Reduce energy bills by 'up to 20 percent' with 'efficient' 99p item - and takes 5 minutes

As the energy price cap is set to go up for all UK households, many Brits are looking for simple yet effective ways to reduce their bills.

By Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

Senior Couple Reviewing Energy Bill On Laptop At Home

Winter is soon approaching (Image: Getty)

As the temperatures drop, many homeowners dread the thought of new winter bills hitting their household budgets.

With the price cap now at £1,717, any opportunity to save money whilst using the heating is a welcome bonus for households across the UK.

But according to energy and insulation experts, National Insulation Supplies, a 99p purchase could be the ‘key’ to saving hundreds.

Radiator bleeding keys are priced at just under a pound from online stores or hardware shops.

The keys help make homes warmer and save on central heating costs by reducing trapped air built up over summer months.

White radiator in the apartment

Check your radiators to see if they work properly (Image: Getty)

It is estimated up to 20 percent of your energy bill can be saved by having properly efficient radiators - which at this winter's cap is nearly £350.

Bleeding your radiator is a simple task that takes as little as five minutes per radiator, and only needs to be tackled every six months.

Mitchell Wray, home heating expert at National Insulation Supplies, said: “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."

The bleed valve in the radiator to vent air from the radiator. Person's bleeding a radiator to make the heating more efficient.

A radiator key costs as little as 99p (Image: Getty)

How does it save money?

Wray said: "Bleeding your radiator means freeing air that has become trapped in your radiator. This is a problem because the radiator won’t heat up as effectively. Your boiler needs to use more energy to fight the air, costing you more money.”

Signs you need to bleed the radiator:

  • Your radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top, or you can feel cold spots in the radiator
  • Your radiator ‘gurges’
  • Your home feels colder than usual, despite the heating being on
  • You haven’t done it this year

How to bleed your radiator:

Tools needed:

A radiator key - around 99p from shops or online

A cloth or bowl to catch water

Steps:

  • Turn off the boiler
  • Ensure the boiler is turned off to prevent hot water from escaping.
  • Open the bleed valve:
  • Locate the bleed valve, usually a small square at the top of the radiator. Use the radiator bleeding key to turn the valve counterclockwise.
  • If you have multiple radiators, start with the one farthest from the boiler.

Release air:

As air escapes, you'll hear a short hissing sound. Keep turning the valve until a small trickle of water comes out.

Close the valve:

Once the water starts to flow, turn the valve clockwise to close it.

Turn on the boiler:

Give it 15 minutes, and then turn back on the boiler ensuring the pressure returns to a safe level.

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