Plumber reveals the exact way to make your radiators hotter and heat up faster for free as snow covers the UK
A HEATING expert has shared the easy way to get your radiators working their best and it comes just in time as the UK has been covered in snow.
It seems that our radiators and boilers tend to break down as soon as it gets cold, but plumber Zhelyazko Yanchev has shared three simple tricks to make sure this doesn’t happen and make your radiators work efficiently.
The plumber for Fantastic Services says most radiator problems are easy to fix yourself and totally free to do.
He added that there are: “Plenty of ways to make radiators hotter, and heat up faster, without buying a new boiler and using expensive or specialist tools.
“Hot water radiator systems are very simple and the problems are likely as simple, too.”
Clean Up
According to the plumbing expert the fastest and easiest ways to make your radiators work more efficiently is to clean them and make sure no items are blocking them.
He told the Express: “That’s because radiators work on the principle that hot air rises by natural convection.
“Cold air is drawn up the radiator at the bottom and rises out warm at the top.”
Items placed on or beneath the radiator can obstruct the air flow so it’s essential to keep them free from clutter.
Not only that, but dust can also block the centre of the radiator preventing them from working properly.
Use a duster to get behind the radiator, on the front and in the centre to clear away any debris.
Bleed Them
One way to know if your radiators need bleeding is by checking if the radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom.
This means air is trapped inside and is taking up space where hot water should be.
The plumber said: “You can quickly increase the radiator’s performance by bleeding this air out.”
To do this make sure the heating is off so you don’t burn yourself and use a radiator key or screwdriver to loosen the valve and let the air escape.
Keep an old towel nearby to collect any water that may leak and once done tighten the valve back up.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Remove Radiator Sludge
If the radiator is hot at the top and cold at the bottom – it could mean your radiator has sludge accumulation inside.
The sludge is a mix of rust, dirt and scale that inevitably builds up over time and circulates through the system.
You may have to remove the radiator from the wall and flush it out – so it’s probably best to get the experts in for this task.