Best Plumber Resource in San Francisco, California

Plumbing Tip #42: How to drain radiators for maintenance or repair

First, protect your carpet and floor from water with a plastic sheet and make sure you have some old rags on standby in case water spills onto the carpet. Switch off the central heating system and fit a bleed key into the bleed valve. This is normally found at the top end of the radiator, while in some it may be at the back. Then, loosely wrap an old cloth around the key to get the expelled water. Open the bleed valve by turning the valve anti clockwise. You will normally hear the hissing of air being expelled. When water starts coming out of the valve, close it by turning the key clockwise. Do not tighten it too hard. If you are using a sealed system, check the pressure and if necessary, top it up as required.