A HEATING expert has revealed that sludge hidden in your radiators could be adding as much as \u00a3450 to bills.<\/p>\n

A dirty heating system could increase your bills by as much as 25%, Engineering lecturer Peter Brown says.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With the average energy bill now \u00a31,834 under the energy price cap from October 1, that means getting it sorted could lead to serious savings.<\/p>\n

Cleaning the dirt and build-up inside your radiator means it can run more efficiently.<\/p>\n

When there's debris choking up the pipes it means the air can't circulate as well, so it takes longer to heat up or you might crank up the temperature dial.<\/p>\n

You can clear out the dirt yourself or pay someone to filter out the 'sludge'.<\/p>\n

Signs of issues are often clunking or groaning sounds when radiators are on.<\/p>\n

You can try and fix this yourself, by bleeding the radiators. Or you might want to get in an engineer to check and flush your heating system.<\/p>\n

This can cost around \u00a3300 to \u00a3500 according to Checkatrade. But it could be money well spent to avoid future breakdowns and clear the muck that's pushing up your bill.<\/p>\n

Make sure anyone you task with the job is Gas Safe registered.<\/p>\n

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You can follow our guide on how to bleed your radiators\u00a0and rid their central heating system of any trapped air.<\/p>\n

More ways to slash your heating bill<\/h2>\n

Peter also shared his quick hacks and tips to cut your heating bill – while actually making your house hotter.<\/p>\n

While underfloor insulation can be expensive, filling the gaps between wooden flooring with a \u00a35 foam spray is extremely effective.<\/p>\n

Peter, who has lectured in engineering in Glasgow for ten years said a \u00a315 inflatable draught excluder for an unused chimney can help the temperature climb indoors.<\/p>\n

Draught excludes work to block cool air coming into your home from underneath the gap at the bottom of your doors. <\/p>\n

You can get them for as little as \u00a37.99 from stores like The Range, however, if you have a thick blanket you can roll it into a sausage shape and that will work just as well.<\/p>\n

Radiator foil – which can be bought for around \u00a37 – is also another top tip Peter gives.<\/p>\n

Radiator foil goes behind your radiator and reflects any heat going towards it back into the room.<\/p>\n

You can find fairly priced radiator foil in stores like B&Q, Screwfix and B&M.<\/p>\n

And while it may seem like an effort, tips which allow you to drop your thermostat by just one degree 'correlates to a 10% saving on your bill,' he claims.<\/p>\n

Peter, a faculty director of engineering at Glasgow Kelvin College, said: "It's not just the expensive things that keep your heating costs down.<\/p>\n

"If you are losing heat through your windows and can't afford double glazing, closing trickle vents and buying draught excluders can be just as effective."<\/p>\n

"Underfloor insulation can be costly but cans of spray foam can be bought for a fiver and work successfully to fill the gaps letting out all of your heat."<\/p>\n

Poor floor insulation is a common cause of heat loss in a lot of homes as cold air creeps its way through tiny cracks in the flooring. <\/p>\n

Experts can lay an insulator underneath your flooring to block all cracks. Prices may vary depending on the type of flooring you have. <\/p>\n

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you could save between \u00a340-\u00a365 on your energy bill through floor insulation.<\/p>\n

Peter says: "Carpets are usually more effective at keeping the heat in than wooden floors, but laying a carpet if you don't already have one will not necessarily be more cost-effective.<\/p>\n

"An unused chimney can be plugged with an inflatable draught excluder, or you could pay a bit extra to get it professionally capped."<\/p>\n

Peter says paying attention to your radiators can save you a lot on your bills.<\/p>\n

"Investing in a roll of radiator reflecting foil is cheap and they are generally helpful at reflecting the heat back into the room," he said.<\/p>\n

"Paying attention to the TRVs, which are the thermostatic valves controlling the temperature at the side of your radiator, is also important.<\/p>\n

"Set the temperature in each room depending on how hot you want it – there's no need for your spare bedroom to be constantly heated, and generally sleeping areas don't need to be as warm as living areas.<\/p>\n

"Bleeding your radiators regularly is also a sure way to save some cash."<\/p>\n

If you want to try bleeding your radiator follow our helpful guide here. <\/p>\n

"Every one-degree drop in temperature roughly correlates to a 10% saving on your bill – aim to heat living areas to 21 degrees and bedrooms to 18," Peter said.<\/p>\n

If you're looking to fork out, he recommends making sure you'll see a return on your investment within five years and to get an energy assessment to make sure the changes are worth making.<\/p>\n

"Take a look at the boiler itself, because it's very old, generally it will be insufficient, so forking out on a new condensing boiler will likely pay back fast," he said.<\/p>\n

"Fuel prices have gone down a bit so you should be able to pay it back in five years.<\/p>\n

"Wall cavity insulation has the quickest payback time of anything, but you may not be able to install it in a period property, so the houses that need it the most may not get approved.<\/p>\n

"Heating controls may also be a nifty investment as they can help heat your house by zone. Although it may set you back by \u00a3500-\u00a31000 depending on the size of your house."<\/p>\n

"With all these changes you could save around 15% on your heating bills", Peter said.<\/p>\n

In other news, people are raving about a \u00a33.25 kit to avoid putting the heating on \u2013 and it tackles condensation and mould.<\/p>\n

Find out the\u00a0exact date Aldi\u2019s sell-out winter gadget to avoid putting the heating on returns\u00a0to stores.<\/p>\n

And shoppers are rushing to buy a \u00a31 gadget to avoid putting the heating on\u00a0and it costs nothing to run.<\/p>\n

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Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing\u00a0money-sm@news.co.uk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You can also join our new Sun Money\u00a0Facebook group\u00a0to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group\u00a0members.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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