It’s necessary to bleed baseboard radiators to keep heating efficiency up. This is because as water enters the heating system, so does air. When enough air builds up in the system, the heating efficiency of the radiator diminishes. Bleeding the radiator fixes the problem right away, which is helpful if you want to reduce your heating bills and warm your home more efficiently.
Radiator Temperature
First, feel the radiator to determine if it needs to be bled. If the top is cool and the bottom is warm, you can bleed the radiator. It will also require bleeding if the radiator is cool all over or cooler than the thermostat setting.
Before proceeding, turn off the central heating system so that you don’t injure yourself or damage the system. Make sure you turn it off, rather than simply turning down the thermostat.
Bleeding the Radiator
Put a bleed key into the bleed valve. This valve is usually located on the side or back of the radiator. It requires a special key to open and close. Wrap a cloth around that key and valve and then turn the key counterclockwise to open it. This will let air escape from the radiator. Keep the valve open until you notice water bubbling from it.
Now you can close the valve by turning the key clockwise. Before leaving the room, make sure the valve is closed tightly, but not too tight. Turn on the central heating system and make sure the radiator is producing heat properly once again.
Types of Radiators
Radiators are designed to heat a home efficiently. There are many different types of radiators, including boiler-powered radiators and ones that are powered by electricity. Homes that use radiant heat in the cold weather have baseboard heaters located on the walls of the home in every room.
When radiators are powered by electricity, the heating bill can be enormous because it is tied to the electricity bill. If you are in the process of building or buying a home, it may be a good idea to avoid homes with radiant hearting connected to the electrical system. This is not the most energy efficient use of heating, and can cost you a lot of money.
Other types of radiant heating are more affordable, so it pays to look into the technology before making a final decision. If you think something is wrong with your baseboard heating system, and you’ve already tried troubleshooting the problem, contact a professional to come and look at your heating system. Something more serious may be wrong that requires fixing.
Although it can save you money to try to repair the problem yourself, sometimes it’s necessary to ask for help. When it comes to indoor heating, the heating system can be rather complicated and may need the experienced hands of a professional.
