air.
This means they don’t heat up properly. As such, it is imperative UK households are bleeding radiators. Naomi Hills, a heating engineer with Octopus Energy, says: “When your heating is on, feel from the bottom of your radiator upwards. If it is hot at the bottom and cooler at the top, it needs bleeding.”
Naomi, who’s worked as a plumber for 30 years, says: “Find the vent, which has ridges, on one side of the radiator.
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“Cup your rag or cloth just underneath, then put the key in and turn it to the left by a quarter of a turn to loosen the vent.
“Whatever you do, don’t remove the vent completely. You may hear a hissing sound as the air is released. Then, as soon as the water gets to the top it will drip out of the vent.
“That’s when you close it off again, gently, just until the water stops.”
If your radiator runs on hot water, the hot water travels through all the radiators in your home when the heating is on, warming them up.
Sometimes, air can build up inside a radiator, preventing the water from moving freely. The result: a radiator that never seems to get hot enough, wasting energy and money.
By learning how to bleed a radiator, you’ll know how to deal with the problem yourself. Bleeding a radiator means releasing the air trapped inside it, allowing the water to circulate, so you can stay warm and comfortable when the heating’s on.
Even if your radiators seem fine, it’s a good idea to get into the practice of bleeding them on a regular basis. By keeping your central heating system free of trapped air, you’ll make sure it’s working as efficiently as possible, saving you money on your heating bills.