Found out my way of bleeding radiators was wrong for 12 years

I always just cracked the valve til water came out, thought that was it. Last month my neighbor watched me do it and laughed. Said you gotta let the air hiss out first til it's a steady stream of water, then close it. Went back and did all 6 radiators in my house proper like. House heated up way faster after. Has anyone else been doing it wrong this whole time?

3 comments

3 Comments

norathomas20d ago

Depends on the system though. I've got an old gravity fed setup with a header tank and if I let the air hiss out until water comes steady it actually pulls air back in from the expansion tank. I have to crack the valve just enough to hear the hiss stop then close it quick before any water starts. Took me years to figure that out after chasing cold spots. So your way worked fine for a lot of older houses.

margareth4820d ago

Learned something new today. Always thought you just let it run until water came out steady and that was it. Never even considered the expansion tank could be pulling air back in like that. Makes sense with an older gravity system though. Appreciate you sharing that trick.

foster.charles8d ago

12 years of wrong bleeding and your house didn't burn down or explode, so is it really that big of a deal? I bet your neighbor just likes hearing himself talk.