Seven radiator mistakes that could waste £600 a year - check now before it's 'too late'

As summer draws to a close and the weather gets cooler, many British households are bracing for the cold. Before the realwinter sets in, it's a good idea to check your radiators and make sure they're functioning.

Checking your radiators for minor defects can save you up to £600 that would otherwise be lost in higher energy bills and repairs. From blocked heat circulation to un-bled radiators, small oversights can add hundreds of pounds to annual heating costs. The warning comes as families continue to grapple with high energy prices.

Rob Jones, heating specialist at UK Radiators, said: "The average household could be losing between £400 and £600 a year just by ignoring their radiators. Most people only notice problems when they switch the heating on in November and suddenly half the house is cold.

"By then, it's often too late - small fixes have become expensive call-outs. The good news is these are easy checks you can do right now: bleed radiators, clear space around them, and run your heating for 20 minutes to spot any issues. A little preparation now saves a lot of stress and money in December."

The first thing you need to do is be sure to bleed your radiators. This task will get rid of air pockets which can limit how effective your radiator is.

After bleeding the radiator, inspect the bleed valve for any signs of leakage. If you notice any leaks, tighten the bleed valve gently until the leak stops - but be very careful not to over-tighten, as this may damage the "O" ring and could lead to further problems.

Do this on all of your radiators before the weather gets colder to ensure they're all working properly.

It's also a good idea to check all your radiators for rust, cracks or leaks before the cold, as if these are left alone they can escalate into a larger problem that will need expensive repairs.

While you're checking for damage, ensure that no furniture is against the radiators as this will stop them effectively heating the room - it's important there is room for the heat to circulate.

When winter hits, you need to make sure you never dry your clothing or towels on the radiators as this reduces the heat output and also increases the risk of mould.

If you want to boost the efficacy of your radiator and keep bills down, try installing a radiator reflector behind it.

These sheets of reflective material reflect the heat back into your space and can double their efficiency.

Below are the most common radiator mistakes and how much they can affect your home.

The Cost of Common Radiator Mistakes

Mistake	Extra Annual Cost	Why It Matters
Not bleeding radiators	£70-£100	Air pockets reduce efficiency by up to 15%.
Ignoring cold spots/sludge	£200-£300	Sludge forces boilers to overwork; breakdowns cost £400+ to repair.
Blocking radiators with furniture/curtains	£60-£80	Heat is trapped instead of warming the room.
Drying clothes on radiators	£100-£120	Reduces output by ~20% and raises risk of damp/mould.
Heating unused rooms	£50-£150	Wasteful without thermostatic radiator valves.
Skipping radiator reflectors	£30-£50	Heat escapes through external walls.
Neglecting maintenance checks	£150-£500	Small leaks escalate into major, expensive faults.