CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and it may be the time for some of us to treat ourselves to some cosy central heating.
Or maybe you’ve had it on this whole time… either way, you want to make sure you get the most out of the heating you’re paying for.
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If you put your heating on and your radiators take a long time to heat up it could mean an indicator that something is wrong.
A lot of people don’t realise radiators need to be in top condition for them to work properly and if they are not in could send your energy bills spiralling.
According to British Gas, a radiator should take between five to 10 minutes for a standard working radiator to heat up.
It’s likely to take longer than that to heat up a room depending on its size but you should be able to feel significant warmth coming from the radiator.
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These are the steps you should take if you want to ensure your radiator is working efficiently.
Bleeding your radiator
If your radiator is hot at the bottom and cold at the top it’s a clear indicator it needs to be bled.
This is very simple to do, first, turn off your heating and make sure our radiators are cool.
Locate the valve and use your radiator key (or screwdriver) to open it by turning it anti-clockwise. If it’s tough to open, use the cloth to get a better grip.
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Once it’s open you should hear a hissing noise which is the air escaping, the sound may stop and water may come out so make sure you have a container to catch it.
After the sound has stopped you know your radiator is fully bled and you can retighten the valve.
One expert previously told The Sun that doing this regularly can save you around £450 a year on energy bills.
Reorganising your furniture
If you have furniture in front of your radiator it could be absorbing precious heat and costing you more.
There needs to be adequate space around your radiators so they can heat up a room faster.
Uswitch energy expert Will Owen previously told The Sun leaving furniture in front of radiators could add an extra £114 to your bills.
Regular cleaning
Dusting your radiators is fine but it may be the case that it needs a deep clean.
Experts at Checkatrade reckon you should do this at least once a year and it’s pretty simple to do.
First, make sure all of your radiators are switched off and cool
Grab a bucket filled with water and washing up liquid and use a cloth to clean the outside of your radiator.
To clean inside the radiators you need to grab a long thin object like a broom handle or wire coat rack.
You should cover the end with a microfibre cloth or sponge so you can wipe away the dust.
You can use a hairdryer to loosen dust and use a vacuum to wipe around the radiator to make things easier.
Checkatrade reckons the cost of cleaning your radiator is about £45 for three hours so if you can do this yourself you will be saving money.
Adjusting your radiator temperature
More often than not when you are inside the house you only need the heating on in one room at a time.
A heating expert previously explained one of the most effective ways to reduce energy usage and save money is by using ‘thermostatic radiator valves’ (TRVs) to adjust the temperature of your units.
This was you can control the temperature of each radiator and only use what you need.
By setting up and using your radiators efficiently you shouldn’t need to keep them on all night – potentially saving yourself a neat £100 a week.
Radiator foil
Fitting radiator foil – or tin foil – behind your radiator will save you around £25 a year on your bills.
Instead of your radiator blowing hot air at the wall, if you put the foil behind the radiator, it will reflect it.
This means that you won’t that it won’t be wasting energy – and adding money to your bill.
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.
Don’t forget about preventative measures, draught-proof your home and seal your windows to stop cold air from coming in.
Prices for draught excludes start from a fiver in most stores but a thick blanket rolled up next to a draughty door will work just as well.
Loft insulation is also very important as it can stop heat escaping, therefore slashing your heating bill.
You can buy insulation from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q and Wickes.
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