When we think of domestic heating and care, we tend to focus on boilers. Of course boilers are usually the main component in warming the home but where does the heat go? To our radiators of course.

It is estimated that there are around 190 million radiators in the UK and most of them need replacing. They are often disregarded in terms and maintenance but he best of them could last forever given the right treatment.

With that in mind, take a look at these tips to help your radiator stay strong and keep your home warm, today and in the future.

Bleed Your Radiator Twice a Year

An often forgotten household chore is bleeding the radiators. If your radiators don’t appear to be working at maximum efficiency, chances are they simply need bleeding.

Air can become trapped in radiators over time and this can result in them not working as efficiently as they should be and leaving you feeling rather chilly.

There’s a simple remedy to this. Simply insert a bleed key into the valve and slowly twist it anticlockwise until you hear a hissing sound and twist back when finished. The reason this should be done slowly, is that if you go too far, you’re going to start releasing water. If this happens simply twist clockwise to stop any leaks.

Stop Hanging Clothes on Your Radiators

If you’re one of those people who dry their clothes on radiators, it’s recommended that you stop. Hanging garments on radiators greatly reduces domestic heating systems’ ability to effectively.

If any clothes fall down the back of the radiator and go unnoticed, this can be detrimental to the warmth of your home. Modern radiators tend to release around half of their heat from behind the front panel. Obstacles such as fallen clothes or even curtains can hamper the flow of warm air and ultimately result in diminished heating.

It can be hard to dry clothes in the winter months but a clothes horse or even an airer that hangs off the unit are much better choices.

Combine Your Domestic Heating Tools

It’s been proven that the best form of domestic heating for efficiency is a boiler with radiators and controls. More specifically, replacing manual heating controls with TVRs can save up to 17% a year on heating bills. A thermostatic radiator valve senses the surrounding air temperature and controls temperature by adjusting water flow to the radiator in each individual room.

There are even certain models available that allow you to program different temperatures for certain times of the day.

As they use temperature to determine the warm air flow needed, it is important that they are not covered by anything, including hanging curtains, clothes or radiator covers as these will suggest to the TVR that the room is warmer than it actually is.

Stay Consistent with Radiators

Choosing the right radiator is only half the battle. Chances are you won’t ever have to resupply the entire home with radiators.

You will at some stage have to replace at least one though. Take time to get to grips with the different options out there and choose one based on your specific needs. Newer radiators have been manufactured with less steel for better heat output.

You should also choose radiators that are made of the same materials. A mix of different metal radiators can increase the chances of corrosion and impact domestic heating around the home. If you are unsure, seek advice from a domestic heating expert.

Avoid Painting Where Possible

Just about everything deteriorates over time, including radiators. It is tempting to paint them to make them look like new but be careful not to overdo it.

A lot of coats or paint jobs will only result in a less efficient heating and see you having to replace one or more to which you've applied too much paint.