++any plumbers in here++ Bleeding radiators

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 20:58

Turned the heating on after the summer and only 2 or my radiators are getting hot. i want to bleed the others but have a problem. there is no obvious way to bleed them. i checked the net and all the vids have a bleed screw at the top end of the rad. mine are a newer design and there is nowhere obvious to put a rad key.
any ideas?

Ginger-Menace · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:01

not a plumber but have the been switched on?

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:02

Ginger-Menace said:
not a plumber but have the been switched on?

yes.

Al-Ectrician · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:05

look for a little cap hidden on panel at top

[TW]Sponge · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:06

Al-Ectrician said:
look for a little cap hidden on panel at top

This, on newer models their may be a white cap covering it.

RJC · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:08

I would have thought the rads would have have some kind of bleed valve on them :eek:

Canyon you post some of the ends of the radiators!

SuperTronNarwhal · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:12

Get a knife and cut it. Should bleed then

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:16

there are 2 pipes at either end. one side has the knob to change the temp and the other end has a plastic cap which can be undone. unerneath is an allen key hole. tried turning this all the way and back. makes no difference. other than the two pipes/fixings there is nothing else on the rad.

here are some pics

RJC · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:18

Look at the top of the radiator, there should be a square plug at one end.

They are the shut off valves.

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:21

looking from above..nothing to undo/turn

RJC · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:23

Sorry, look at the top sides of the radiator.

xGBHxPegasus · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:24

RJC said:
Look at the top of the radiator, there should be a square plug at one end.

They are the shut off valves.

Think he means from the side

(in reply to the photo above)

ANDARIAL · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:26

On the back of the rad at the top(nearest the wall).look there

helpimcrap · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:27

surely the bleed valve would be at top of radiator as air always sits at top in water....
look at the sides at the top.

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:27

RJC said:
Sorry, look at the top sides of the radiator.

nothing. same rolled top edge all the way round.

what do you think the fixture in the pic is for? i was thinking it was to to shut off the water supply to the rad.

awinchurch · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:27

Should be a square nut to turn mate on the BACK of your radiator sort of in the area i have marked in my pic

RJC · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:31

adscan said:
nothing. same rolled top edge all the way round.

what do you think the fixture in the pic is for? i was thinking it was to to shut off the water supply to the rad.

The first set of pics, this is to isolate the radiator.

Could you take some pics of the ends of the rad as indicated above

adscan · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:32

okay think i have found it. there is a square pin flush at the back//top of the rad.

do i have to have the heating off before i try to bleed them?

thanks for the help guys.

RJC · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:33

That sounds like it, you can try with the heating on/off.

Have some tissue paper ready and open slowly

helpimcrap · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:35

adscan said:
okay think i have found it. there is a square pin flush at the back//top of the rad.

do i have to have the heating off before i try to bleed them?

thanks for the help guys.

just undo it anticlockwise quarter of a turn with a radiator bleed key (square piece which fits over it)until you hear air rushing out then when water comes out nip it back up and job done.

heating ideally should off to not put more pressure on the rad valve but shouldn't make much difference i don't imagine - bu ask someone else first! lol