A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Bleed A Radiator

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4. Tips And Advice (Image 4 of 4)

• Cold spots at the bottom of radiator are a sign of rust and sludge build-up that’s sitting in the bottom of the radiator. Often this chemical reaction will produce a gas that will cause larger cold spots. The radiators will need to be flushed by a heating engineer.
• Make sure you know where the stopcock is located so you can turn off the cold water supply quickly in an emergency. Check the valve opens and closes easily.
• Don't leave leaking overflow pipes - the water may freeze and block the pipe, causing a flood.
• If you're leaving the house empty and unheated for long periods in the winter, drain the central heating system.
• Bleed radiators at least once a year to release any air trapped in the system.
• Keep the names of a couple of local qualified plumbers on the kitchen noticeboard.
• Some systems have an automatic air release valve fitted. This usually has a small red top which should be slack to enable the air to escape.
• If your radiators are cooler in one area of the house, the radiators aren’t properly balanced. The nearest radiators to the boiler are taking more than their share of the hot water from the system. Call in a professional to fix it.