From changing a tyre to putting up a shelf, sometimes there are certain skills in life that everyone seems to have learnt apart from you. However, there is no need to be ashamed – after all this is what the professionals are for – but there are some things that can help you save money if you take the time to learn. So if your first thought when someone mentions ‘bleeding radiators’ is to chastise them on their bad language, then read on as the professional plumbers Bedford we have at Aquaworks take you through this basic but essential maintenance job.
When a radiator hasn’t been bled for a while, the build up of trapped air will make it difficult for the radiator to work effectively. The effect of this will be that your radiator will feel cold at the top and warm on the bottom.
Like with clearing guttering Milton Keynes, putting together a piece of furniture or carrying out car maintenance, preparation is key to ensure that you don’t make any mistakes. Firstly, you will need to switch off your central heating, as without doing so you can allow more air to enter the system. After locating the bleed valve (which is usually at the top of the radiator and to one side) you will need to protect the area with a cloth or bowl as water could leak out, but it is also important to protect your hand as this water could be very hot.
Insert the bleed key into the valve and carefully turn it anti-clockwise about a quarter or half way until you hear a hissing sound – this is the trapped air escaping. Once water begins to trickle out, all of the air has been purged from the radiator and you can re-tighten the valve and switch your heating back on!
So to ensure your heating is working at its full capacity, make sure you bleed it regularly, but for more complex problems, get in touch with the professional team of plumbers we have here at Aquaworks.
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