It's sad to say, but the winter is heading towards us faster than a steam train, and the nights are beginning to set in. So the heating goes on, and that familiar smell of burning dust, where the radiators haven't been used for the whole summer. But if the radiator feels cooler at the top than at the bottom, then you will need to bleed the radiator to get rid of the air that is causing the cold spot. Radiators shouldn't have to be bled regularly, and if you are finding that your radiators are, then call a professional as there is probably some air getting in somewhere.

You will need a radiator key and a cloth, but other than that the job is pretty easy.

Fully open the radiator vales, including on the heated towel rails. Put the radiator key into the valve and slowly turn anti clockwise. Have the cloth at the ready in case it springs a leak! If there is air trapped, you will hear a hissing sound as it escapes. As soon as the water comes out, reseal the valve and wipe away the water. Do this for every radiator that you have, and then turn the heating on and check there are no dripping valves. If there are you will need to tighten them.

If you are still having problems, call a professional as you may have a build up of sludge, or your radiators may not be distributing properly.

Make sure that you Buy Home Insurance to protect your house from any leaks or spills!