UK households face £130 being added to energy bill but it's 'easy to fix'

An "easy to fix" error is costing UK households £130 on their energy bills, it has been warned. Energy customers are being warned over needing to ensure their radiators are working and in fighting order, after BestHeating noticed a 250 per cent spike in Google searches for "radiators are not getting hot".

The rise has been recorded by the experts this week, causing its tech whizz and guru Jessica Steele to warn: "Approximately 80% of radiator issues, particularly when they fail to heat up properly, are typically simple and easy to fix."

She added: "The main problem is that many people are unaware of the common causes behind cool radiators, leading to panic and unnecessary plumber expenses. By shedding light on these frequent easy-to-fix issues, I hope we can help households across the UK improve their heating efficiency effortlessly in time for winter."

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"Using a radiator key, turn the valve at the top of the radiator to release trapped air. When water starts coming out, the air is gone, and you can close the valve," she said. "This should allow the hot water to flow evenly. Be sure to check your boiler pressure after this though, as it may need to be topped up."

"Ensure the valve is not stuck by trying to turn it to a higher setting. If it remains unresponsive, it might need to be cleaned with a soft damp cloth, lubricated with WD-40 or similar, or replaced," she said. She said: "It may be a balancing issue where the hot water is not evenly distributed across the system. Balance the radiators by adjusting the lockshield valve on the warmer radiators which is usually found at the bottom opposite the TRV."

The expert added: "If the pressure is too low, you can add water to the system through the filling loop."