How to Keep Your Radiators in Tip Top Condition

Nick Duggan, MD of The Radiator Centre, shares his advice for flushing, bleeding and cleaning radiators

Bleeding

If you notice that some of your radiators are not heating up evenly, or there is a gurgling sound coming from the direction of your radiator, it often means that air has become trapped in the system.

This air needs to be released, a job that is commonly referred to as bleeding. It requires minimal equipment and isn’t difficult to do.  So, pencil behind the ear, let’s go.

1. Check all radiators

If the central heating system is not running, switch it on to build up pressure and test the radiators.

Take care not to burn yourself when touching hot radiators but feel each one to identify where air has become trapped. A radiator is noticeably cooler towards the top when this happens.

When you discover where the air is trapped, prepare to start bleeding the affected radiators (get an old towel ready!).

2. Bleed each radiator with a cool spot

Before you start, be sure that the heating is now switched off.

The valve that you need to open is located near the top end of a radiator. It has a squared off middle which fits inside a radiator key.

If you don’t have a key, you can buy them from any DIY or hardware shop. Or contact us at The Radiator Centre and we will send you one. On a modern radiator you can use a flat-bladed screwdriver by placing the end into the groove in the centre of the valve.

Use a cloth to catch any drips and turn the key or screwdriver anticlockwise – do so slowly, a quarter turn should be enough. You will hear a hissing noise when the air is being released.

Be ready to close the valve quickly as soon as the hissing stops and liquid starts to emerge through the valve.

3. What to check afterwards

Check the pressure gauge on your boiler to see if you need to increase the pressure level. This should be sitting at between 1.5 to 2bar when cold.

When they have warmed up there should be no more cool spots on any of your radiators. If all seems well, you have successfully bled your radiators.

Flushing

Whenever you do anything with your heating system – change a radiator, etc., you need to flush in order to remove any potential debris which could prove harmful to the boiler. It is most important as a heating system free of sediment and operating properly will be more efficient and last longer than one not cared for.

How often do you need to flush a radiator?

Most heating systems are ‘closed’ meaning that once they have been flushed nothing needs to happen to them again until changes are made.

What happens if you don’t flush a radiator?

Any debris or sludge in the system can cause problems with the boiler and reduce the efficiency of the heating system.

Who should do it?

This is something that really needs to be carried out by a qualified plumber. There is a lot of water involved – emptying and refilling the system – so better to have someone who knows what they are doing and has the correct equipment.

Cleaning 

What's the best thing to clean radiators with?

The first step is to give your radiators a quick vacuum to remove any surface dust and then wash them with a damp cloth. Most radiators are ‘powder-coated’ to give a durable finish so most marks should wash off with ease. For more stubborn stains, try some cream cleaner applied to a small area of the dirt/mark using a soft cloth.

What can you use to clean the inside of a radiator?

To clean the inside of a radiator you will need to get a professional plumber in to power flush your heating system. This will remove any debris that might have built up and should leave you with a more efficient heating system.

How often should you clean radiators? 

There is no specific timescale for this job, however, it would be a perfect addition to any spring-cleaning routine.

**Please attribute comment to Nick Duggan, MD, The Radiator Centre**