British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers who have radiators handed free £90

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers who have radiators handed free £90
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers face a "straight forward" five minute task which will slash their energy bills from the new £1,771 price cap. An expert has shared one way to help keep costs down: bleeding radiators.

Noel Gillis from Home Mechanics said that when air gets trapped in your radiators, they fail to circulate heat properly. Bleeding a radiator is a “straightforward” five-minute task that you can do at home now, providing you have the correct tools.

The expert said: “First, determine which radiators in your home require bleeding. It’s crucial not to bleed a radiator that doesn’t need it. If you attempt to bleed a radiator without trapped air, water will immediately spill out when the bleed valve is opened, which can rapidly decrease your boiler’s water pressure and potentially cause your entire system to fail.

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“Once the central heating is on, inspect your radiators to see if any are not heating properly. Cold spots or radiators that are warm at the bottom but cold at the top usually indicate air blockages. It’s advisable to wear light gloves while checking the radiators to avoid burns. Also, listen for rattling or gurgling sounds, which are further signs that bleeding is needed.

“Take note of which radiators need bleeding. A helpful tip is to mark malfunctioning radiators with post-it notes or stickers, so you know where to begin. After identifying the radiators that require bleeding, be sure to turn off the central heating.

“Bleeding radiators while the heating is on can result in serious injury, as scalding water may burst from the bleed valve once the air is released. Once all radiators are completely cold, you can begin bleeding them.”

And he went on: “Never turn the valve more than half a turn when opening it, and be prepared to close it quickly. Modern radiators can release water in a jet, and you want to minimise spillage and avoid low water pressure.”

Bleeding your radiators can save you money on your energy bills by improving your heating system's efficiency. Some say that bleeding your radiators can save you up to £90 per year.