How you can save €550 on your energy bill by bleeding your radiators and 3 more tips

HAVE you taken the step and turned on your heating?

While some people have done so, the decision to flip that switch can be an expensive one, thanks to staggeringly high energy bills.

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So others are looking for other ways to keep their homes warm without turning up the thermostat – with ‘help with my energy bills’ one of the most searched terms on the internet.

And now experts have revealed four simple ways you can cut your energy bills by more than £550 this winter.

Firstly, don’t forget to bleed your radiators.

“Over time, air bubbles can build up in radiators, meaning they don’t heat as effectively as they should,” says Alison Maclean, Head of Marketing at St. Modwen Housessaid.

“By bleeding these radiators you can remove excess air and improve the efficiency of the radiators in your home to improve the heating of your home without having to turn up the thermostat.”

The quick and easy hack can reduce your energy bills by as much as 20 per cent – ​​which amounts to almost £350 a year.

Next, it’s critical to remember to turn off standby devices; a hack that could save you around £40 a year.

“Whether it’s unused light bulbs or kitchen appliances such as toasters and kettles, switching off wall appliances rather than leaving them on standby helps reduce energy output,” Alison said.

If you have trouble doing this daily, try a smart plug or timer, or even set a reminder on your phone.

Also, don’t try to heat every room in your house.

“For example, you may have a guest room that remains untouched for most of the week, or perhaps a bathroom that is only used when guests come over,” Alison added.

By turning off radiators in the most unused rooms of the house you can save 4.5 percent on your energy bill, which means an extra £50 discount.

In addition to reducing energy consumption in your home, you may also be able to get away with not turning on your energy — that is, if you don’t mind layering it up at home.

“A one-off payment for an electric blanket will keep you warm at night and it costs just 3p an hour to use, compared to as much as 22p an hour for standard energy supplies,” Alison said.

How do I bleed my radiators?

• Turn off your boiler – Do this first and then give any radiators sufficient time to cool down so that you do not come into contact with boiling water
• Get your bleed key – If you don’t have one, you can buy them at most hardware stores
• Open the vent valve – use your wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn counterclockwise. Place a towel or bowl under the valve in case water comes out
• Close the vent valve – Don’t worry about the hissing sound, it’s just air escaping
• Once the hissing stops, close the valve again.

This means that using an electric blanket instead of turning on the heating can save you €136.80.

And considering you can get one of the blankets for around £24.99, it won’t cost much either.

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