HOUSEHOLDS are preparing for an expensive winter – but there are easy ways to keep costs down that you might not have realised.
TikToker Kyle Mattison AKA ThatPropertyGuy has revealed a simple trick you can use to make your radiators more efficient.
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Energy bills are being capped at £2,500 for the next two years under PM Liz Truss’ new Energy Price Guarantee.
However, that just dictates what suppliers can charge – your bill might be more depending on how much energy you use.
To help the stress some hard-up households are facing, experts are sharing top easy tips to slash some costs off your annual bill.
But keep in mind how much money you save on any hack will depend on what appliances you have, what your energy usage is and what your usual settings on appliances are.
A quick trick Mattison shared on TikTok is to simply bleed your radiators before winter.
He said: “Releasing the trapped air in radiators helps them run more efficiently, and the good thing about this is it keeps your house warmer.”
Neglecting to bleed your radiators could force them to work harder, and it means you could end up wasting energy heating nothing.
They might develop cold spots, where air gets trapped inside.
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He continued: “It’s a really simple job and you can pick up a radiator key from most DIY stores.”
You can use a small valve key – like this one from Screwfix – which normally cost under £2 from any hardware store.
All you need to do twist the radiator key slowly anti-clockwise on the square valve you’ll find on the side.
If you hear a hissing sound, it means the trapped air is escaping – once this stops, close the valve to stop water coming out.
We also spoke to a boiler expert who shared how important this quick task is.
Myles Robinson, an energy expert from Boiler Central, said: “Radiators with trapped air fail to circulate heat properly, meaning you pay full price for heating without getting the right amount of warmth in return.
“Your heating system will also use more energy to compensate, driving up energy costs.”
How do I know if my radiator needs bleeding?
There are a few ways to tell if your radiators need bleeding.
They may be taking longer than usual to heat up, or you might hear gurgling noises.
A good way to check if your radiator needs bleeding is to see if there are cold patches at the top but it’s warm at the bottom.
If that’s the case you’ll need to bleed the radiator to let the hot water to circulate freely which means it reaches the top again.
How else can I save on bills?
If you turn your thermostat down by one notch, it can help lower your bills by a whopping £80 a year.
And keeping it at a steady temperature will save even more.
You should also make sure you turn household appliances off and not leave them on standby as doing this could needlessly add as much as £35 onto your bill.
We spoke to a savvy saver who slashed a huge £180 off her energy bill by simply switching off plug sockets.
But if measures in your own home aren’t enough, there’s still time to apply for government schemes that are designed to help you foot rising energy costs.
You could get up to £300 to help cover the cost of your energy bills with Winter Fuel Payments, for example.
You have to be an eligible pensioner to get the help – and payments depend on your age and if you claim certain benefits.
