Brits have been advised to carry out a straightforward task to guarantee their heating operates efficiently. Neglecting this simple measure could result in a chillier home and increased energy bills over time.
In a message posted on social media platform X, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) recommended that people bleed their radiators during winter. The regulator stated: “Make sure your heating system is working as efficiently as it can – bleed your radiators this winter.
“Radiator bleeding removes trapped air that stops the hot water circulating properly inside them.”
The Government organisation then directed followers to guidance on radiator bleeding via the Which? website.
Consumer experts at Which? clarified: “Radiators need bleeding every few years to get rid of trapped air bubbles. These air bubbles rise to the top of a radiator when it’s on, so place your hand on the top while the heating is on. If the top of the radiator is cool, or much colder than the bottom of the radiator, it’s a sign your radiators need bleeding.
“Bleeding your radiators is usually a simple job and can quickly fix a radiator that’s too cold. But if your whole house feels as though it’s not heating up correctly, you might have an unbalanced heating system. This is a bigger issue to fix, and will need a plumber or heating engineer.”
How to bleed a radiator
“Bleeding a radiator is a task you can carry out yourself,” Which? advised. “All you need is your radiator bleed key, and a spare cloth or towel.
“You’ll also need a container to catch any water that comes out of your radiator when you start bleeding it.”
Follow this step-by-step guide from Which? to bleed your radiator:
British Gas recommends bleeding your radiators “regularly” for best results and especially after long periods when they’re not used. “Bleeding your radiators is key for keeping your boiler running efficiently, which in turn keeps your home warm and your energy bills as low as possible,” it said.
There’s a simple way to know if your radiators are overdue being bled:
- Turn on your heating and wait for it to warm up
- Feel each radiator – if it’s hot at the top and cold at the bottom, it doesn’t need bleeding
- If it’s hot at the bottom and cold at the top, turn off the heating and read on to find out how to bleed it.
- If you don’t have a radiator key, don’t worry. Not all radiators do, and more modern designs can be bled using a flat-head screwdriver, while others can even be bled using an Allen key.
“As long as you make sure you’ve turned your heating off and allowed your radiators to cool down, you can use various tools to bleed your radiators,” British Gas added.