HOUSEHOLDS could be adding hundreds onto their energy bills if they’re not using their radiators properly.
You might not know that common mistakes, like hanging your washing over your radiators and blocking them with furniture, all adds up.
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Avoiding these errors could put well-earned cash back in your pocket at a time when millions are struggling to get by as the cost of living soars.
The price of food, fuel and energy is rocketing, with some families having to put 50% more of their weekly budget towards gas and electricity costs.
Energy costs could climb even further when the next price cap change is made, with experts predicting it could rise to a record-breaking £1,800 a year from April.
To help you drive down costs, we explain how to avoid making these radiator mishaps.
Hanging up your clothes
You might be tempted to hang up your socks and pants over your radiator to get them to dry quicker.
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But you could be at risk of paying more on your energy bills as a result.
This is because hanging clothes over your radiators stops them from working as efficiently – so you won’t feel the warmth hit as much.
That could mean you leave the heating on longer than you usually would, or you might be tempted to reach for the thermostat.
But this could stop you from making big savings on your bills – turning your thermostat down by just one degree could save you £55 a year.
British Gas engineer Joanna Flowers said: “Don’t dry clothes on your radiators as this will make your boiler work harder to heat the room.”
Blocking them with furniture
If your furniture is blocking your radiators, it might be time to do a bit of feng shui.
This is because you’re blocking hot air circulating around the room.
Again, this could see you leave your heating on for longer or turn it up to compensate.
Anything that stops your heating system from running efficiently will only be costing you more in energy bills.
Uswitch energy expert Will Owen said: “It’s always advisable to keep your radiators as free from obstruction as possible.
“Objects that are in the way can absorb some of the heat from your radiator, costing you more money – and one of the biggest culprits for this is the sofa.”
If you’ve rejigged your furniture and you’re still feeling chilly, reach for a jumper, hot water bottle and blanket.
For example, wearing layers could save you a whopping £400 a year.
Leaving them all on
As you turn the heating on, make sure all your radiators aren’t on in every single room.
To save money, only leave them running in the room you’re using – otherwise its a waste of energy.
The Sun spoke to one savvy saver who uses this trick to save him a massive £490 a year.
To do this, turn your thermostatic valve down on your radiator – but if you’re not sure how to do this, its based to look at your manual, and there’s plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to do it too.
Not bleeding them
If you feel cold spots on your radiator, then it might be time to give them a bleed.
If parts of your radiator are cool even when it is blasting out hot air, it could mean air is trapped inside your radiator.
Bleeding your radiator is a simple task – and could stop you from paying a lot more for your energy bills.
You need to turn your heating on to make sure that the system is working properly – make sure the radiators are fully heated before doing anything else.
Check whether there are parts of the radiator which have cool spots – particularly at the top, as this means that there could be air trapped inside.
Switch off your heating though – otherwise you might burn yourself or soak the floor.
You’ll need a radiator key – available at DIY shops – to attach onto the radiator valve, which is located at the top of the radiator.
Turn the key slowly anti-clockwise and if you hear a hissing sound, it means the trapped air is escaping.
Once this stops, close the valve, and this should mean your radiators will run more smoothly.
Martin Lewis tells households what to do about energy bills before next price cap announcement
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