With the autumn budget poised to introduce further financial pressures, families across the UK are seeking effective methods to reduce spending on essential utilities.
The Overlooked Money-Saving Hack
Amidst the search for savings, one straightforward household task is frequently forgotten or perceived as too difficult. However, maintaining your radiators is crucial for home efficiency. Dr Peter Brown, an engineering faculty leader at Glasgow Kelvin College, informed The Express that bleeding your radiators can cut your bills by a quarter.
Contrary to popular belief, this process is simple to master and requires less than sixty seconds of your time. Specialists at Paladin radiators corroborate this, stating that this minor effort could lead to annual savings of as much as £1,000 on your heating bills. The insurance firm Admiral also confirms that it is a quick, 30-second job.
How to Bleed Your Radiators Correctly
If you wish to perform this task yourself, follow these clear, step-by-step instructions to ensure it is done safely and effectively.
First, inspect all the radiators in your home. A radiator that is slow to heat up or feels warm at the bottom but cool at the top indicates that hot water is not circulating properly. This is a clear sign it needs bleeding.
Begin by switching off your central heating system completely. This is a vital safety measure to prevent potential burns from scalding water and to avoid damage to your flooring. Have some old towels ready to soak up any minor leaks.
You will need a radiator bleed key, which is inexpensive and available at any DIY store. For many modern radiators, a flat-blade screwdriver can also be used.
Insert your key or screwdriver into the valve at the top of the radiator. Wearing protective gloves, slowly turn the valve anti-clockwise until you hear a hissing sound, which is the trapped air escaping.
As the air is released, water will begin to fill the space. Once a steady trickle of water starts to emerge, promptly turn the valve clockwise to tighten it and seal the radiator again.
After completing this for all affected radiators, check your boiler's pressure gauge. For most systems, it should read between 1 and 1.5. Finally, turn your heating back on and verify that your radiators are now heating up evenly from top to bottom.
Maximising Your Home's Heating Efficiency
Dr Brown emphasised the importance of regular maintenance. "Bleeding your radiators regularly is also important," he said. "It releases trapped air to allow hot water to circulate correctly, which makes the radiator heat up fully and more efficiently."
He also advised paying attention to thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). "Set the temperature in each room depending on how hot you want it," he suggested. "There's no need for your spare bedroom to be constantly heated, for example, and only having radiators switched on in rooms you're using helps the system heat up more efficiently and effectively."
Furthermore, Dr Brown highlighted that a dirty heating system could increase your bills by 25%. Homeowners can either clear out the rust themselves or pay a professional to filter the system, ensuring it runs at peak performance.
