Radiator efficiency – reducing heating costs

One of the big problems for many elderly people is keeping warm at this time of year.

In the UK at least, the worst of winter is now just about over, but in many temperate climates the cool winter and autumnal period can easily span 5 or 6 months and staying warm can be a challenge.

The first part of the problem is having a satisfactory heating system, normally based around a boiler, and the second challenge is the energy cost. Unfortunately fuel prices have escalated and, in the UK in particular, successive governments have allowed them to become double and in some cases triple there equivalents in other European countries.

Whilst this is clearly undesirable and a desperately sad reflection on Britain, the main problem is that for many older people who are dependent on state pensions, they simply cannot afford to run their heating for as long as they would like. The result of this is a risk of hypothermia and, at the very least, increased discomfort. Neither are satisfactory outcomes.

So is there a solution or something that can be done? Well without a more caring welfare system (and legislatory control over unrealistic energy price increases) there is little that can be done financially. However, there are energy saving options that can help in many cases. Some are free, some incur an initial cost, but all will ultimately save energy bills or produce more heat for the same amount of money.

Firstly, for anyone of retirement age or beyond, free loft insulation is now available. This means that the insulation and its fitting is free up to a value of about £3000. This is a government scheme and it will not only save money, but it will immediately make a home feel warmer. My mother used this scheme about three weeks back and she says that the difference is very evident. It does impact on the usability of the loft space, but it certainly hold a building’s heat in.

The next option is using what you have more effectively and this starts with radiators.
There a couple of options and both cost money, but both will also save money.

Option one is to replace any old radiators with new efficient convection radiators. These will distribute the heat throughout a room more effectively and consequently the home will feel warmer. This will also result in the thermostat tripping the heating off much sooner – i.e. stopping the boiler from burning energy (and money).

Option two is cheaper, but every bit as effective and it involves replacing the standard radiator valves with new ones. These old valves are replaced with new thermostatic valves, thereby enabling the controlling and turning on and off of each radiator individually. This means that different rooms can have their heat settings adjusted individually, or even turned off altogether. As an example, this could allow a bedroom radiator to be left on all night whilst all of the other radiators were turned off. The energy savings of having these thermostatic valves can be impressive.

Other simple but effective actions can be to make sure that the fins at the rear of radiators are not clogged up with dust. This often happens over time and it stops the convection action from working properly.

Tucking curtains in behind radiators (so that the heat does not get trapped between the radiator and the window) can also help to save energy and keep a room feeling warm.