Radiators cold at the top

The radiator is cold at the top

Any radiator that is cold at the top its likely to just need bleeding. We don’t come out to do this for you. It’s simple and easy to do yourself.

If you have a combi boiler you may have to top the pressure up following bleeding a radiator. Releasing air from the radiator will reduce the pressure in your heating system and could cause the boiler to lock out altogether. The bottom video option below demonstrates how this is done.

To bleed the radiator, you will need a radiator bleed key or screwdriver, and something to put under the radiator to catch the water like an old cloth or kitchen roll.

If the heating has been on and the radiators are hot, you need to let them cool down before bleeding, so the water isn’t hot when it comes out and to let the system pressure settle down.

Turn the bleed valve at the top of the radiator slowly until you can hear air coming out. Do not take it all the way out. If it comes all the way out, you won't be able to shut it off when the water appears.

When water starts to come out of the valve, turn it off.

Here’s a video you can watch to show you how to bleed your radiator.

Some older style radiators have their bleed point on the back of the panel. These can still be bled in the same way by using a radiator bleed key.

If you have a combi boiler, you may need to top up your boiler pressure after bleeding a radiator. 

How do I report a repair?

You can report a repair to us at anytime, anywhere using My Account or contact us via Live Chat. Let us know when reporting that you’ve followed the advice and what you’ve tried to get it working, this helps us to assess what to do next to get the right person for the job.