Posted: Friday, December 30, 2022
Ensuring that your radiators are functioning effectively will result in a comfortable, constant temperature in your home and can reduce your energy bills - something that we could all use some help with considering the current energy crisis! To help you to achieve this, we thought that we would give you some tips to improve radiator efficiency.
One simple way to improve radiator efficiency is to keep them clean, otherwise the dust and grime can insulate the model, preventing heat from escaping as it should. Dust on the surface can be easily removed with a simple cloth, sponge or feather duster.
To clean down the back of your radiator you can use the ‘hairdryer hack’. Simply lay a blanket or sheet on the floor to catch any debris, and point the nozzle down in the gap between the wall and the radiator - it’s a quick and easy trick! Should your radiator be particularly dirty it may need to be fully cleaned and we have written directions for this here.
When you have the heating switched on, put your hands on the top of your radiator. If it is cool, or cooler at the top than it is at the bottom, it may need bleeding. This is a simple task that you can learn to do here.
Most radiators will need bleeding at some point in their lifetime. This is a common problem which occurs when air becomes trapped inside. The presence of the air prevents the water from circulating properly, stopping the radiator from warming up fully. It can be easily rectified in no time!
Many households have their radiators positioned behind sofas, cupboards, or other furniture, this is not a good idea! Placing your radiator in a position like this means that they are working to heat up the object in front of them, rather than heat the room. If you do not have enough wall space to avoid radiators being covered, try to leave as much of a gap between the back of the object and the radiator as possible as this will improve radiator efficiency. Alternatively, you can save precious wall space by choosing a vertical radiator, like these effortlessly stylish Anthracite models.
Another common error that people make is using their radiators to dry their clothes, which can be especially tempting when the weather is not suitable for hanging your washing outside. You should avoid doing this as much as possible. Not only will it prevent heat from escaping properly, but it will also cause your home to become more humid, which may lead to mould forming.
If you find that the bottom of your radiator is cool to the touch, compared to the top, or if either brown or no liquid at all comes out when you bleed them, they may need to be flushed. Heating Technology Specialists advise that you do this every five to six years.
Flushing a radiator is effectively cleaning them on the inside. Over time, rust and dirt build up inside the radiator and this sludge prevents the water from circulating through them properly. You can find out how to do this here.
If these tips do not help to improve radiator efficiency, it may be time to replace your existing models. You can design yours on our website or choose one from our ready-made collection. Download our brochure to see some of the beautiful options that we have available. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to source inspiration.
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