I made my radiators a lot warmer in minutes with 1 simple task — so easy to do

I’d become really frustrated with having the heating on at home only to find that some of my radiators were lukewarm or even cold. I have a new boiler after the last one broke down so I knew the boiler couldn’t be the issue, especially since other radiators worked perfectly well. 

I had heard about bleeding radiators but was always put off from investigating further as it sounded like a messy and complicated job best left to a plumber. But with half the radiators in my house not warm enough and the weather outside getting colder, I decided to bite the bullet and do the job myself.

It really couldn’t have been easier — or made more of an immediate impact. Heat surged through my radiators within seconds. I couldn’t recommend more strongly that you try this if you find your radiators are cold or lukewarm despite the heating being on. I only needed two things and there was no mess involved. 

Bleeding a radiator involves releasing trapped air. It’s this trapped air that stops the water moving through the whole of your radiator and heating it up, meaning you are getting far less heat despite the central heating being on. One vertical radiator I had in my bathroom was only warm in the bottom third, while the rest was stone cold. 

First of all, check which of your radiators are partly or fully cold or lukewarm. These are the ones you’ll need to bleed. 

Turn off your central heating and allow the radiators to cool. This is to avoid scalding yourself with any hot water that might be released when you bleed them. 

Find the valve at the top of your radiator (usually on the side but sometimes on the top). This is where you will attach your radiator key or screwdriver. Have your cloth and bucket on stand-by. 

Turn it anti-clockwise. As you do this you will hear a hissing sound — this is the air leaving the radiator. When the hissing stops, or water emerges, tighten the valve back up again. I did not need a bucket and simply caught the small amount of water released with a small towel. 

Once tightened, with the heating back on, you should feel the warmth surging through your radiators and your house will feel a lot warmer.