They also had their say on whether you should paint radiators black
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) has urged people to carry out a crucial check to save some cash. In its blog, the experts suggested that if you are not in a room, turn down your radiator.
Don’t turn it off, just turn the dial down a notch or two – and it could save you big bucks. In its advice piece, Money Saving Expert said: “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.”
If, for example, you work from the office, you can ensure this is done before 9am – the usual start time for many across the UK – so when you start work, you’re not heating the bedroom. Even if you work from home, it’s good practice to do this too.
Try to layer up if your desk is in your bedroom, so you’re still saving money while keeping warm. If you do this, MSE have warned to “be aware 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)”.
It noted that thermostatic radiator valves let you control the temperature in each room (except the one with your main thermostat). When a room gets warmer than the setting on its valve, the valve reduces or stops the flow of hot water to that radiator. The boiler can still heat other rooms, but it will use less energy overall.
By installing these valves and using them with your main thermostat, you can manage heating on a room-by-room basis and potentially save around £40 a year on energy bills. MSE warned that people should note there is an upfront cost as the valves themselves are roughly £10 each, plus installation.
It added: “Most thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) 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.”
If you’re keen to paint your radiators black to help retain the heat, don’t waste your time, the financial experts stressed. It concludes that “according to the Energy Saving Trust, this is simply a myth and not worth the time, money, or paint”.
