British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, and Octopus customers have been advised to shell out just 99p to shield themselves from the new energy price cap. Thanks to Ofgem, the energy price cap is set to soar to a whopping £1771 from October 1 and will remain in place until January.
A savvy home heating expert has revealed that a mere 99p investment could be the ‘key’ to slashing up to £350 off your energy bills. Radiator bleeding keys, available for a bargain at online retailers and local hardware stores, can boost your home’s warmth and cut down on central heating expenses by releasing air pockets that accumulate during the summer.
Mitchell Wray, a home heating specialist, pointed out: “There are often household maintenance tasks that can be neglected or forgotten, and for lots of Brits bleeding your radiators might be one of them. Lots of advice often is focused on the central heating and boiler itself, but often money is wasted by not checking your actual radiators, and in some cases, can impact your overall central heating.”
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Jess Steele, a guru in heating technology at BestHeating, commented: “Being able to bleed a radiator is a valuable skill as it is important to do this around the home yearly. Failing to do this can cause internal corrosion and damage parts linked to the boiler.”
“If your radiator has cold spots at the bottom, the system may need flushing which is a more complicated task. For those who don’t feel confident in their skills it is always best to contact a qualified professional who will prevent any further problems down the line.”
If you’re looking to bleed your radiator, start by switching off your central heating to avoid scalding yourself with hot water. Then, locate the radiator bleed valve, reports Birmingham Live.
Once you’ve found it, place a towel on the floor beneath the bleed valve to catch any drips.
Next, insert the radiator bleed key into the valve until they lock together – then turn it anti-clockwise to open the valve – keep turning the valve until it is between a quarter and half way open, being careful not to open it fully.
You should hear a hissing sound, which will stop once the trapped air has been bled from the radiator. Close the valve once you’re finished.