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Last Updated: Monday, January 15th, 2001, Created: Monday, January 15th, 2001

Automatic bleeders for radiators

For various reasons, hot water heating systems can accumulate pockets of air in the top of the radiators. When there is too much air, the water doesn't flow any more and the heat slows down and stops. For that reason most people have to "bleed" the radiators regularly: open a little valve in the top of each radiator and let the air out. This is a long and sometimes hot job.

Maid-O-Mist is one example of a commonly available automatic radiator bleeder. It is a chamber that is screwed on in place of the traditional bleeder valve. Inside the chamber is a float valve. If it is full of water, the escape route is blocked off. If it fills with air, the float drops down and the air escapes out the valve.

These devices are not flawless and, in a case where any water spill at all would be a disaster, you may want to attach a drain tube to them. But they do work and they do keep your radiators bled when they need to be.

Keywords: Maintenance, Radiators

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