Who is responsible for bleeding radiators

jimbog

Guest101 wrote: »

This makes me think of all the people who say they can't change a tyre but have had a licence for years.

A tricky job - especially on the side of the road even if you have a couple of spoons to hand. Far easier to change the wheel and leave it to be repaired at a garage

SeduLOUs

jamie11 wrote: »

Age creeps up on us all, I was a mechanic, I even own a garage still, rented out now. I don't have the strength to change a tyre any longer, there are many jobs I could not personally do even though I know exactly how to do them.

It's not just age! I know how to change a tyre (ok wheel), but once I got a puncture in an age old 206 and there was no way I was getting those nuts of with my woman strength, even with one of them posh extended wrenches!

Called out my free local recovery (dad) who had a big huff about coming out and then he took plenty of time getting them off aswell :rotfl:

Rambosmum

Seriously? I could bleed a frinckin radiator when I was 12, and did so regularly. There was no youtube then either. My OH on the other side hadn't a clue and needed to be shown, by me, and was going to ring his dad for confirmation until I just went ahead and did the lot and re-pressurised the combi boiler.

It's a p1ss easy job. Easier than changing some light bulbs. Some people lack an ounce of common sense.

persa

I've never bled a radiator in my life. Never needed to.

My current LL sends someone round every couple of years to bleed them. (Not at my request, I might add, he's just good like that.)

I suppose on reflection I've never had to bleed a radiator before because none of my previous properties required it. So my question is why does your tenant have to bleed the radiator on a regular basis? Surely that's not normal for a functioning heating system?

I guess if I'd lived somewhere a couple of years and the radiators stopped heating properly, I'd learn how to bleed them myself and do it. But if I had to bleed them regularly, I'd probably report it to the LL and expect them to take a look, because I'd suspect there was something wrong with the whole heating system.

What do you mean "from time to time"? How often are we talking?

silvercar

If you google around you will see there are many possible reasons for needing to bleed a radiator, including:

Micro-leak on the pump suction side.
Sludge in the system forming hydrogen.
Pumping over pulling oxygenated water from the header tank.
Pump pulling air down the vent.
Pump pulling air into an auto air-vent when firing.
Trapped air in the system
Different size pipes
Evaporation of water in closed system.

can depend where the pump is in relation to the radiator concerned. No landlord is going to move the pump to save a tenant bleeding a radiator.

alibean121

I think people on this thread are very harsh. I would be wary about bleeding a radiator in a rented house. Sometimes the water inside is a bit grim and I'd be worried about being held responsible if any of it spilled and stained the wall or carpet.

I presume as this one is bled regularly, the valve isn't particularly stiff but I also have no idea what I would do if I opened one and couldn't get it closed again after.

martindow

My neighbour once tried to bleed their radiators and unscrewed the piece entirely. Filthy water went over the carpet while they tried to stem the flow with their thumb and panicked.

Although it's a simple job it does have the potential to go wrong. No doubt a LL would have no hesitation in taking some of the deposit to cover damaged flooring if the tenant caused this trying to behave in a tenant like manner.

Rambosmum

alibean121 wrote: »

I think people on this thread are very harsh. I would be wary about bleeding a radiator in a rented house. Sometimes the water inside is a bit grim and I'd be worried about being held responsible if any of it spilled and stained the wall or carpet.

I presume as this one is bled regularly, the valve isn't particularly stiff but I also have no idea what I would do if I opened one and couldn't get it closed again after.

1. That's why you hold a towel round it whilst you turn it.

2. Bucket and stop tap.

G_M

I've owned my current home for 18 years and air collects in the top radiator periodically. I bleed it maybe 2 - 3 times a year.

Over that time I've fitted new pump, most new rads, new boiler, had the system flushed, topped up with inhibiter. In fact about the only original bit left is the pipework.

Still get air and need to bleed from time to time. No big deal.

alibean121

Rambosmum wrote: »

1. That's why you hold a towel round it whilst you turn it.

2. Bucket and stop tap.

Clearly I would use a towel but accidents do happen and I don't see why I should risk deductions from carpet damage if I can just get someone else to do it.

I also don't know about your radiators but i can't leave a bucket set on the floor and have the water go in it. I need to hold it up at an angle. If I had to leave to mess with the stop tap the flow would surely soak through the towels. Also the system is full of water? I don't get how the stopcock is particularly helpful.

I've only done one radiator before at my parents' house and would probably do ones in my rented house over laminate floor but not for example the one over a pale carpet.

I just don't understand why people think it's extreme to ask the LL to arrange something. Why should a tenant take ANY risk of damaging the property if they would be charged for that regardless of whether it's something they're capable of doing.