Bleeding Radiator Cost

Want to find out how much bleeding a radiator costs?

Everything you may want to know about bleeding your radiators is covered in this guide, including the labour costs and time frames you should expect.

To give you a quick idea, the average cost to bleed a radiator is usually about £100.

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How Much to Bleed Radiators?

Bleeding a radiator is a task which should be done for general maintenance. It is something that a homeowner should have done every 1-2 years, depending on how the radiator is performing, and depending on the operational costs annually. If costs are high, it might be an indication it is time to bleed the radiator.

Bleeding the radiator is simply a matter of draining the water out slowly. This not only helps to reduce moisture and condensation levels, it is also going to improve overall performance. Your radiator won't be noisy, it is going to operate more efficiently and you don't have to worry about a pool forming below it, each time you turn it on.

Air bubbles or cold spots tend to form over time; when these cold spots form, it prevents the radiator from being able to produce max heat levels. You not only feel uncomfortable in colder weather, the radiator also has to work harder to heat up the home.

In turn, you are going to pay more to operate the system as it will make your central heating system work harder.

Let's take a look at what goes into bleeding the radiator, and what the associated costs are to perform this if you opt to hire a professional to do it.

Radiator Bleeding Prices

Emergency Radiator Bleeding Costs

If you need to urgently bleed your radiator, then the cost of an emergency plumber is usually around £200.

This price is based on the fact most plumbers automatically charge a call out fee of approximately £75 followed by £60 per hour to do the actual work. However, if it's outside of regular hours, it's standard to be charged more.

In the event an emergency call out becomes a whole days work, you may be charged a day rate instead (normally around £400 per day)

If you live in a hard to reach area, or a major city such as London where day-to-day costs are higher, there's a potential charges may be higher.

Factors That Impact the Cost of Bleeding Radiators

When bleeding the radiators around your home yourself, the only real added expense is your time, only without any expert advice you can never be certain that you've done it correctly.

That's why we recommend hiring a plumber, although even then there are several cost factors to consider:

• Number of Radiators - If you live in a small apartment, there are likely to be fewer radiators and therefore it's a quick job to complete. If you live in a larger property with several radiators, then there's a higher labour cost as it will take longer.
• Location - Where you live in the UK can affect the overall cost too, as tradesmen in some areas tend to charge more than the national average. This is due to the fact places such as London and the South East have to cover their higher living costs.
• Ease of Access - If the radiator is in an awkward position this can make the job harder, especially if a fault is uncovered during the process. Likewise, access can also relate to your location, for example quotes for more rural destinations may need to include petrol and travel expenses.
• Unforeseen Issues - When it comes to the home, even the simplest of jobs can potentially come with hidden expenses. It could be a case there's an issue with the system, such as a faulty valve or a boiler overheating.
• Emergency call-outs - If you need to call someone to bleed your radiators at the last minute, then this can certainly increase the cost. It can also be the case if you need a professional to visit outside of their normal hours.

So, even though the task of bleeding a radiator may appear a quick and easy job, it's always good to prepare for the fact there may be additional cost factors involved that you hadn't thought about previously.

Additional Costs

Although bleeding a radiator is a relatively inexpensive job, especially if you do it yourself, it's one that can soon highlight other expenses as outlined below.

Moving a Radiator

You may decide your radiator isn't in the best position, or wish to move it based on other home renovations. If you're only moving it a short distance, then a plumber will charge up to £100, whereas a heating engineer may be up to £160.

Should you need to move it further the cost is likely to increase as it becomes part of a larger job.

New Radiator Cost

In the event your radiator needs replacing, this can cost on average around £200 based on a traditional double sized radiator.

The job of swapping over the radiators will take around 2-3 hours to complete, and includes the removal of the old one. Although it's worth checking any quotes received include waste disposal.

Boiler Service

If you are hiring a professional to bleed your radiators, it's also a good time to get your boiler serviced as arranging both jobs at the same time will work out cheaper.

The average boiler service in the UK will cost between £75 and £125, unless any additional maintenance is required. Prices can vary depending on the style of boiler, although the cost will most likely remain more or less inline with the national average.

Installing a New Boiler

Purchasing and installing a new boiler is a much more expensive job. The average installation price being around £2,400 although prices in general can vary drastically depending on the type of boiler and model you choose.

When it comes to carrying out the work, only hire a professional who is fully qualified. For example gas boilers will need someone officially listed on the Gas Safe Register.

Central Heating

As your radiator is a major part of installing central heating it's good to understand the cost should you need to replace the complete system.

On average this falls somewhere between £4,000 and £5,300 although prices depend on the size of the property and complexity of the installation. Likewise, expect labour fees to be higher in certain areas such as central London.

What To Consider When Bleeding The Radiator

Bleeding your radiator is essential for maintaining heating efficiency and you should plan to action this every 1-2 years. It is possible to carry out this task yourself, but there a few things to consider that may make it more viable to hire a professional:

• Warning Signs - If your radiator takes a long time to heat up or you've noticed an increase in energy bills, then it may require bleeding.
• Approach with Caution - Be careful not to get burnt from the hot water or any excess steam, you also need to turn the valve in the right direction.
• Beware of Blockages - Incorrectly bleeding a radiator can lead to blockages, creating pockets of air that may affect the overall performance and efficiency of your central heating.
• Hiring a Professional - Finding a local plumber is a cost-effective and reassuring way of ensuring it is done properly, and for someone that already knows what they are doing is a relatively straightforward process.

By not bleeding your radiators you are more likely to come up against issues in the future, especially during the colder months when you want to turn up your heating.

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Doing it Yourself

Bleeding a radiator is often considered a simple job, with many homeowners happy to action it themselves. However, it is a time-consuming process and one that shouldn't be rushed.

So while it can be completed as a DIY task, hiring a professional certainly has its advantages:

• They can assess the entire heating system, not just the radiator
• A qualified plumber can quickly diagnose and fix any wider issues
• Work can be carried out efficiently, using the correct tools
• Following correct safety precautions reduce the risk of injury
• Any work carried out should come with a guarantee

If you're in any doubt, it's always worth hiring an experienced professional.

Plumber Checklist

• Hire specialists in this service/industry.
• Choose plumbers which exclusively do repair and maintenance on radiators.
• Look for a local specialist that will fully guarantee and warrant the work they perform.
• Make sure they give you a fully written quote of all services performed, and maintenance records.

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