Martin Lewis’ MSE have urged people to install it if they have not already
Financial experts from MoneySavingExpert (MSE) have urged households to install a valve costing around £10 to help reduce the cost of their bills. The MSE team, founded by Martin Lewis, suggested: “Make sure you control which rooms you heat, so you’re not wasting cash heating empty rooms.
“You can simply go round the house and turn down the radiators in the rooms you don’t want to heat. Smart Energy GB says you could save around £40 a year turning radiator valves down to the midway point, in rooms you don’t use.”
In its money-saving guidance, the website explained that thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) let you control the temperature in individual rooms (except the one containing the central thermostat). When a room reaches a temperature higher than the valve setting, the valve reduces or stops the flow of hot water to that radiator.
TRVs
By fitting these valves and using them alongside your main thermostat, you can control your heating on a room-by-room basis and potentially cut your energy bills by approximately £40 each year.
MSE cautioned that there may be an initial expense, as the valves cost roughly £10 each plus fitting. It added: “Most thermostatic radiator valves have a frost prevention setting – usually a snowflake symbol.
“So when the valve is fully turned off, it’ll still let a small amount of hot water through to prevent pipes from freezing. If your radiators don’t have TRVs, be careful not to turn them off completely, as this could result in burst pipes in very cold weather.”
Routine
For those working in an office, make it part of your morning routine to adjust the heating controls before 9am – when most Brits start their working day. This is in order to avoid wasting energy by warming an empty bedroom – and the approach works well for home workers too.
That said, if you work from your bedroom, try layering up to stay warm whilst keeping the thermostat a touch lower to reduce bills. MSE also warned those considering cutting back on heating.
It notes that “in some homes, colder rooms could lead to more condensation, which can increase the risk of mould. Also, be aware that fridges and freezers generally can’t function properly if room temperatures drop too low (typically below 10°C).”
Black paint
If you’re thinking about painting your radiators black, you might want to reconsider. The money-saving experts found that “according to the Energy Saving Trust, this is simply a myth and not worth the time, money, or paint.”
