Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators
Sometimes air gets trapped inside the radiator. The top of the radiator will feel cold to touch and the bottom of the radiator/pipes will be warm.
To fix this, the radiator needs bleeding. Be careful when bleeding radiators as there is a risk of scalding and a risk of damage to decor and carpets. Make sure the heating has been switched OFF for a while to avoid being scalded and make sure that your decor and carpets are adequately covered to protect them from damage.
To bleed the radiator, open the valve at the topside of the radiator very slowly, with a radiator key, until all of the air has escaped. Keep a bowl handy in case water from the radiator escapes - it is very dirty and may stain.
If you have a combination (combi) boiler there will be a dial on the front of your boiler which measures the pressure in 'bars'. You should get either your landlord or a heating contractor to bleed the radiator for you.
Do this once or twice a year as it improves energy efficiency; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
