In this day and age, making heating more efficient is the number one priority in saving on those energy bills. With the current energy crisis, making changes here and there could just help save those pounds and pennies! Here are a few points to consider…

Aluminium radiators are a great material for heating. They have low water contents so therefore there is less water to heat up, and less work for your boiler. They also have rapid response times; they will heat up very quickly (but do cool down quickly). An example is our Alchemy radiator, which will heat up in just over half the time of a steel radiator and uses 50% less water. Aluminium is also a really good heat conductor; they have high thermal efficiency, giving it a fast heat-up time.

Sizing your radiators appropriately is also important; making sure the right heat output requirement is met for the room size. We do have a heat calculator on our website which will help with this, simply input your room sizes. If the radiator is under powered, it will take longer to heat the room and may not reach the required room temperature. The radiator will then need to be on for longer and use more energy.

Another way to look at making your heating more efficient is by using thermostatic radiator valves. Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) come with an in-built temperature sensor. The thermostatic valve will maintain the room at the temperature you have selected, by automatically adjusting the heat output from the radiator. This means that you can make the most of any “free” heat the room receives, such as that from the sun (solar heat gain) or from electrical appliances. As the valve is controlled automatically, it turns itself on or off, ensuring the radiators perform as efficiently as possible and are environmentally friendly as they prevent energy from being wasted by overheating a room.

Bleeding radiators are an important step for efficiency in your heating system. You may notice that your radiators are cold at the top and hot at the bottom, this is a tell-tale sign that they need bleeding. When you bleed a radiator you are removing air from the system. When there is air in your radiator it will not be performing to its potential, and in turn, that means it takes longer to heat up your room. It is a simple process, and we have a step-by-step guide on our YouTube channel to help you with this.

Following on from bleeding your radiators, it is also important to have your boiler serviced; this is recommended on an annual basis. It is to make sure it is running as well as possible. A boiler that is not serviced will become less efficient and will consume more energy. Your heating engineer can clean up any deposits that have built up in the boiler over time and will allow maximum boiler efficiency. Your heating engineer should also add an inhibitor to your system which is a chemical liquid that breaks down the sludge that builds up in your radiators, which in turn is key for that efficient system! It is crucial for the inhibitor to be used, as, without it, the water can be corrosive and cause leaks and in turn invalidate radiator warranties as the system has not been maintained properly.

Another good idea for increasing the efficiency of your heating system is insulating your pipework. This can help to reduce heat loss through the pipes and can also prevent them from freezing. It is a simple process and inexpensive, a DIY job! Simple yet effective.

Controllability is vital when trying to make your heating system more efficient. Using a programmable thermostat is so important to ensure your heating is coming on and off only when required. There is so much on the market now for smart systems that can be controlled via your phone remotely. Or just a standard room thermostat can do the job, once you have set it up it you should be good to go! For example, having your heating on when you wake up then off when you leave the house, and coming back on again when you get in from work.


Hope this has helped with ideas for things that can be done to improve the efficiency of your heating system. If you would like more help or information please feel free to call us, we are here Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays and weekends) 9 to 5 to assist further on 01274 567789. Or email contactfr@featureradiators.co.uk.