HEATING UP
I’m a plumber and here’s four hacks to heat your home this Winter – including a £1.19 buy from Savers you’ll need to nab
Scroll down for more ways to stay warm this Winter
WITH summer officially over, if you’re worried about how you’re going to keep warm now the weather has dipped, then fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
There's nothing worse than having a chilled night in, only to feel freezing, even though you’ve got the heating on full blast but your radiators are only lukewarm.
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But don’t worry, luckily for you, a plumber has shared four simple hacks to heat your home.
Thanks to Zhelyazko Yanchev, a plumber who works on behalf of , a UK-based company of experts helping people with house maintenance matters, there are four "very simple"; ways to get your radiators feeling hotter.
And according to the pro, a cheap buy from Savers, which you probably already have in your cupboard already, could be the secret to keeping your home warm and toasty this Winter.
Yanchev explained: "Water heating systems circulate hot water through pipes and radiators throughout your home.
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"There are plenty of ways to make radiators hotter, and heat up faster, without buying a new boiler and using expensive or specialist tools.
"Hot water radiator systems are very simple and the problems are likely as simple, too."
Get clearing
According to Yanchev, one of the first things you must do if you want your radiator to heat your home, is to remove any objects on or underneath radiators.
Yanchev said: "Radiators work on the principle that hot air rises by natural convection.
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"Any objects placed on or under them will almost certainly interfere with this process, so be sure to keep your radiators clutter-free."
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Dust it
Not only is clearing up essential, but you’ll need to get dusting too.
It turns out that large clumps of dust and lint can obstruct the vanes and reduce the efficiency of the radiator.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
"Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark," he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of "insulation" between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
"Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly," he continued. "You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
"Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above."
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
"Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30," Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
"Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room," Joshua said.
"This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out."
5. Block drafts
Don't forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren't secure.
As a result, removing dust using a long, thin duster could quickly remove debris and turn those lukewarm radiators into proper heaters.
If you haven’t got a duster, you can nab one from a variety of different high-street shops and supermarkets, and for those on a budget, you’ll be thrilled to know that Savers have extendable dusters for just £1.19.
Balance them out
Once you’ve dusted, Yanchev recommended balancing your radiators.
Yanchev said: "If one room is always colder or its radiator takes a long time to heat up, you may need to balance the radiators.
How to balance a radiator
To balance a radiator, you can try these steps:
- Turn off the heating: Turn off the central heating and allow the water to cool down to avoid scalding yourself.
- Bleed the radiators: Use a radiator bleed key, rags, and a tray to remove air trapped in the radiators. Turn the thermostatic head fully open to release oxygen from the water.
- Open the radiator valves: Turn the valves anti-clockwise to open them. You might need a lockshield valve adjuster or a spanner for older valves.
- Adjust the lockshield valve: Start with the radiator closest to the boiler and gradually close the lockshield valve until it feels slightly cooler than the others.
- Repeat: Repeat the process for each radiator, aiming for a similar level of warmth.
- Turn the heating back on: Turn the thermostat up and then turn the heating off again after ordering the radiators from fastest to slowest to heat up.
- Repeat: Turn the heating back on and go to the radiator on your list that heated up first.
- Take the temperature: Use a thermometer to take the temperature of the pipe leading to one of the valves. Repeat for the other valve.
Balancing radiators ensures that your home's rooms heat up at roughly the same rate.
"Doing this ensures that they heat up evenly, regardless of how close they are to the boiler."
If you are unsure how to balance a radiator, it’s best to call in a professional.
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Let the fans do the work
In addition to this, Yanchev explained that radiator fans are small electric fans that either sit on top or the bottom of the radiator.
Yanchev shared: "By drawing air through the radiator's vanes, they help it emit as much heat as possible."
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