Top Tips for Your Household Radiators

Keeping your radiators in top condition is vital for getting the most out of your system, but it can be difficult to keep this condition as a constant, which is why this article will run through some of the best ways to look after your radiators.

Painting

It may seem like a rather innocuous issue, but being careful with the number of layers of paint on your radiator is important to ensuring the efficiency of your radiator. The more layers there are, the less efficient your radiator will be. It is also very difficult to remove layers of paint from a radiator, so take this into consideration if you are thinking about painting your radiators.

Laundry

Again, this is something that has more of a profound impact than you might expect. By drying small items of clothing such as underwear, shorts or vests on your radiators, you are blocking the convection currents from circulating around the room, which means your system has to work harder to heat a room up, thus costing you more money in energy bills.

Temperature control

While you may not need your radiator all day every day – your house might be empty while you’re at work, for example – the way you use it when you are at home can have an effect on its efficiency. Turning it on and off as you need it often means that a lot of energy is used to reach the desired temperature, whereas leaving it on at a low temperature throughout the day can keep costs down as there is not as much power required to reach higher temperatures.

Bleeding radiators

If you notice cold patches on your radiator, particularly at the top, this is a sign that air has become trapped in the system and it needs to be bled. Turn off your central heating, locate the bleed valve on the side of your radiator (usually with a small red handle) and use a bleed key to turn the valve anti-clockwise. A hissing sound should emit from the radiator, signifying the air coming out. Keep the valve open until water starts trickling out, at which point you can re-close the valve and turn the heating back on.

Don’t mix metals

Corrosion is a common problem for central heating systems, and the cause of this corrosion can often be attributed to different kinds of metals reacting with each other in the water in the system. By keeping the same kind of radiator throughout the house or property, you eliminate the risk of these metals coming together and causing corrosion issues.

A&D Plumbing have vast experience in providing comprehensive plumbing services, from boiler installations and repairs to drainage and gas work. If you would like to know more about what we do, please feel free to get in touch with us today on 01206 205 940 – and we’ll be more than happy to help with anything you need.