WE’RE currently in the peak of winter, and weather reports suggest things are going to get colder before they get warmer.
If that’s the case you want to make sure your central heating is in top condition, so you don’t waste those precious pounds you spend on running it.
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Radiators are an essential component of central heating and a lot of people don’t know how to tell if they are not working properly.
Gareth Kloet, energy expert at Go Compare, commented: “Making sure that your radiators are working well is the best way to ensure you are using your heating as effectively as possible.”
He continued: “Check for cold spots on your radiators, especially at the bottom, and if there are areas that aren’t heating up then it is a good idea to bleed that radiator.”
Even though the action may sound complicated bleeding a radiator is fairly simple, as you will need a cheap gadget to do it at home.
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And you could be escaping a costly bill, according to My Job Quote the average cost of getting a radiator bled is £100, but it will depend on how many radiators you need bled.
How to bleed a radiator at home
To bleed a radiator at home, all you will need is a radiator key, a towel and a bowl to collect any excess water.
You can buy a radiator key from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q, Wickes and Screwfix with prices starting from just 99p.
First, you’ll need to make sure the heating is off and all your radiators are cool, place a towel and a bowl underneath any radiators you want to bleed.
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Insert the key into the release valve on the radiator until it starts to hiss, this is the sound of all the extra air escaping the radiator.
Once the hissing subsides and you start to hear water moving you’ll know your radiator has been completely bled.
Close the valve as soon as the water starts to gurgle but have a towel and bowl ready to collect any that escapes.
Repeat these steps with all the radiators you wish to bleed.
Energy expert Garath Khloet says there are a few other things you can do to boost the efficiency of your radiators.
He said: “There are lots of things you can do to make the most of your heating in winter, such as purchasing draught excluders, and thick curtains which will help to keep the heat from your radiators in your home.”
How can I keep warm without leaving the central heating on?
It’s better to have your heating on for a few hours in the evening and then set the timer so it comes on an hour before you plan to get up.
Another way to keep warm at night is to simply layer up and make sure you have a thick winter duvet.
Consider buying an electric blanket, they are another great way to keep warm and most cost around 3p an hour to run.
Turning one on about half an hour before you go to sleep will warm your bed up and it’s also much cheaper to run.
Get yourself a hot water bottle, they are always great for a cost-free way of keeping warm and they are perfect for snuggling up with in bed.
Alternatively, if you do want to have the central heating on in your bedroom, make sure you turn off the radiators in the rooms you’re not using to cut costs.
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