With Ofgem confirming a 4% rise in the energy price cap from October, heating expert reveals the simple checks households should make before switching their heating on for winter
Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap for a typical household paying by Direct Debit will increase by 4% from 1 October, rising from £1,663 to £1,723 a year. Gas prices are behind much of the increase, with the average gas unit rate climbing from 7.33p to 7.97p per kWh.
Now, heating expert Rob Nezard from UK Radiators is urging households to use the remaining milder weeks to get their heating winter-ready and make sure they aren’t wasting the energy they’re paying for.
According to Energy Saving Trust estimates, 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.
Together, 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.
Rob says:
“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.
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.”
1. Turn every radiator on before you actually need them
Rob recommends testing the entire heating system before temperatures drop significantly.
“Put the heating on and physically check every radiator. 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
Where a radiator feels cold can provide a useful clue about what may be happening.
“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
Air trapped inside a radiator can stop it heating evenly.
“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.”
Rob advises homeowners to follow the instructions for their heating system and seek professional help if they are unsure.
4. Check your thermostatic radiator valves
Thermostatic radiator valves, or TRVs, allow households to control individual radiators rather than heating every room in exactly the same way.
“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
One of the easiest changes households can make costs nothing.
“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
One of the biggest potential savings comes from preventing warm air from escaping through gaps around the home.
Energy Saving Trust estimates that draught-proofing around windows, floors and doors could save around £55 a year for households in Great Britain.
“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
As households begin drying more washing indoors during autumn and winter, Rob warns against covering radiators with clothes and towels.
“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.”
The one-degree change that could save £120
Households should also check what temperature their thermostat is set to before winter.
Energy Saving Trust says most people should set their thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for their needs, generally between 18°C and 21°C.
For households currently setting theirs higher, reducing the thermostat from 22°C to 21°C could save around £120 a year in Great Britain.
Rob says:
“Turning the thermostat down doesn’t mean making your home uncomfortably cold. If you’re currently heating your home to 22°C, even reducing that by one degree could make a noticeable difference to your annual bill.
Combined with stopping draughts, you’re potentially looking at around £175 a year in savings from two relatively straightforward changes.
But before focusing solely on the thermostat, make sure the heating you’re already paying for is working properly. Check the radiators, bleed them where necessary, make sure the valves work and remove anything that’s stopping heat circulating around the room.”
He adds:
“September is an ideal time to do this because you have time to fix any problems before the heating becomes something you depend on every day.”
Visit https://ukradiators.com/ for more information
