With a cold snap hitting the UK, plumbers are urging households to do one simple trick to kick start their radiators
Plumbers are urging people across the UK to do a simple trick on their radiators as winter sets in. One important task could help to improve how much your home heats up and stop something more dangerous from happening.
Britons’ heating systems have been lying dormant throughout the summer and autumn, but with freezing temperatures hitting the UK, the change in weather has seen a sharp rise in people turning on their heating for the winter. But despite this, many are not carrying out one simple task to jumpstart the heat around the house.
Internet searches for how to bleed radiators have shot up by a massive 339% in the past month as Brits attemt to beat the cold weather. Now, on plumbing expert has revealed when is the best time to turn on the heating, and how simple bleeding a radiator can be.
Speaking to Yell, David Doran, a plumbing expert from Blackstone Plumbing & Heating Ltd, said it was important for radiators to be treated before the heating goes on. If not, it could be inefficient in getting heat out and could even cause further problems down the line.
“Not bleeding radiators, trapped air in radiators, can cause cold spots and reduce efficiency,” he explained. He added that quite often, people forget to bleed the equipment, and are then left complaining when it fails to heat the house properly.
If radiators are not bled regularly, they could end up not only poorly heating the house, but could cause energy bills to go up as people try to stay warm. This is why it’s imperative to have them checked as often as possible for any signs that there could be an airlog.
Cold spots are a sign to look out for that a radiator needs bleeding. Regular checks of how long each radiator takes to get hot can also be a sign, if one takes longer to heat up compared to others in the house.
David said that by bleeding their radiators, people can keep the heating equipment healthy and make sure they’re saving money where they can. However, if you are unsure on what to do, or if you have concerns, reach out to a local plumber who will inspect the issue and take it further if needs be.
Bleeding radiators involves draining a small bit of water from the system into a container from the valve on the side of the instrument. This can help to jog the system and help to push the air trapped inside out, by providing an outlet through the valve.
To bleed a radiator, start by turning on the heating and identifying which radiators, if any, have cold spots — giving the system a few minutes to heat up properly to make them easier to spot. Once done, turn the heating off and grab some tools to make the process easier, including a bucket, a cloth and a bleed key, though a flathead screwdriver works just as well.
Each radiator will have a small valve on its side, usually towards the top of the system. Place the bowl underneath the valve and then use the screwdriver to slowly open the valve, using the cloth to catch any dribbling water.
If there is air in the radiator, you should hear a hissing noise as the air is released. Keep the screwdriver in place with the valve until the hissing stops and water begins to come out, which is a sign there’s no air left.
Over time, you may have to repeat the process a couple of times so as to get rid of all cold spots. If, however, after several instances they are still there, you might need a more serious repair.
