Problem with radiator

[Justine]

One of my radiators is only heating at the bottom and cold at the top. I was told its air and should bleed it out. Unfortunately its a new one with one panel and has nowhere to put the key. How do I bleed it? I'm a pensioner and can't afford an engineer. HELP!

[keith]

Hello Justine,

You say it's a new radiator, who fitted it ? It sounds as if they may not have fitted it correctly so shouldn't charge to come back and fix it.

Most radiators have a blanking plug (like this http://www.westradiators.co.uk/radiator ... edium=base )at the top one end and a bleed valve at the other. When you say there's nowhere to put a bleed key, do you mean that there are blanking plugs at both ends ?

If so,
1. Buy yourself a radiator bleed valve
2. Turn the rad off at both ends - one should be a TRV, the other a lockshield which you'll need a spanner for - count the number of turns to shut the lockshield, you'll need to open it up the same amount when you've finished.
3. Remove one of the blanking plugs and fit the new bleed valve - air will escape.
4. You then just need to turn the rad back on and then you can bleed it.

I hope this helps.

[Sparky]

I have some older rads which have the bleed screw on the back of the panel instead of the ends, have you checked to see if this is the case? If your engineer has put in a rad with no bleed screw he should be shot!