Warming up our homes does not come cheap – here a four ways to heat for less
MOST of us have the central heating switched on now to stay toasty.
Warming up our homes does not come cheap. But with a few easy moves, you can maintain the temperature inside and save on energy bills.
Here are some ideas to help harness the heat . . .
LET IT FLOW: Removing air pockets in your central heating system means that hot water can move freely and efficiently.
If you can feel any cooler patches on your radiator, it probably needs bleeding.
You do not need to worry about getting a plumber for the job. You can find an easy, step-by-step guide at britishgas.co.uk.
FREE THE HEAT: Blocking your radiators with furniture stops warmth getting into the room. There should be at least six inches between a radiator and any furniture such as sofas or beds.
Likewise, avoid drying your clothes on radiators as you are blocking the heat from circulating into the room.
Removing a build-up of dust and dirt from the radiator will help maximise heat. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck as much dust from around the radiator as possible.
You can use a hairdryer to help blow out dust from the inside.
Specialised dust brushes can reach into the fins and cost £4.99 from Robert Dyas and Lakeland.
REFLECT: Minimise the amount of heat lost outside from radiators on external, uninsulated cavity or solid walls by reflecting it back into the room.
Radiator reflector insulation foil is £19 a pack from Dunelm.
Put it behind the radiator and this could save you around £25 a year on bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
However, you can also use normal kitchen foil. It will do the same job but needs replacing over time, as it dulls.
BE SELECTIVE: Only warm up rooms you are using. Adjust radiator valves to be higher in selected parts of the home.
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