Little-known radiator fault could be pushing your heating bill up – here’s how to fix it

HOUSEHOLDS could shave money off their heating bills by checking whether their radiator has a little-known fault on it.

Many people may not know that rust on your radiator could be an indication that there is something wrong with your heating system.

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Heating systems that don’t work as efficiently as they should might be pushing up your energy bills – which are already soaring.

Experts are predicting that the average household could be paying £2,000 a year on their energy bills in 2022.

That’s roughly double what families were paying in 2020, Ovo energy company founder Stephen Fitzpatrick recentky told The Sun.

It’s hitting low income families the hardest, who are already battling against the cut to the £20 Universal Credit uplift and increasing food bills.

That means it’s vital to do everything you can to keep your radiators working.

Here’s why spotting rust on your radiator could be a sign your energy bills are higher than they should be – and how to fix it.

Why rust could be pushing your bills up

Uswitch energy expert Will Owen says the first thing you should do if you’re trying to save cash on heating is to check your system is working properly.

While rust itself won’t directly affect how well your radiator is running, it could be a sign that water is leaking somewhere.

“That will have a significant impact on the heating system,” he said.

Once you’ve spotted a leak, be sure to get an engineer as soon as possible in to fix any leaks.

A heating system that is not working properly could be adding hundreds of pounds onto your bill – but rust isn’t always a sign of a leak.

It could be because your radiator is in a wet atmosphere – like a bathroom – and not because of a leak.

Any external rust can be wiped away quite easily with white vinegar and a cloth – and shouldn’t be a cause for much concern.

If you’re in doubt whether a rusty radiator is down to a heating system fault or just because it’s in a damp place, it’s best to ask an expert for advice.

What other common problems are pushing my bills up?

Rust isn’t the only thing you should keep an eye out for when it comes to your radiators.

Forgetting to bleed your radiators could be notching up the cost of your bills too.

If you don’t, there could be cold spots in your radiator where air gets trapped inside – which stops them from working properly and you could be wasting energy  heating nothing.

It’s a quick and simple task that could save you cash – check out our step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Turning the heating up too high could be costing you hundreds of pounds too.

Simply turning the temperature down one degree could save you over £100 a year, Mr Owen adds.

Make sure you check your boiler for faults too – if it’s making a loud noise, is leaking or has frozen pipes, you may want to call in an engineer.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk