It is very important to bleed your radiators every year. After all, nothing is more annoying than a radiator that makes strange noises. One of the main reasons that a radiator makes strange noises is that there is air in the pipes and radiators. Don’t worry, you don’t need to consult a professional to solve this inconvenience. Just follow the steps in this article and you’re done!
The preparation
Accessibility
Before you start bleeding, make sure that all radiators are easily accessible. The boiler must also be easily accessible. If necessary, move some cupboards, because accessibility is very important.
Cloths
Keep some old cloths or rags handy. When you are going to bleed a radiator, it cannot be ruled out that water will also come with it.
Tools
Keep the key that came with the radiators handy to bleed them. Usually a standard screwdriver is sufficient to open the small tap.
The installation
Before you start, open all radiator valves, if you have thermostatic valves you should set them to the highest setting. Then set the thermostat to the highest setting for a few minutes, then set it to the lowest setting. After this it is time to shut down the installation. Depending on the type of boiler you have, this can be done in different ways. Some boilers have a switch or button to turn it off, others require you to pull the plug out of the socket. When this happens, wait another five minutes before continuing.
Start
The right radiator
Now that the preparations have been made, we can start. You should not just start at any radiator. The radiator that needs to be bled first is the one furthest from the boiler and the one at the lowest point. After all, air always seeks the highest point and when you start at the top, it never ends. Finish all radiators from bottom to top.
Venting
Now that we have found the right radiator, we take the cloth and place it under the bleed tap. Then the tap must be opened carefully with the key or screwdriver. As soon as there is an opening, the air will escape, when water comes out the tap can be closed again. Repeat this operation on all radiators, as mentioned before from bottom to top.
Restart
Start up the boiler
Now that all radiators have been bled, it is time to put the installation back into operation. Therefore, plug the boiler back into the socket or switch it on again via the switch.
Check pressure
Because all radiators are bled, the installation must be checked. It may be that there is too little or too much water in the installation. You can see this on the pressure gauge of the boiler, a round ‘clock’ with one hand. This pointer should normally indicate 1.5 to 2.5 bar. If there is not enough pressure on the installation, you can add it by opening two taps that are on the same pipe. However, in order to do this, it is advised to read your manual carefully.
Check installation
When all the previous points are in order, turn the thermostat back on, the taps must remain open. Then check if the small taps to let the air leak, if so they are just not closed properly. If you still hear strange noises, there may still be air in the radiators. Then try again from the first step.
Other problems with radiators
Why is my radiator leaking?
If all the taps for bleeding have already been closed properly and there is still a radiator that is leaking, there must be something wrong with the pipes. In that case, it is best to contact a recognized installer or plumber. Even if the pressure of the boiler has dropped again after a few days, there may be a leak and you should contact a professional.
Why is my radiator rustling?
In most cases a pipe or radiator will rustle because a blockage has occurred and there is too much pressure on the pipes. In this case too, it is best to contact a recognized installer or plumber.
Why is my radiator ticking?
A radiator that is ticking is completely normal. Metal shrinks or expands when it cools or is heated, which can cause pipes or the radiator to tap. The brackets that secure the pipes or radiators can sometimes also tap. Sometimes better securing the pipes or radiator can already provide a solution. If this is not the case, it is best to contact a recognized installer or plumber.