It’s important to keep your home warm and cosy, but with energy bills on the rise, it’s crucial to make sure you’re not wasting any money or energy
Britain is bracing for another temperature plunge following Storm Claudia, making it more and more important to keep homes warm whilst energy bills continue to soar.
With heating costs already sky-high, the thought of running central heating constantly throughout the day can feel financially daunting. Fortunately, there are numerous simple and effective methods to maximise radiator performance without wasting energy or money.
Experts at Homes and Gardens suggest that whilst your boiler may be functioning perfectly well, radiator issues could be undermining your heating system’s effectiveness, and this should be sorted immediately.
If your rooms are taking longer than usual to warm up, and you’ve already bled the radiators, another culprit might be to blame. The good news is the solution takes mere moments to carry out and costs absolutely nothing, reports the Express.
How to heat up rooms quicker
When the heating’s running but you’re still shivering, it’s essential to ensure the space surrounding your radiators is completely clear.
Phil Oliver, co-owner of Air Treatment Heating and Cooling, explained to Homes and Gardens: “Radiators use convection to distribute warm air, so blocking that flow with furniture or curtains can drastically reduce their efficiency.
“If you have a radiator, I recommend keeping at least 12 to 18 inches of space between it and any large pieces of furniture, such as couches, beds, or shelving units. Maintaining this space around your radiator will produce a noticeable difference in how evenly and quickly your room heats up.”
It’s equally crucial to keep your radiators as clean as you can. Dust accumulates rapidly inside, essentially preventing warmth from spreading throughout the room whilst also creating an unpleasant musty odour.
Cleaning them is straightforward — simply use a hairdryer to remove the dust and hair, ensuring you sweep it all up afterwards to prevent it settling back in. Specialist radiator cleaning brushes are also available, which help reach those awkward spots, leaving your radiator spotless, dust-free and operating far more effectively.
