Turning off radiators may cost more during winter
TURNING off radiators in order to cut costs could actually be doing the opposite, according to one Irish plumbing company.
With the winter months upon us and energy costs on the rise, advice has been issued by one Irish company for people to save money, as they bust common myths.
“By turning off the radiator in a room, you will save energy, but you may not necessarily save money - it all comes down to the age of your boiler,” said Sean Richardson of Complete Plumbing Solutions.
“If your household is using an older, non-condensing boiler (sold before 2005) then you can turn off your radiators and save some money.
“However if you have a modern, condensing boiler or a heat pump, it’s a different story altogether,” Sean said.
By turning off a radiator in your home you’re creating a break in the system, which decreases the efficiency.
While a boiler will not need as much energy, the efficiency is lower, which cancels out any monetary savings and in some cases, may even cost more.
Turn down your Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV) by half a digit in order to keep things flowing, is the advice of Sean at Complete Plumbing Solutions: “So even if you’re not using a room, you still want heat flowing through those radiators, or else your other radiators will have to work harder to get up to temperature.
“Turn down the TRV on your radiator by half or even a full digit, as this will lower the temperature in the unused room whilst still allowing good flow.”
When it comes to drying clothes during the winter months, doing so on a radiator is a big ‘no no’, according to Sean: “If you throw wet clothes on top of your radiator, you’re not allowing the warm air to escape and heat the room properly, which means your boiler will have to work harder and ultimately this will be reflected on your bill at the end of the month.
“Then there’s the health aspect, the moisture from the clothes is evaporated into the air which creates condensation, which in turn can lead to damp and mould growth, especially if the room is poorly ventilated.”
Complete Plumbing Solutions is a Cork based company that specialises in boiler and plumbing services across the residential and commercial industries.