5 checks to carry out before turning on your heating for the first time this winter

5 checks to carry out before turning on your heating for the first time this winter Have you put your heating on yet? With temperatures dropping and the record heat of the summer already feeling like a distant memory, it's no surprise many people are thinking about keeping their homes warm The record heat of this summer already feels like a distant memory as temperatures plummet and skies turn grey. As we break out the warm coats and woolly jumpers, most people will have at least thought about putting their heating on for the first time this autumn. But before you flick the switch, there are a few checks you should carry out to make sure your heating is working properly. A properly working central heating system will not only keep your home warm, but also get you best value for money, which is more important than ever with the ever-increasing cost of living. Georgina Bisby regularly shares useful home maintenance and DIY tips on social media and recently posted a video on TikTok outlining five things you should check before putting your heating on. "Before you turn your heating back on this autumn, there are five things I'd check first," she said. Check your boiler pressure "First, check your boiler pressure while it's cold," Georgina said. "For many systems you're looking for between one to 1.5 bar, but check the instructions for your specific boiler if it's too low. Most boilers can be topped up by using the filler loop. On mine I slowly open these valves until the pressure comes back up, then close them again." The filler loop is the pipe which comes out of the boiler, usually from the bottom, with a small valve on it which can be easily adjusted by hand. Some have a pressure gauge on them, while in other cases the pressure is indicated on the boiler itself. Georgina added: "If you keep having to top it up though, don't just keep doing it, get it checked because your system may be losing pressure elsewhere." Check the radiators are heating up properly The second thing to check is that your radiators are heating up properly. "So, feel the radiator," Georgina said. "And if the radiator is warm at the bottom but cold at the top, it's often trapped air. Turn the heating off and let the radiator cool." Demonstrating how to use a radiator key to bleed air out of the heater, she continued this should be done until water starts to come out. "Close it again and check your boiler pressure afterwards," she added What to do if one radiator isn't heating up Explaining what to do if one of your radiators isn't working while the others are, Georgina said: "You can remove the thermostatic head." Showing herself removing the the the inverted cone-shaped object on top of one of the pipes leading from the bottom of the radiator - she said: "If you've got a thermostatic valve like this, the little pin underneath can sometimes stick after months of not being used. "So, it should move up and down. If it's stuck down, gently work it free, don't yank it out. Then you can put the valve head back on. Sometimes that's all it takes to get the radiator working again." Move your furniture Next, Georgina warned against "(making) your heating fight your furniture". "If you've got a sofa pushed right in front of a radiator, pull it away so the heat can circulate into the room," she said. "And while you're moving furniture, check wardrobes and sofas against cold outside walls. Leave a gap for air to circulate. Furniture pushed tightly against a cold wall can create the perfect conditions for condensation and mould behind it." Test your carbon monoxide alarm Finally, Georgina said: "It's a good idea to get into the habit of testing your carbon monoxide alarm. So press the button and check that it actually sounds." When should you turn on your heating for the first time? Everyone has their own opinion on when the right time to turn on central heating for the first time is. While some will have already switched theirs on, others argue it's nowhere near cold enough yet. According to the Met Office, homes should be maintained at a temperature of at least 18 degrees. This is especially important for those with reduced mobility or heart or lung disease, and people aged 65 and older. Temperatures are already well below this throughout the UK, with a daytime average of 14 degrees in London and Cardiff forecast over the next week, along with 12 degrees in Manchester, and 11 degrees in Edinburgh and Belfast. This means, if you haven't already, it's time to put the heating on. Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings