Boiler expert reveals how £10 radiator gadget could help cut our energy bills this winter
A BOILER expert has shared how a £10 gadget could help cut energy bills this winter.
As temperatures drop, many households are worried about the costly process of turning on their radiators to stay warm.
Energy bills are forecast to stay high this winter, with experts predicting that Ofgem’s price cap announcement tomorrow will see annual bills increase by 1% to £1,736
But there is a little-known device which could help curb costs.
The Sun spoke to Andy Kerr, founder of boiler installation company BOXT, who explained how using thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) can help cut costs.
Andy explained that these devices help households control the temperature of each room in a house.
He said: “Thermostatic radiator valves automatically reduce the flow of hot water to the radiator when the room is at its ideal temperature.
“[This] allows for more control over your energy consumption and preventing overheating.”
By doing this households could cut their energy bills by around £75 a year, according to The Energy Saving Trust.
Andy recommends using the thermostat to control the heat in your main living space and using thermostatic radiator valves to “lower the heating in rooms you don’t use as often”.
To do this you will have to manually go into each room in your house and adjust the heat settings on your thermostatic valve.
Settings on the TRV roughly correspond to the room temperatures below:
- 0 = 0°C (off)
- ✱ = 7°C (usually shown as a snowflake or full stop symbol)
- 1 = 10°C
- 2 = 15°C
- 3 = 20°C
- 4 = 25°C
- 5 = 30°C
These devices cost as little as £9.99 from retailers such as Screwfix, but prices can reach up to £50 if you opt for a smart TRV.
These devices allow customers to control how much heat is being pumped through the radiator via their smartphone.
Both of these devices should be suitable for most types of radiators but if you are confused it is always worth asking in-store or contacting an engineer.
How else can I save on energy bills?
If you are keen to cut costs this winter there are a number of other hacks you can use.
For example, you can put radiator reflector foil behind your radiator to help bounce heat back into the room.
The Sun spotted that Screwfix is selling four meters of the foil for £7.51.
An electric fan heater can be a cost-effective way to keep warm as the nights get colder.
These are portable devices as well, so you could travel from room to room with this heater.
DIY store B&Q is selling a portable heater currently for £15.99.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.