How to bleed your radiator

If some of your radiators aren’t heating evenly, a quick bleed can help your heat pump work more efficiently. Here’s how to do it safely - or you can watch Naomi, one of our engineers, walk through the steps in this handy video.

Turn off your heating
Before you start, switch off your heat pump and let your radiators cool down. You don’t want to risk hot water splashes.
Identify which radiator needs bleeding
Look for cold spots at the top or listen for gurgling noises. That’s trapped air stopping your radiators from warming up properly.
Prepare your tools
Grab a cloth or towel and a small container to catch any drips. Place the cloth under the bleed valve.
Open the bleed valve
Use your radiator key (or a screwdriver) to turn the valve slowly anti-clockwise - usually just a quarter to half a turn.

Release the trapped air
You’ll hear a hiss - that’s the air escaping. Once the hissing stops, water will start to trickle out.
Close the valve carefully
Turn it clockwise until it’s snug. Don’t over-tighten - it just needs to be closed securely.
Check your system
Switch your heat pump back on and check that all radiators heat evenly. Check your system's pressure. Have a look at the gauge on your cylinder or your heat pump screen. If it’s below 1 - 1.5 bar, it’s time to top it up by following this step by step guide.

Pro tip:

If you have multiple radiators to bleed, start with the ones furthest from your heat pump and work your way back.

How often should you bleed your radiators?
Once a year is usually enough - ideally before winter - so your heat pump runs efficiently all season.

Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!