Tips for upgrading your radiator
Upgrading your radiator can significantly improve your home’s heating efficiency and save you money. From choosing a green radiator to changing the radiator’s location, there are plenty of ways to improve your comfort and energy savings. However, it’s not just about making changes. Regular maintenance is also an essential part of keeping your energy costs down and ensuring the radiators run efficiently. We’ve got some great tips on how you can keep an eye on your radiators and make sure they’re working at their best. We can also help you decide where you can make improvements on your radiators, such as upgrading their parts and your heating system.
How close can a radiator be to a wall?
Radiators should be around 2cm (2 ½ in) away from the wall to maximise the heat generated. Heat travels up the walls and forms a blanket around the room, so leaving a gap enables proper airflow and efficient heat distribution.
Make sure you don’t have anything blocking or draped over the radiator as this will cause the heat to become trapped. It’s also not a good idea to place radiators behind sofas or behind full length curtains as the heat won’t be able to circulate around the room properly.
Upgrade TRVs
It’s important to upgrade your TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) when required. The valves automatically adjust the amount of hot water that enters a radiator to control the air temperature in a room. If your TRV is outdated or broken, your radiator won’t be able to function properly. The radiator may run too hot or too cold, which could affect how much you’re paying on your energy bills.
Smart Heating Systems
Smart heating systems give you better control over the heating and and energy usage in your home. You can often use your mobile phones to control them, letting you adjust the heating on the go. You can also use your smart heating systems to easily see your property’s energy usage and work out where you can make reductions.
Many smart systems allow for zoning, which means you can heat specific areas of your home as needed, rather than wasting energy on unoccupied rooms. Your smart heating system may also be able to use local weather forecasts to adjust heating in anticipation of temperature changes.
Regular maintenance
Regularly maintaining your radiators is crucial to their efficiency and longevity. You should check for leaks so you can address them before too much damage is caused. Dust and debris should also be cleared using a vacuum cleaner and cloth along the radiator’s surface. Bleeding the radiator will remove trapped air that can cause cold spots and reduce heating efficiency. You can find out how to bleed a radiator so that you can do it as and when needed.
Contact Us
Don’t let inefficient or outdated radiators affect your home’s heating or increase your energy bills. Contact us for expert radiator maintenance and upgrades to keep your heating system running smoothly and efficiently. We can help make sure your heating system is working as it should and suggest improvements to your radiators if needed.
