Our boiler repairs team often get queries from customers about their radiators. The most common of these is about a loss of heat, with your radiator getting cold at the bottom.
Over the years, your pipes and radiators can get filled up with all sorts of dirt and debris. If you have an old heating system this can be exacerbated over time, especially if you don’t have regular services carried out.
This can be due to a build-up of limescale in the radiator. There can be other stuff such as rust or sludge that gathers in the bottom of your radiator and, if it is allowed to build up, it can eventually obstruct the flow of water. That means your heating can suffer and you get that cold area around the bottom of the radiator.
So, what can you do? Fortunately, it doesn’t mean you have to replace your radiator. According to our team of Bristol boiler experts there are two main options.
How to Bleed Your Radiators
The first option is to bleed your radiators. For small blockage problems, this usually works and at least gives you the chance to get more heat into your radiator. You’ll need what is called a radiator bleed key which, if you don’t have one in the home already, can be bought from most DIY stores. At the top of your radiator is a square nut which the bleed key fits onto.
First of all, turn off the heating and let it cool down – the last thing you want is hot water spurting out at you. Put the key onto the square nut and turn anti-clockwise until you hear gas escaping. You’ll want a container to catch the water such as a large pan. After a moment, you’ll see water coming through and if you have a problem with sludge or debris, this will generally be discoloured. Bleed off an amount of water and then switch your heating on. If you’ve done it correctly, you should feel the whole radiator warming up.
Flushing Radiators
The other option, particularly if you have allowed the debris to build up over time or haven’t had your boiler serviced in a while, is to flush the system out. This is a much more complex operation and needs a qualified boiler servicing team to carry it out. What it will do is make sure that your radiator and pipes are cleaned thoroughly and will hopefully stop problems occurring in the future.
Contact DHS
We’re the Bristol boiler company that can get your heating system up and running again in no time. We always advise customers that having a regular service, at least once a year, is the best way to keep their heating working efficiently and lengthening its useful life. That includes providing services such as flushing out radiators to improve water flow. Contact us 0117 924 7200, email us, or request a call back.
Unit 2 Septimus Buildings 
