Which Radiators Should You Bleed First?

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Bleeding a radiator is one of the simplest DIY tasks you can do, but there is a method to bleeding your radiators to ensure you get the maximum benefit to your central heating.

It is a good time of year to check your central heating is working properly, to ensure you won’t be without it when you need it when the weather gets colder. Bleeding your radiators is a good place to start, and we explain how, as well as which radiator to bleed first.

From time to time, air can get trapped in your central heating system, which means you need to bleed your radiators. The best way to check if you have air trapped is to switch on your central heating to maximum and allow the radiators to heat up to their full temperature.

Check each radiator carefully, and feel if there are any temperature differences across the surface of each radiator. If it feels cool at the top, and warm at the bottom, then it is likely you have air trapped, and it needs bleeding. Remember to check all the radiators and bleed all those that need.

 

The radiator to bleed first

Before you start, ensure that your central heating is switched off, and start with a downstairs radiator that’s the furthest from your boiler. Work methodically, moving to the next closest to the boiler, and repeat the process on the next floor.

 

How to bleed a radiator

All you need is a brass radiator key (or a flathead screwdriver) and a cloth to catch any drips of escaping water. Please ensure your heating system is switched off and had a chance to cool down before starting this job.

Once you’ve bled all your radiators, switch on your central heating and you should find that all of your radiators are heating up evenly and fully. If this is not the case, or if you find you are having to bleed your radiators regularly, it’s probably worth getting in a professional heating engineer to look for any deeper problems.

 

If you’re looking for central heating repairs in North London, talk to us today.

Prime Minister To Postpone Gas Boiler Ban By Five Years

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Boris Johnson is considering pushing back the ban on the sales of new gas boilers by five years to 2040, following a backlash over spiralling ‘net-zero’ costs

The Daily Mail reports that Brits are being incentivised to buy eco-friendly heat pumps and hydrogen boilers, and the postponement of the ban on gas boilers will allow the price for the eco-friendly alternatives to come down and for businesses to invest into helping people make the change gradually.

It may mean that working boilers would need to be taken out before 2050, or the UK may risk failing to hit its net-zero targets, which ministers are keen to avoid.

Here are concerns within the government about the cost of the PM’s eco-plans, which could see the Treasury needing to find another £400 billion.

The initial plans were to issue homeowners with ‘green cheques’ worth hundreds of pounds to compensate for making green changes to their homes, but now only the poorest of Brits will get the financial assistance, leaving middle-class families to pay some of the bill.

A full strategy is set to be published in the autumn ahead of Britain hosting the COP26 climate summit with 100 leaders from around the world.

Britain’s 28 million homes contribute more than a third of UK carbon emissions, which must be slashed to zero by 2050.

However, government insiders are concerned that while great leaps have been made in electric vehicle technology to replace petrol and diesel cars, heating strategies and technologies are not advancing as rapidly, as heat pumps are not compatible with some properties, such as flats.

Climate experts and forecasters say the cost of acting now will be far less than letting it run out of control and get even worse in the decades to come.

 

If you’re looking for central heating repairs in North London, get in touch today.

Why Underfloor Heating Is Not Just For The Rich

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Mention underfloor heating to some people and they imagine it is a luxury for the wealthiest of homeowners, but it is in fact something that the average householder could have installed in their home as a highly valuable and successful investment.

Of course, there are plenty of luxury homes that come with this feature and get plenty of publicity about it. This week, for instance, The Only Way Is Essex star Jess Wright showed her Instagram followers around her new mansion.

Naturally enough, the tabloids lapped up the neon lighting, chandeliers and plush furnishings, but Sun readers also got to read how she has “state of the art” underfloor heating. The Daily Mirror missed this detail out, preferring to reflect on what her fans said about the air conditioning.

Either way, the fact is that there’s every bit as much reason to install underfloor heating in north London homes as there is in posh mansions located in the Essex countryside.

This was highlighted in a collaboration between Sofa and carpet specialist firm ScS and property marketing expert Bruna Pani at We Buy Any House.

Their list of recommendations for home improvements to add value to a property included underfloor heating in the bathroom, which can add £10,000 to the value of a home. Among the great benefits of it is the fact that radiators won’t be needed any more, so it creates more space.

Ms Pani explained: “Underfloor heating ranges from £1,000 to £1,500 depending on size, the company installing and cost of materials.”

She added that this cost is well worth it, as underfloor heating makes the bathroom “far more cost-efficient, in comparison to running regular heating, and adds a feeling of quality”.

All this goes to show that when it comes to getting underfloor heating installed, Essex is definitely not the only way.