'I'm a heating expert and this simple radiator hack will save you £75'

As the festive reason approaches and the price cap rises, this money-saving hack comes in handy.

UK households are being encouraged to make a simple adjustment to their radiators that could help save money on energy bills, especially now that the price cap has just increased this October. The recent changes to the cap mean that energy bills will rise by £149 for an average household for the rest of 2024.

However, there's a straightforward trick that could save Brits £75 by helping to control the gas usage needed to heat radiators - and many aren't even aware it exists. This advice comes after a study by Salford University revealed that fitting a Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV) could result in savings of up to nearly half (42%) on gas bills.

The experts at Only Radiators explain that the annual gas used for heating a typical 2-3 bedroom home is around 11,500kWh, which equates to about £717.60 per year from October 1, 2024. As a result, installing a TRV could save you as much as £301.39 per year - or £75.34 for the remainder of 2024.

The heating expert at Only Radiators, Nancy Emery, explains: “All radiators have a valve, it controls the flow of water to your radiator and therefore the gas needed to heat the water. In all cases you can close the valve to effectively turn off your radiator when you don’t need it, but this runs the risk of burst pipes.

"Installing a TRV is one of the best and most energy efficient ways to control the heating in your home and avoids having to turn them off completely. A TRV has a series of settings, which is usually a 0, ✱ and then numbers from 1 - 5, and helps to modulate the air temperature across different rooms in your home."

These valves don't costs much and in fact, your radiator may already have one installed. Many people don't actually know how to use it though with the heating expert further explaining that often people wrongly assume the numbers refer to the temperature of the radiator, but actually they relate to the room temperature, ranging from 0 to 30°C.

So what do the TRV numbers actually mean when it comes to temperature?

TRV numbers equate to the following room temperatures:

• 0 = 0°C
• ✱ = 7°C
• 1 = 10°C
• 2 = 15°C
• 3 = 20°C
• 4 = 25°C
• 5 = 30°C

She says: “You will find or fit your TRV on the side of your radiator, and correct set-up enables you to maximise a single boiler and enjoy different heats across different rooms. The TRV is a valve that self-regulates, meaning it adjusts the flow of water into your radiator depending on the setting.

“In busier rooms like your lounge, for example, which are often heated more by your family’s movements, appliances and even the sun shining through the windows, the TRV can be set lower. Your TRV will restrict water flow as the right room temperature is reached, and you will avoid overheating. The same applies to smaller rooms that will heat up quicker. Then in less populated rooms like spare bedrooms or exterior communal areas, you can set the TRV even lower and avoid heating rooms not used as often by your family.

“Don’t make the mistake of installing a thermostatic radiator valve in your bathroom though, as the heat produced by your shower or bath will wreak havoc with the TRV’s thermostat. Instead of preventing the condensation that often hinders bathrooms, the TRV will shut off and do nothing.

“You probably don’t need to use the highest setting on your valve either, as this is asking for energy to heat the room to 30°C which is very warm, and will continue to do so if it drops below this at any point, so it’s not going to be efficient in that sense. Another consideration is to not fit thermostatic radiator valves in the same room as your principal thermostat. This unit connects directly to your boiler and so you will inadvertently create a competition between your TRV and central thermostat.

“When used correctly, TRVs are a no-brainer and have huge amounts of energy saving potential by avoiding overheating commonly caused by manual valves. Additionally, they help to prevent frost damage and mould meaning less expensive maintenance costs in the long run.”