Radiator bleeding in Exeter
Professional radiator bleeding services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Radiators cold at the top? That's trapped air. I'll bleed them properly, get your heating working efficiently again - no more cold spots, lower energy bills.
Your Heating's On But Half The House Is Cold
You've cranked the thermostat, the boiler's roaring, but your radiators are only warm at the bottom. The top half stays stubbornly cold. That's trapped air, and it's costing you money.
💡 Pro tip: Trapped air makes your boiler work harder for less heat. Bleeding radiators can cut your heating bill by 10-15% because the system runs efficiently again.
What Bleeding Actually Does
Simple physics, really:
| ✅ After Bleeding | ❌ With Trapped Air |
|---|---|
| Hot water fills entire radiator | Air pocket blocks top half |
| Even heat distribution | Cold spots in every room |
| Boiler runs efficiently | Boiler works overtime |
| Lower energy bills | Wasted gas/electric |
| No gurgling noises | Constant gurgling when heating's on |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Check all rads | Identify which ones have trapped air |
| Bleed each one | Release air until water flows, close valve |
| Test system | Run heating, confirm even distribution |
| Pressure check | Top up system pressure if needed |
📦 You're Left With
- Radiators heating fully top to bottom
- Silent operation (no more gurgling)
- Even warmth throughout the house
- Lower heating bills
Pricing Guide
| Scenario | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 radiators | 20-30 mins | £60 |
| 6-10 radiators | 30-45 mins | £60-£85 |
| Whole house (10+) | 45-60 mins | £85-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes topping up system pressure if needed.
Perfect For...
✅ Start of winter - been off all summer, trapped air is normal
✅ Uneven heating - some rooms boiling, others freezing
✅ High energy bills - system working inefficiently
✅ New boiler fitted - air gets in during installation
Why Choose Us for Radiator bleeding in Exeter?
Radiators heat up fully again
Lower heating bills (system runs efficiently)
Even temperature throughout the house
Whole house done in one visit
What to Expect
Step 1: System Check
I'll feel each radiator to identify which ones have air trapped (cold at top, warm at bottom). Sometimes it's all of them, sometimes just one or two.
Step 2: Bleed Each Radiator
Starting furthest from the boiler, I'll use a radiator key to open the bleed valve slightly. Air hisses out, then water appears - that's when I close it. Quick and clean.
Step 3: Pressure Check
Bleeding releases a bit of water from the system. I'll check your boiler pressure gauge and top it up if needed (common on combi boilers).
Step 4: Test
Run the heating, check all radiators are getting hot properly. Job done.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is genuinely one of the easier heating jobs - have a go if you're confident:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Radiator key (£1 from hardware shops, or use a flat-head screwdriver on some valves)
- Old towel or cloth
- Small container (to catch drips)
- Your boiler manual (to top up pressure after)
🔩 How to do it
- Turn your heating on and wait for radiators to warm up
- Turn heating off (easier to work on cool radiators)
- Find the bleed valve - small square socket at top corner of radiator
- Put your container under the valve
- Insert radiator key and turn anti-clockwise a quarter turn
- You'll hear air hissing out - leave it until water dribbles out
- Close the valve (clockwise) before too much water escapes
- Move to next radiator
- When done, check boiler pressure gauge - top up if below 1 bar
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Bleeding with heating on (scalding water everywhere)
- Opening valve too far (water gushes out, pressure drops too much)
- Forgetting to top up boiler pressure after (system won't work)
- Starting closest to boiler (start furthest away for best results)
💡 Pro trick: If you have to bleed radiators more than once a year, you've got a leak somewhere. The system's sealed - air shouldn't keep getting in. Get it checked properly.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Combining with other work? If I'm already at yours for plumbing work and you mention your radiators are cold, I can bleed them while I'm there. Adds 15 minutes, minimal extra cost.
Combi boiler? You'll need to top up the system pressure after bleeding. If you're not sure how, I'll show you - it's simple but people panic about it.
Really old radiators? Sometimes the bleed valve is seized shut with decades of paint. I can usually free it, but occasionally it needs replacing - I'll let you know if that's the case.
Whole system cold? That's not trapped air - that's a pump, thermostat, or boiler issue. Don't waste money bleeding radiators when the problem's elsewhere. I'll diagnose properly first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my radiators need bleeding?
Top half cold, bottom half hot? That's trapped air. You might also hear gurgling noises when the heating comes on. It's really common, especially after the system's been off all summer.
Can't I just do this myself?
You absolutely can - it's not complicated. You just need a radiator key (£1 from any hardware shop). But if you've got 10 radiators, dodgy knees, or you're not sure what you're doing, it's easier to get me to do the lot properly.
Will bleeding radiators fix my heating problem?
If the problem is trapped air, yes. If your radiators are completely cold (not just the top half), that's a different issue - could be a faulty pump, blockage, or thermostat. I'll diagnose properly and tell you what's actually wrong.
How often should radiators be bled?
Most systems? Once a year, usually at the start of winter. If you're bleeding them every few weeks, you've got a leak somewhere letting air in - that needs fixing properly.
Will I lose all my heating water?
No - you only release a tiny amount from each radiator (a cup or so). The system's sealed, so you're just letting out the air pocket at the top. If loads of water comes out and the pressure drops loads, there's a bigger problem.
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