5 DIY radiator skills you can easily learn

If you don't have a lot of experience with the heating system in your home, there are some tasks that you can undertake yourself that will ease you in gently to the world of central heating systems. These jobs are useful to know as it can save you the cost of calling out a plumber and they are tasks that are risky enough to cause any serious damage to your home. In this article, we provide 5 DIY skills that are easy for you to learn and attempt yourself.

• Bleeding a radiator
• Bleeding a heated towel rails
• Removing a radiator without draining it
• Fixing a radiator that won't get hot
• Adding inhibitor to a heated towel rail.

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Bleeding a radiator

Bleeding a radiator is one of the most simple jobs you can do regarding your central heating system, but is something that can make a huge difference. The most likely scenario for bleeding a radiator is if your radiator is getting nice and warm at the bottom but stays cold at the top. The reason for this is usually because there's air trapped at the top of the radiator. In order to get rid of the air that is trapped, you'll need to 'bleed' that air out using a radiator bleed key. In the video below, Jimmy the plumber goes through the process of bleeding a radiator step by step, showing exactly what you need to do and what equipment you'll need. If you're hope to gain a easy new DIY skill that is incredibly useful, then definitely have a watch of the video below.

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Bleeding a heated towel rail

Bleeding a radiator is a useful skill, but so is learning how to bleed a heated towel rail. More and more people have heated towel rails installed in their homes and it's inevitable that you will need to bleed air out of it at some point. The process is similar to bleeding a radiator but this video with Jimmy the plumber shows you exactly how to do it with a heated towel rail, so you don't have to do it yourself based on guesswork. Though this is a very similar skill to bleeding a rad, introducing a heated towel rail into proceedings means to can diversify your DIY skills and tackle this job with confidence.

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Removing a radiator without draining it

If you are redecorating a room then it's very likely that you need to get behind the radiator to paint, wallpaper or plaster. Many a lovely interior design job has been undermined by sneaking a look at the piece of 70s wallpaper stuck behind the rad because the homeowner has been too lazy to remove the radiator first. Knowing how to remove a radiator without having to completely drain your whole central heating system is a nice little DIY trick to know as it's a great time saver. Obviously though, the rad will still be full of water making it quite heavy so you may need a second person to help you lift the rad off the wall, depending on how big it is. In this video, Jimmy the plumber takes you step by step of how to remove a radiator without draining it or making a mess.

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Fixing a radiator that won't get hot

A very common problem that many people experience in their homes is having a radiator that simply won't get hot. All the other rads will be pumping out heat but one solitary radiator will remain annoyingly cold. Knowing various options to try when finding a solution to this problem is a very useful DIY skill to have and could save you a lot of money in plumbers' call out fees and hourly rates. In this video, Jimmy the plumber runs through the possible solutions which includes adjusting the lockshield valve or freeing off your thermostatic radiator valve pin. Watch Jimmy's detailed video to help use acquire this useful skill too!

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Adding inhibitor to a heated towel rail

Chemical inhibitor is a very very important part of the smooth running of your heating system yet it is often overlooked by many people who don't know much about central heating systems. When water runs through your pipes and radiators, over time a chemical reaction occurs between the metal and the water which can cause rust and corrosion inside your system. If left untreated this rust can turn into a sludge which blocks the flow of water running around the system, which can lead to a complete boiler breakdown. Adding a chemical inhibitor into your system helps to prevent the internal corrosion from occuring and helping to keep your central heating healthy and efficient. The easiest way to add inhibitor into your system is to pour it into a heated towel rail. Jimmy the plumber shows you below exactly how to do this yourself, adding a vital bit of knowledge to your DIY skills and removing the need to call out a professional.

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RELATED ARTICLES • Essential radiator maintenance tips for the summer • The importance of annual heating maintenance • The importance of heat pump maintenance

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