Practical, jargon-free guides to common home maintenance jobs. Written by our trades team for UK homeowners — with honest advice on when to call in a professional.
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If your radiator is warm at the bottom but cold near the top, trapped air is stopping hot water from circulating fully. Bleeding the radiator releases that air. It takes about ten minutes, costs less than £2 in tools, and can noticeably improve your home’s heating efficiency.
Before you start
Never bleed a radiator while the heating is running at full temperature — hot water under pressure can escape and cause scalding. Turn the heating off first and wait at least 10–15 minutes.
Turn the heating on
Switch your central heating on and let the system reach its full operating temperature — usually 20–30 minutes. This reveals which radiators need bleeding: they will be cold at the top but warm or hot at the bottom.
Turn the heating off and wait
Once you have identified the affected radiators, switch the heating off and wait 10–15 minutes. The radiators should feel only warm to the touch, not hot. Hot water can escape under pressure when you open the bleed valve.
Locate the bleed valve
The bleed valve is a small square-headed screw at the very top of the radiator, usually at one end. It may be covered by a small plastic cap — remove it and keep it safe.
Open the valve and release air
Insert the bleed key into the valve and turn it counter-clockwise — about a quarter turn is enough. You will hear a hissing sound as trapped air escapes. Hold the cloth underneath to catch any drips of water. Do not remove the valve entirely — a small turn is all you need.
Close the valve
When the hissing stops and a steady trickle of water appears (not air), close the valve by turning the key clockwise. Do not overtighten — snug is sufficient.
Check your boiler pressure
Releasing water from the system reduces the boiler’s pressure. Check the pressure gauge on your boiler — it should read between 1 and 1.5 bar when cold. If it has dropped below 1 bar, you need to repressurise it using the filling loop (see your boiler’s manual for instructions specific to your model).
Repeat for all affected radiators, then test
Bleed every radiator that had cold spots — start with the ones on the ground floor and work upwards. Then turn the heating back on and check that all radiators heat evenly from top to bottom.
How often should you bleed radiators?
Once a year at the start of the heating season is a good habit. If you find yourself needing to bleed the same radiator repeatedly throughout winter, there may be a larger issue with the system — such as a failing pump or internal corrosion — that warrants a professional inspection.
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