People urged to put foil behind radiator to boost heat

Whether it is the central heating, boiler, or radiator, there are plenty of ways to warm up your house.

But with energy bills rising and the cost-of-living crisis still apparent, there are some ways to warm your home up more efficiently.

Placing this item behind a radiator can stop heat escaping and help heat a room better.

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People urged to put foil behind radiator to boost heat

Placing foil behind a radiator in your home can help this, as David Holmes, heating expert at WhatPrice, explains.

He said: "Installing foil behind a radiator boosts heat by reflecting heat back into the room.

"This will make your heating system more efficient, which ultimately will save you money on your energy bills.

"You can contact the foil to cardboard panels before placing it behind your radiator. It's a very cost-effective way to retain heat."

Two types of foil can be used, Mr Holmes adds, regular kitchen foil and specialised reflector roll, which is generally more expensive.

Ebony Cropper, a money-saving expert at Money Wellness, concurred with this method, adding: "Radiators naturally lose some heat through the walls they’re attached to, especially if the wall isn’t well insulated.

Placing foil behind radiators can help warm your room better(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"A reflective foil acts like a heat mirror, bouncing that warmth back into the room instead of letting it escape. By keeping more heat in the room, your radiators don’t need to run as high or as long, which can save energy and money.

"On average, households can expect to save around £15-£30 per radiator per year, depending on how often you use your heating and the insulation of your walls."

Most radiator foils are designed for home use, easy to install, and can be picked up for as little as £6 from retailers, like Amazon, Toolstation or Screwfix.

Combine foil radiator trick with other tips to further cut energy costs

While placing foil behind a radiator is a neat trick that can help cut energy bills, it may be best to combine it with other techniques.

Heating and plumbing expert Jamie Heath, from Build and Plumb, explained: "It must be noted that foil reflectors are less effective in modern homes as they have better insulation in their external walls, so there is less opportunity for heat to be lost.

How you can reduce your energy bills

"It’s important to remember that energy-saving measures like radiator reflectors work best when combined with other steps to improve radiator efficiency.

"Regularly bleeding your radiators to remove trapped air ensures they heat evenly.

"You might also consider installing thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), which allow you to control the temperature of individual rooms and avoid wasting energy heating spaces you’re not using."

Andy Ellis, from Vidalux, added: "Things like cleaning and bleeding radiators keeps your heating system working effectively and efficiently.

"You’ll also want to consider moving any furniture that is blocking radiators.

"Having things like sofas and beds in front of the radiator means they’ll be absorbing most of the heat instead of allowing it to circulate freely around the room."

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How to bleed a radiator

British Gas has shared a handy guide on how to bleed a radiator, and when you know this process needs doing.

To check if your radiator needs bleeding, do the following:

• Turn on your heating and wait for it to warm up
• Feel each radiator – if it’s hot at the top and cold at the bottom, it doesn’t need bleeding
• If it’s hot at the bottom and cold at the top, turn off the heating and read on to find out how to bleed it

If your radiator needs bleeding, you will need a radiator bleed key or a flat head screwdriver for more modern radiators, a cloth, old towel and container.

Keeping radiators free from dust can help them to work better too(Image: Getty Images)

Ensure the heating is off before going through the following steps:

• Locate the valve and use your radiator key (or screwdriver) to open it by turning it anti-clockwise
• Only open it slightly until you hear the hissing noise, which is air escaping
• Once the sound stops and water starts streaming out, catch the water in a container
• Re-tighten the valve
• Clean up any excess

Andy Ellis from Vidalux added that ensuring you keep your radiator clean from dust and dirt can help increase its efficiency. You can use a large pipe cleaner or duster to help with this.

Recommended reading:

• The minimum temperature your heating should set at to avoid condensation & mould
• Brits urged to make slight tweak to daily chores to save money on energy bills
• Here are 12 genius ways you can heat your home completely for free

He also explained that checking for sludge, which can accumulate inside the radiator from rust and dirt, is key too.

Mr Ellis said: "This buildup can block heat transfer, causing the radiator to heat rooms less efficiently.

"Remove sludge by draining the radiator and attaching a hosepipe to the valve to flush out the sludge."