How to Bleed a Heated Towel Rail

Is your towel rail cold at the top but warm at the bottom? Chances are, it needs bleeding. Trapped air inside your heating system can stop hot water from circulating properly, leaving your towel rail underperforming.

Don’t worry - bleeding a towel rail is quick, simple, and requires very little DIY know-how. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

How Will I Know If My Heated Towel Rail Needs Bleeding?

Over time, air can get trapped inside your towel rail or radiators. When this happens, hot water can’t flow freely through the system, which can result in:

• Cold spots at the top of the rail

• Gurgling or bubbling noises

• Reduced overall heat output

  
  

Bleeding the towel rail releases that trapped air, restoring full functionality, and as a rule of thumb should be done at least once a year.

How Do I Bleed a Towel Rail? - A Step-by-Step Guide

What You’ll Need

Before you start, gather the following tools:

✅ Radiator key or small flathead screwdriver

✅ A cloth or small container – To catch any water that escapes.

✅ An old towel – To protect your floor.

✅ Gloves (optional) – The valve can sometimes be stiff, and hot water may be released.

Step 1: Turn Off Your Heating

Before proceeding, switch off your central heating and allow the system to cool down until cold. This will prevent hot water from spraying out when you bleed the rail.

Step 2: Open All Valves & Locate the Bleed Valve

Make sure that the Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) and lockshield are in the open position (if your towel rail has them). The bleed valve is usually located at the top of the towel rail, either on the left or right side. It’s a small, round screw - you’ll recognise it by the hexagonal or square screw where the radiator key fits. Many will have a slot on the front so you can use a small flathead screwdriver should a radiator key not be available to you. On rare occasions the bleed valve can either be hidden to the rear of the towel rail, or may be located at the top but capped with a plastic cap (to hide them).

Step 3: Position Your Cloth/Container

Place an old towel or cloth underneath the bleed valve and hold a small container or cup underneath to catch any water that may escape.

Step 4: Insert the Radiator Key

Fit the radiator key onto the valve and turn it anti-clockwise (usually no more than a quarter turn). You’ll hear a hissing sound; that’s the air escaping.

Keep the valve open until water starts to dribble out steadily, then quickly turn the key clockwise to close it with the same amount of rotation as was used to open it.

💧 Don’t open the valve too far. A slight turn is enough to release the air.

Step 5: Check the Pressure

After bleeding the towel rail, check your boiler pressure. If it’s dropped below the recommended level (typically 1.0 to 1.5 bar), you may need to top it up using the boiler's filling loop.

Consult your boiler manual for guidance if needed. Open vented systems should refill automatically.

Step 6: Turn the Heating Back On

Once the valve is securely closed and the pressure has returned to a normal level, turn your heating back on. Give the towel rail some time to warm up, then check if it’s heating evenly.

Bonus Tips

• Bleed all radiators in your system if one needs it - air often moves around.

• Do this once or twice a year, especially before winter.

• If bleeding doesn’t help, you might have a blockage or balancing issue and may need a plumber.

Common Questions

❓How often should I bleed my towel rail?

Typically, once a year is sufficient in a properly maintained system. Alternatively, whenever you notice it’s cold at the top and hot at the bottom, or make any changes to your heating setup.

❓Do I need to drain the system first?

No — bleeding releases only a small amount of air and water, so no full drain is needed.

❓What if no water comes out when I bleed it?

If you only hear air and no water appears, your system pressure might be too low. Top up your boiler pressure, then try again.

Final Thoughts

Bleeding your towel rail is one of the easiest maintenance tasks you can do to keep your heating system running efficiently. A few minutes of effort can make a big difference in your comfort and help you save energy, too.

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to our helpful Customer Services team - we’re here to help you keep your home warm and cosy.

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