How to bleed a radiator? I certainly didn't know the answer until a couple of years ago when I had to bleed a radiator for the first time! I know it's important to do it and most people don't so what does it all mean and does it bleeding matter?

Does my radiator need bleeding?

First step is check the radiator, if the top of the radiator is cold and the bottom is warm it probably means that the radiator needs bleeding. Air has become trapped in the system - radiator bleeding just means releasing the trapped air.

It could be that the whole radiator is cool, in which case the radiator is almost full of air, which may contrast with the rest of your central heating system where the other radiators will be hot. Bleeding your radiator may also help in this situation.

How to bleed a radiator

Do you know how to bleed a radiator? Somewhere in your home you should have a small tool called a bleed key. On one side of the radiator there will be a protrusion near the top of the radiator, called the bleed valve.

Essentially you want to open this valve a small amount to allow the air to escape from the top of the radiator whilst not allowing the water to flow out:

• Turn off the heat (so as not to import more air into the system)
• Find the bleed valve (see picture above)
• Hold a cloth underneath the bleed valve to catch leaking water
• Using radiator key gently turn to release the valve (turn it counter-clockwise only a tiny bit, usually just a 1/4 or 1/2 turn)
• Listen for the hiss of escaping air
• Tighten the valve as soon as water begins to flow - N.B. Take care not to get scalded, the water may be pretty hot
• Switch the heat back on

When turning the valve have an old rag and a small bowl ready! I learnt the hard way when I didn't know how to bleed a radiator - I dropped the key midway through a bleed - the results were very messy and I got very wet... Ooops!

N.B. Radiator keys are readily available from DIY stores:

Having to bleed your radiators frequently? Call a Heating Engineer.

Is the radiator key now obsolete?

Right here in the UK Martin O'Donnell has designed and developed the EasyBleed, which he launched in November 2007.

If you don't know how to bleed a radiator or are fed up with trying to find that elusive radiator key or if you're averse to risking the stream of scalding hot dirty water over your nice new cream carpet, then EasyBleed may be the answer.

EasyBleed is a radiator bleed valve which you simply click on, press the button and when the air is gone you will get a very small drop of water coming from the bleed hole. When this happens you release the button and click to off. So if you don't know how to bleed a radiator this makes it really easy!

It can be used on all radiators with BSP thread, making it simple to fit and exchange parts. Replacement of existing bleed valves can be achieved within 5 minutes per radiator. The EasyBleed valve retails for £5 plus and is available now.

EasyBleed achieved successful accreditation from Industry lead body Advantica and has been tested to BSEN standards. Martin from Easybleed has recently won an Innovation Award for the Easy Bleed development.

For info visit www.easybleed.co.uk or email sales@easybleed.co.uk

Tell us what you think - is EasyBleed the way forward, also if you would like to try it out we can put you down on a list of testers - so let us know - hopefully you will always now know how to bleed a radiator!