Dear apartment owners and occupants,
as most buildings we manage are already being heated, we ask you to check that your radiators work and bleed them if necessary.
Air that collects in a radiator blocks the circulation of heating water and reduces heat output. Signs of air include gurgling, bubbling or a cold top part of the radiator while the bottom part is warm.
How to bleed a radiator correctly
- Wait until the radiator has cooled and the heating is not running. With shared heating, agree on a suitable time with the caretaker or maintenance contractor if needed. Open the radiator's thermostatic valve fully.
- Prepare a suitable bleed key, a small container and a cloth. Protect the floor and wall and hold the container under the bleed valve, which is usually at the top of the radiator.
- Open the bleed valve slowly and only slightly. A quarter to half a turn is usually enough. Do not unscrew it completely. If there is air in the radiator, you will hear hissing.
- When water without air comes out, close the valve gently. Do not overtighten it. If water without air comes out straight away, close the valve; there is no need to let out more water.
- Check that the valve does not leak, then set the thermostatic valve to the desired temperature. When the heating runs again, check that the radiator heats properly.
Do not let large amounts of water out of the radiator. The purpose of bleeding is to remove air. Letting out too much water lowers the pressure in the heating system and can disrupt the heating.
If the radiator still doesn't heat
Owners are responsible for maintaining the radiators in their flat and the associated valves and thermostatic heads. Maintaining and repairing this equipment is not the duty of the caretaker or the building manager. If necessary, the owner must hire a qualified contractor to inspect, repair or replace faulty equipment.
A cold radiator is not always caused by air or a fault in the shared heating system. With thermostatic valves, check that they work properly and actually open. Turning the thermostatic head does not necessarily open the valve; its pin may be stuck. Leave inspection and repair of such a fault to a qualified fitter. Do not force valves open.
Older radiators and worn valves are more prone to faults, sticking and leaks due to wear and corrosion, so checking their condition is particularly important.
If the radiator still doesn't heat after these checks, contact the caretaker first. Before that, the radiators must be properly bled, the valves open, the thermostatic heads and valves checked, and faults in the radiators and associated equipment in the flat ruled out. Tell the caretaker the building address, flat number, a description of the problem and which checks have been made, so that a possible fault in the shared heating system can be investigated.
If you are not familiar with bleeding or the valve cannot be opened without force, leave it to a qualified contractor. With shared heating systems, the authorised maintenance contractor takes care of checking pressure, topping up water and work on the heat substation.
Thank you for helping to keep the heating working efficiently.
PRACTIC d.o.o.