Brits have been issued heating advice (Image: Getty)
UK households have been told they can save £175 a year if they get their heating ready for winter before next week. Energy bills are set to rise again this October after Ofgem confirmed that the price cap for a typical household paying by direct debit will increase by 4% from the first day of the month, increasing from £1,663 to £1,723 a year. Gas prices are behind much of the rise, with the average unit rate climbing from 7.33p to 7.97p per kWh.
Now, heating expert Rob Nezard from UK Radiators has urged households to get their heating “winter-ready” and make sure they are not “wasting the energy they’re paying for”. According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing around windows, floors and doors could save around £55 a year in Great Britain, while turning a thermostat down from 22°C to 21°C could save another £120 a year.
Households making both changes could theoretically save around £175 a year, although actual savings will depend on the property, heating system, energy usage and measures already in place.
“With bills going up again in October, now is the time to make sure you’re not paying for heat that isn’t actually benefiting your home,” Mr Nezard said.
“The worst time to discover your heating isn’t working efficiently is the first properly cold week of the year, when everyone else is switching theirs on too.
“There are several simple checks you can make now while heating demand is still relatively low.
“The aim isn’t to sit in a freezing house this winter. It’s to make sure the heat you’re paying for is actually heating your rooms properly.”
Top tips
Mr Nezard also listed seven heating tips for UK households.
1. Turn every radiator on before you actually need them
“Put the heating on and physically check every radiator,” he said. “You’re looking for radiators that aren’t warming up, have cold areas or take significantly longer than others to heat.
“Doing this now gives you time to identify problems rather than discovering them when you actually need the heating.”
2. Feel the top and bottom of your radiators
Rob said: “If a radiator is cold towards the top, trapped air could be preventing hot water from circulating through the whole radiator and it may need bleeding.
“If you’re repeatedly having problems, or the radiator remains cold after basic checks, that’s when it’s worth getting the system looked at rather than simply turning the thermostat higher.”
3. Bleed radiators before heating season
Rob said: “Bleeding a radiator is one of the simplest bits of winter preparation, but people often wait until December to think about it.
“If you’ve got cold spots at the top of a radiator, deal with them before you’re relying on the heating every day.”
4. Check your thermostatic radiator valves
The expert said: “Walk around the house and check that your valves actually move and aren’t stuck after months of little or no use.
“Think about how you use each room too. A spare bedroom doesn’t necessarily need to be heated in exactly the same way as the living room you’re using all evening.”
5. Stop blocking your radiators
Rob said: “Radiators need to transfer heat into the room. Putting a large sofa directly in front of one can mean you’re heating the furniture before you’re effectively heating the space around it.
“Before winter, look at where your furniture is positioned and give radiators space to work.”
6. Stop the heat you’ve paid for escaping
Rob added: “One of the simplest things households can do is look at where heat is escaping. Draughts around doors and windows can quickly undo the work your heating system is doing.
“You don’t necessarily need to spend hundreds of pounds. Simple draught-proofing measures can help, while closing curtains once it gets dark and shutting doors between rooms can keep the heat you’ve already paid for where you actually want it for longer.
“Before turning the thermostat up, look at whether you’re losing heat unnecessarily.”
7. Don’t dry clothes directly on your radiator
Rob said: “Putting wet clothes or towels directly over a radiator can significantly restrict its ability to transfer heat into the room. You’re effectively covering the surface that’s supposed to be warming the space.
“If you need to dry washing indoors, give the radiator some breathing room. A laundry airer positioned nearby rather than directly covering the radiator allows heat to circulate more freely while still helping clothes dry.
“For towels, a suitable radiator towel bar can achieve the same thing by keeping the fabric away from the main surface of the radiator.”
