How to Bleed a Boiler UK

Are there random bubbling noises that seem to pop out of nowhere every time you turn on your central heating system? Does it feel like you lose heat whenever your boiler is working hard? The most probable cause is the presence of air bubbles in the system. When this happens, you should bleed your boiler before things get worse to the point that you will need heating repair or worse, a replacement.

Bleed Your Boiler If There are Bubbles

The presence of air bubbles in the heating unit is actually common. The air may stay from the last time that the boiler was topped off. Poorly fitted ducts or leaks are also other causes. No matter what the reason might be, you need to bleed your boiler to be sure that your radiator will work efficiently and prevent oxidization of the ducts. There will also be a change in your electricity bill once you have completed the maintenance of your unit. It may be that you need a boiler replacement.

Steps for Bleeding Your Boiler

You will need a few pieces of supplies if you will try draining your boiler by yourself. Some of the materials you need include radiator bleed-key or a screwdriver, a towel, and a tray for collecting liquid. Here are the steps you need to follow to bleed your boiler safely and prevent damages to your system.

1. Set the radiator to the highest heat setting and make sure the boiler starts circulating water. Let the boiler remain in that setting for a minimum of 15 minutes.
2. Turn central heating unit off to stop the water or airflow from being pumped all over the unit. Wait for about 10 minutes to let your boiler cool down first.
3. Use the valve to turn off the radiator closest to your heating boiler. Don’t forget to put the towel and tray so that you won’t be dealing with a mess you need to clean up later on.
4. Turn left until the water comes out instead of air with the use of a bleed key or screwdriver.
5. Now is the time to close off the bleed valve.
6. Do the same process again with each of the radiators. Once you are done bleeding each radiator, you can now turn on your boiler again.
7. Check the stats this time. The water pressure must be anywhere between 1.5 to 2 bars.

When Should You Bleed Your Boiler?

It is actually quite easy to tell if your boiler needs bleeding since the upper section is going to remain a lot cooler compared to the bottom section. There are even severe cases when the entire radiator remains cold even if the heating system has been turned on. It happens as the result of the trapped air displacing the hot water that typically heats up the radiator.

The air will then get released once the boiler is bled. The hot water is going to freely flow once the air has been released.

Make sure to bleed your boiler whenever needed to ensure that your unit functions properly at all times.