Ronnie the Radiator is back to help homeowners in the South East of England get more from their radiators and combat increasing energy costs this winter following the launch of National Radiator Day 2013, which takes place on Friday 1 November 2013.
The national awareness day aims to highlight the simple, inexpensive or free steps that homeowners can take to retain the heat this winter.
Radiators are the main point of heat delivery for over 26 million homes throughout the UK. Despite this, an ICM poll of 3,397 respondents has revealed that a large proportion of homeowners are not taking the necessary steps to save costs during the winter months.
The survey revealed that in the South East of England:
· 12% of homeowners never service their boiler
· 34% never flush their radiators
· Over a quarter (26%) bleed their radiators less than once a year
· Over a quarter (27%) of homeowners do not use radiator reflector panels, thermostatic radiator valves or radiator covers or cabinets to reduce their energy bill
Ronnie the Radiator’s seven hot tips will help homeowners get to grips with their central heating and make sure that households are better equipped to tackle escalating heating costs.
1. A serviced boiler is a happy boiler
Servicing your boiler well in advance of the winter months will put you ahead of the game and make sure that you and your family won’t get caught out in the cold snap. Not only will servicing your boiler make it run as efficiently as possible but it will help save on heating bills and prevent costly repairs in the future.
2. Let it Bleed
Trapped air is a radiator’s biggest problem as it limits the amount of heat circulating around the system. Bleeding a radiator when the central heating is turned off using a bleed key is the best way to make sure that hot water circulates throughout the entire radiator – not just in isolated patches. Simply bleed the system until the air has left the radiators and your home will feel toasty in no time.
Trapped air is a radiator’s biggest problem as it limits the amount of heat circulating around the system. Bleeding a radiator when the central heating is turned off using a bleed key is the best way to make sure that hot water circulates throughout the entire radiator – not just in isolated patches. Simply bleed the system until the air has left the radiators and your home will feel toasty in no time.
3. Get a thermostat
Thermostatic Radiator Valves are an efficient way of preventing heat wastage. Once fitted to your radiators they will detect the air temperature in the room and, if required, automatically switch the radiator off. Remember, turning your heating down by one degree can reduce heating bills by up to 10%*
4. Budge that sludge
Are your radiators not as warm as they used to be? Are they warm around the top and sides yet cold in the middle and bottom? If so, then you may have a build up of radiator sludge, which means a colder home, higher energy bills and an increased chance of damaging your central heating system. All you need to do is flush them with a few basic tools. Alternatively, a plumber can quickly and cost efficiently flush them for you.
5. Bust the dust
We hoover our homes, polish the furniture and dust the picture frames, but we rarely take a look behind our radiators. Clean radiators are more efficient radiators, so by simply cleaning the dust behind and between the convection fins of the radiators you could be saving money on your heating bills. All you need is an inexpensive radiator brush, which you can purchase from most DIY stores.
6. Don’t block your radiator
Household furniture such as beds, desks and sofas all absorb heat and inhibit airflow, so make sure that they are not blocking your radiators. It’s a simple tip that’s easy to fix – although it often gets overlooked.
7. Reflections of a radiator
Fitting radiator reflection products, such as HEATKEEPER Energy Saving Radiator Panels, to household radiators not only makes the house feel warmer by reflecting the heat back into the room but they can also significantly reduce energy bills. By reflecting heat back into the radiator the water returns to the boiler hotter, which means it needs to fire less often. They’re easy to install as you don’t have to remove your radiator and payback can be reached in a single winter.
Fitting radiator reflection products, such as HEATKEEPER Energy Saving Radiator Panels, to household radiators not only makes the house feel warmer by reflecting the heat back into the room but they can also significantly reduce energy bills. By reflecting heat back into the radiator the water returns to the boiler hotter, which means it needs to fire less often. They’re easy to install as you don’t have to remove your radiator and payback can be reached in a single winter.
Bob Shire is the creator of Ronnie the Radiator and director of Joulesave, manufacturers of the low-cost high-return HEATKEEPER Energy Saving Radiator Panels - metalized PVC panels that fit behind radiators and save up to 20 per cent on energy bills. HEATKEEPER Radiator Panels are now an Energy Saving Trust ‘Recommended Product’.
On Ronnie’s return Bob comments: “After a summer off it’s great to see Ronnie back in the hot seat helping homeowners get ready for winter. Whilst Ronnie represents a fun way of engaging with homeowners, the escalating cost of energy is no laughing matter. Despite this, there are ways that homeowners can save money by making a few small checks and changes. The cost of energy is only going to continue rising so homeowners must tackle this now.”
For more information and to download Ronnie the Radiator’s seven top tips checklist please visit http://www.heatkeeper.co.uk
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