Anyone with a radiator issued £225 warning as new energy price cap looms

Customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus and others could face a hefty £225 increase in their bills as autumn arrives and heating usage increases, unless they perform a simple but crucial check first. Experts are warning about the importance of a necessary cleaning task to optimise radiators before turning on the heating.

Dust and grime build-up not only reduces radiator efficiency but also drives up energy costs. A thorough clean is said to reduce skyrocketing energy bills by up to 25 percent, potentially saving consumers around £225 on average, especially with the impending introduction of the new energy price cap.

"With the average gas central heating bill now standing at around £900 a year for a two to three-bedroom house, ensuring your radiators are working efficiently is one of the most effective ways to cut costs," emphasised Nancy Emery, a heating specialist from Drench, explaining the potential savings. "Research suggests that by simply keeping your radiator system clean you could save up to 25 per cent off your bills - that's around £225 a year."

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To properly clean a radiator, it's essential to turn the heating off. Heating product expert Andrew Collinge from BestHeating advises: "It is not only safer but prevents them from drawing up more dust while you clean," reports the Express.

Andrew advises using a vacuum cleaner to thoroughly remove dust from every area of the radiator, including the surrounding area and underneath. He recommends: "Use a vacuum to clear as much dust in and around the radiator as possible. If your vacuum has them, use the smaller attachments to get inside down the fins."

To reach tight spaces, Andrew suggests: "Take a stick or piece of wood and wrap a microfibre cloth or fluffy duster around it and secure with tape. To get rid of the smaller pieces that get caught on the radiator fixings, use a hairdryer on a cold setting to blow these out down onto the towel."

When cleaning the radiator, Andrew advises using a sponge with plenty of soapy suds, wringing it out so that it's damp but not dripping, as he told Ideal Home.