With energy bills still high, many people across the country are feeling the chill settle into their homes. However, they could be putting hundreds of pounds into energy they aren’t actually using if they’re falling behind on their radiator maintenance, one expert has warned.
Alison Maclean, Head of Marketing at St. Modwen Homes, explained that bleeding your radiator before the bone-chilling temperatures settle in could save you £350 a year. This can flush out the air bubbles that naturally build up in your central heating over time.
These bubbles prevent radiators from efficiently warming up and heating up your home, which could even force you to up the thermostat but many people put off this task as it can seem daunting. Alison delved into the process step-by-step to guide Brits.
Firstly she advises turning off your boiler and giving your radiators some time to cool off so you’re not coming into contact with boiling water during this process. Next, get your bleed key, which can be purchased from hardware shops if you’ve lost yours.
Grab a towel or bowl and position it underneath the bleed valve on your radiator in case any water comes gushing out. Then use your key to turn the valve a quarter anti-clockwise. A hissing noise might start up but rest assured this is just the air escaping, the expert assured.
When the hissing stops, close the valve completely. The expert highlighted: “This simple hack, which takes no longer than a few minutes, can reduce your energy bills by up to 20%, which equates to nearly £350 a year.”
If you’ve already bled your radiators for the winter season, there are some other money saving hacks you can implement to keep your bills down during the chilly temperatures. Starting with turning off any standby appliances which can sometimes leech power even when they seem to be off.
This includes unplugging unused lamps, toasters, kettles or turning off switches at the wall instead of just on your appliances. Investing in some smart plugs and timers can automate this system, saving you time and money but with a bit of upfront cost.