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  • WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR RADIATORS CLEAN

    A lot of us probably take our central heating system for granted.

    We switch it on, our home gets nice and warm and cosy, we put our feet up and all is well with the world.

    But did you know that keeping your radiators free from dust and dirt is really important and could save you a good chunk of money on the cost of heating your home?

    Leaving dust and dirt in-between the fins of your radiators will mean that it is harder for the heat to escape.

    This means that your radiator will have to work much harder to heat your room, for a longer period, costing more money and making a bigger dent in your finances.

    In short, heating your home can become difficult and expensive with dusty and unclean radiators.

    So, keeping on top of the dust and dirt that accumulates in and around your radiator – and making it part of your daily or weekly cleaning routine – is definitely a good idea.

    We can’t promise that it will make you an overnight millionaire, but it will ensure your home heats up quicker and lead to a more efficient heating system that WILL save you money and energy in the long run.

    So, because we’re a helpful bunch at BestHeating, we decided to put together these top tips for keeping on top of those dirty radiators, so they stay glossy, gleaming and in good working order for many a year to come.

    WHY DOES MY RADIATOR KEEP GETTING DUSTY?

    You may not know this, but there is dust in the air all the time, it really is everywhere – and it’s not just dust either.

    If you have a cat or a dog you can guarantee that there will be hair in the air and, if you’re a smoker, you’ll also have nicotine residue to think about too.

    All this dust and dirt will clump together and become trapped in your radiator because of the currents of air that circulate warmth around your home.

    These convection currents see warm air rise and cool air fall. As the air begins to sink it takes dust and dirt with it and as that gets drawn up through the radiator it leaves the debris behind – clogging the fins around the back and across the top of your appliance.

    It’s this dirt that you need to keep on top of to ensure your radiators are working to their optimum level.

     

    WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CLEAN YOUR RADIATOR?

    Right, so are you ready to get those radiators all shiny, clean and looking like new?

    Great!

    But before you pull your gloves on and get started be sure that you have these few things to hand and primed for use:

    • Your trusty vacuum cleaner
    • A duster (or maybe two)
    • A bucket filled with warm and soapy water
    • Sponges and cloths
    • An old bath towel or a dust sheet
    • A long thin stick (like a metre ruler or a yardstick)
    • A roll of Sellotape

    SO, LETS CLEAN THOSE RADIATORS

    Simply follow the next few steps and you’ll be basking in the glow of clean and shiny radiators again in no time – it’ll be like you’ve just bought them from our store!

    First thing’s first, before you start to clean your radiators switch your heating off and make sure all the one you’re cleaning has cooled down.

    Grab your vacuum cleaner and try your best to get as much of the dust and dirt from in and around your radiator – it could be you have some slim attachments that you could use to get right down in-between all the fins, but don’t worry if not.

    If after you vacuum there are still a few bits of dust and dirt that you haven’t managed to shift, this is where the metre ruler/yardstick comes in handy.

    Place your dust sheet or towel on the floor underneath your radiator and - using a bit of Sellotape to secure it in place - put a duster on the end of the metre ruler and begin to push the remaining dust and dirt out of the fins and from the back of the appliance until it’s all clear.

    Alternatively, you could try using a hairdryer to blow out any dust that remains.

    Once you have all the dust out of the way, it’s time to get busy with the soap and water.

    Grab your bucket and, using a non-abrasive cleaner (something like Stardrops is good) wipe your radiator down with a sponge, trying not to drip water all over the carpet.

    Once you’ve wiped from top to bottom and side to side take a dry cloth or a towel to wipe off the excess, this will ensure that your radiator won’t stain or rust and ruin your hard work.

    Be careful not use things like Brillo pads to do this part of the job as that may damage the surface of your radiator and make it look worse than when you began.

    EXTRA BITS TO KEEP IN MIND

    Vacuuming your radiators regularly will not only keep the dust at bay, but it could help prevent allergies too.

    Dust and dirt can aggravate conditions such as asthma and a range of other allergies, so making cleaning your radiators part of your normal cleaning routine can keep these conditions at bay and help to protect you and your family.

    There’s never a bad time to clean your radiators, but summertime is probably the best time to give them a thorough cleaning, as you won’t have your central heating on as much as you might in the winter months.

    And, if you really want to give your radiators the ultimate deep clean, why not take them off the wall altogether and power wash them with a hose – or perhaps even give them a new lease of life with a fresh lick of paint and match it to your living room colour decor.

    And there you have it, you should be well on your way to having a bright and brilliant radiator in no time with the help of these tips.

    For more heating advice, news and a range of how-to guides, please visit The BestHeating Blog, or if you fancy changing your radiators altogether, why not visit our store and find a shiny new one that is already clean and ready to heat your home in style?

    Come and browse our extensive collection of radiators at BestHeating.com – till then, stay safe & happy heating!

  • How to Bleed a Radiator

    Given the recent spell of warm weather I guess that nobody has their central heating switched on right now but as autumn approaches and chilly nights & cold mornings return we'll all be reaching for "heat on" setting.

    To ensure effective performance of a water-filled radiator, you need to make sure that the radiator has been "bled" properly. Bleeding a radiator means getting rid of any air that has accumulated at the top of radiator. When air is present, there is no water, which means no heat. Bleeding a radiator is done by opening an “air vent” otherwise known as a “bleed valve”. Ideally radiators should be checked for air accumulation at least once a year.

    To bleed a radiator you will usually require an appropriate tool, namely a flat headed screwdriver, a “bleed key” or a spanner. Bleed keys (vent keys) are not included as standard but can be purchased from a plumbers' merchant or home improvement store.

    Bleeding a radiator is a simple process:

    1. Ensure both valves at the bottom of the radiator are open;

    2. Get a bleed key (vent key), screwdriver or spanner ready to open the bleed valve (air vent) at the top of the radiator. Have a rag or cloth ready to catch minor drips;

    3. Use the tool to open the air vent and release the air holding the cloth underneath;

    4. Listen for the change in sound; you will hear a hissing noise at first, which is the sound of air escaping. Vent the radiator until the sound changes and you get a steady stream of water. At this point you can retighten the air vent using the tool.

    5. Once you have bled the radiator, turn the heating back on and leave the system to flow for half an hour.

    Please note: On first filling a system, it is air that is vented from a radiator. However, from then on the periodic venting required is actually releasing hydrogen that is the by-product of rusting in the system. If regular bleeding is continually required, then this is a strong indication that the system requires draining, cleaning and refilling incorporating a corrosion inhibitor to prevent further rust in accordance with BS5449 section five commissioning. Alternatively, if regular bleeding is required then this could indicate a leak that is letting air enter the system.

    Alternatively modern radiators do sometimes come with “automatic bleed vents” which release air from a radiator whenever necessary, meaning that you do not need to bleed the radiator manually. These are great for convenience, however there are instances of automatic bleed vents causing damage to a radiator as regular venting can mean regular water seepage which can lead to corrosion.

    For more advice on maintaining your radiators, contact a radiator specialist such as Feature Radiators; their expert team can provide technical help on a variety of radiator related subjects.

  • Cracking Radiators

    Is Jack Frost nipping at your…radiators?
    cracked radiator
    The recent cold snap and record-breaking low temperatures have led the British public to encounter a rarely seen phenomenon: cracking radiators! This is despite the radiators being inside a property and on a functioning central heating system.

    But radiators are known as strong and durable pieces of engineering, so how can a radiator crack?

    When water freezes: its volume expands by around 10%. A radiator full of water that is in a particularly cold room such as a conservatory, can freeze and the expansion of the freezing water can cause cracks; usually at weld points and seams on the radiator.

    Radiator experts, Feature Radiators, recommend some options to prevent radiators freezing and the consequential damage.

    Firstly, install a “frost stat”. This is a device that will override your regular central heating timer and thermostat by automatically switching on your central heating when it senses the temperature drop below a pre-determined amount.

    Secondly, invest in some thermostatic valves as these have a “frost protection” setting. This means that when the thermostat on the valves measures the room temperature as approaching 0°C, the valve opens a little, allowing water into the radiator to ensure that it doesn’t freeze. However, this will only work when the central heating is “ON” as thermostatic valves are not able to turn the boiler on.

    The frost protection setting on thermostatic valves is great for protecting your radiators and pipes during the day when your central heating system is switched on and working. However, a frost stat will ensure that you protect your radiators and pipes when your central heating system is switched off overnight or when you’re away during the winter and it is this period when most frost damage occurs.

    Feature Radiators also recommends you consider frost damage when purchasing reclaimed cast iron radiators. These are often purchased from salvage yards and can be stored outdoors leading to cracking. Pressure testing of reclaimed radiators is essential to ensure that radiators are functioning correctly and that they are free from leaks.

    For more information on radiators, contact specialists Feature Radiators on 01274 567789 or visit their website www.featureradiators.co.uk

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