How do I bleed a heated towel rail?

Posted by Ollie Lyon on Thursday 10th March 2016, updated on Sunday 14th January 2024

If your heated towel rail is no longer working as well as it has in the past, it might be that air has built up inside. A clear sign of this is if the bottom of the radiator still heats up well but the top of the radiator doesn't. Our guide on how to bleed a heated towel rail will help you through this quick fix for your home.

Bleeding a heated towel radiator is not too hard a job once you know what to do, however, if you have any concerns ensure you contact your plumber to complete the job. Most DIY novices will be able to pick it up though, simply follow our step-by-step guide:

You will need:

Radiator key
Towel
Spanner
Rag

If you don't have a radiator key you can pick one up from a DIY store for just a couple of pounds.

Bleeding the towel rail

Step 1
First you need to turn off your central heating.

Step 2
You need to let the water inside the heated towel radiator cool down so go and enjoy a cup of tea for twenty mins or so! If you haven't had your central heating on, then you don't need to wait.

Step 3
Most heated towel rails have two lock shields. Make sure they'll fully open by popping off their caps and using your spanner to turn them fully anti-clockwise. Not all heated towel rails have these so don't be alarmed if yours doesn't.

Step 4
Locate the bleed valve which is usually at the top of the towel radiator. Wrap your rag around to make sure you have a good grip. Use your radiator key to turn it anti-clockwise. The air will escape with a hiss and then a small amount of water will come out. Make sure you have your towel underneath or you'll end up with a wet floor.

Step 5
Tighten the bleed valve once the hissing has stopped and voilà, you've successfully bled your heated towel radiator!

If you're looking for a new towel rail for your home you can buy towel radiators from all leading manufacturers at PlumbNation.co.uk/Towel-Rails. Customers can browse and buy from our huge range of traditional towel rails alongside our designer towel rails, dual fuel towel rails, and electric towel rails.