Stephen Day, a heating expert from iHeat, said: “A heating system that is running efficiently can save you as much as 20 percent off of your energy bills.”
In some cases, improving the efficiency of radiators around the home could save people up to £300 on their energy bills.
Day revealed: “Over time, air can become trapped in your home’s central heating system, preventing radiators from warming evenly.
“This causes cold spots and forces your boiler to work harder, consuming more energy to maintain the desired temperature. The result? Higher energy bills.”
It’s for this reason that every household in the UK should have a 99p radiator valve key.
Using a radiator valve key to bleed radiators can ensure the heating system is running efficiently.
Day said: “This task often goes overlooked, but for less than the price of a cup of coffee, you can make sure you get your money’s worth every time you pop the heating on.”
How to bleed a radiator
- Turn off your heating – let your radiators cool down to avoid any risk of burns or leaks.
- Locate the bleed valve – this is typically found at the top of the radiator.
- Use the radiator key – insert the key into the valve and turn it slowly anti-clockwise. You’ll hear a hissing sound as trapped air escapes.
- Close the valve – once water starts to drip out, turn the key clockwise to close the valve.
- Check your boiler pressure – after bleeding the radiators, ensure your boiler is at the correct pressure level.
“You can usually find out what level of pressure it should be at in your boilers manual,” added Day.
British Gas said the boiler pressure “should always be somewhere between one and two bar”.
If the boiler pressure is above 2.75 bar, that’s a sign of high pressure “and the best way to bringing that down is to bleed a radiator”.
Low boiler pressure could be a warning sign of a possible leak, which will require a professional to look at.
Founded in 2019, iHeat is an online boiler installation company dedicated to making home heating simple and stress-free. With over 400 Gas Safe registered engineers, iHeat offers quick, transparent, and cost-effective boiler replacement services, helping UK homeowners manage their heating needs with ease.
