\u201cAs heating costs continue to rise, we need to make our homes as energy-efficient as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that your radiators are operating at peak efficiency,\u201d explains Jon Bonnar, managing director at Cotswold Energy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully there are some easy, cash-friendly ways to help keep your radiators working as best as they can to ensure your home stays super toasty during the winter months. <\/p> Bleeding radiators is a vital step for ensuring your heating is running efficiently this winter. Trouble is, many of us don’t actually know how to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only has it been found that fewer than half of millennials can’t perform this basic household task, other research has put it at the top of the most searched-for DIY queries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to stats from the Manufacturer\u2019s Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC)<\/a>, nearly a third of homeowners (27%) haven\u2019t bled their radiators within the past year, while over one in 10 (13%) have never done it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it’s actually way easier than you might think. <\/p> \u201cWhen air bubbles are trapped inside a radiator, they can prevent the hot water from circulating properly, which can make the radiator less efficient,\u201d explains Bonnar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBleeding a radiator will remove these air bubbles and allow the hot water to circulate more freely, which will improve the heating efficiency of the radiator and help to reduce overall energy consumption.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n To bleed a radiator, Bonnar says you’ll need a radiator key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSimply open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator and let the air out until water starts to come out,\u201d he adds. See, simple. <\/p> MARC has created an easy step-by-step guide to help more people correctly bleed their radiators, which is available here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n These are panels that can be fitted behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room, rather than allowing it to be lost through the walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRadiator reflectors are really cheap to buy, can be found at most DIY and home retailers nationwide and are easy enough to install yourself without the need of a professional,\u201d Bonnar explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, dusting down the back of your radiators might not be top of your must-do list, but giving them a good once-over can significantly improve their energy efficiency. <\/p> \u201cDust build-up can prevent heat from being distributed throughout your rooms, meaning less efficiency and higher bills to get your home to the same temperature,\u201d explains Andy Kerr, founder at BOXT<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to clean your radiators as often as you would clean any other part of your home to help tackle the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They may look aesthetically pleasing, but while putting a cover on a radiator could be a win in the style stakes, it could actually hinder how well it\u2019s working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you desperately want to cover the radiator or do so for safety reasons, then make sure that any cover you use is designed specifically for radiators, and will still allow the radiator to safely emit heat,\u201d suggests Nicholas Auckland, heating expert at Trade Radiators<\/a>.<\/p> Make sure you don’t have any furnishings blocking your radiators, as having something like a sofa in front of them could waste up to \u00a3100 a year on energy bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSofas and other big items take in the heat and block it from being expelled around the room. If there\u2019s no other spot for your furniture, I recommend moving it a couple of inches out, away from the radiator,\u201d Auckland explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Room feeling chilly? Make sure your fancy curtains are not blocking the heat flow from your radiators, and helping to direct heat out the window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour curtains should be long enough to reach the bottom of your windows but not too long that they touch your radiators,\u201d Auckland explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy-efficient smart radiator valves can automatically adjust the heat output of the radiator based on the temperature of the room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis can help to prevent your radiators from overheating and wasting energy,\u201d Bonnar explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome can even be controlled via an app, allowing you complete control of your heating system through your smartphone.\u201d Clever huh? <\/p>\n\n\n\n A bit like a colonic for your home, a flush involves having your system drained to wash out any build-up of sludge or magnetite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are different types of system flush available, and these should only be completed by a professional heating engineer,\u201d warns Kerr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce this is completed, you should get a better performance all round from your system, especially if your radiators or pipework are partially restricted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re unsure if your system needs flushing, Kerr says there are some quick ways to check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf flushing is required, your radiator will be cold at the bottom and in the middle. This is due to the heat rising above any sludge, and back down again, an effect known as \u2018mooning\u2019.\u201d Who knew? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Installing a shelf just above your radiator not only works as a design feature, it will also help direct warm air into the room rather than allowing it to rise and get trapped behind curtains or blinds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe shelf acts as a barrier, guiding the heat flow into the living space,\u201d explains Nick Duggan, director at the Radiator Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want your room to be sufficiently heated, one of the most important things to consider is if the radiator you have is the correct size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe area and features of a room can determine what radiator is needed to effectively heat the space,\u201d explains Kerr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are many online guides and calculators that can help with this, working out the BTU (British Thermal Units) of a given room. This measurement is designed to work out how much energy is needed to heat a space.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n These devices attach to the top of your radiator and help to circulate the warm air more efficiently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey can be particularly useful in larger rooms or areas that are harder to heat,\u201d explains Auckland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep radiators heating your rooms at peak levels, you can also look at things that improve the overall energy efficiency of a room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Radiator](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Untitled-design-6-700x525.jpg\")
Bleed your radiators<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Install radiator reflectors <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Radiator](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/radiator-reflector-2-700x700.jpg\")
Give them a clean<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ditch the radiator covers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/yellow-radiator-cover-country-style-cropped.jpg\")
Rearrange the furniture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check your curtain length<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fit energy-efficient smart radiator valves <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Smart-Radiator-Valve-on-radiator-700x525.jpeg\")
Have your heating system flushed <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/woman-sat-on-floor-leaning-on-radiator-as-she-reads.jpg\")
Put a shelf above<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check if your radiator is suitable for the room <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Try a radiator fan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Assess the room<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Vase](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Untitled-design-4-700x525.jpg\")