Radiator reminder as millions of UK homes switch heating back on

Radiator reminder as millions of UK homes switch heating back on People could be wasting money by not checking these settings Before putting your heating back on this autumn, homeowners should make one simple check on all their radiators. Experts claim that ignoring how high this setting goes could be costing people a fortune in energy. In a video posted on Instagram, consumer group Which? claims: "Don't have this dial [on the radiator] higher than three, unless it's the room where your thermostat is. Whacking your thermostatic radiator up to five opens the valve to the max, letting loads of hot water run into the radiator when your central heating is on. "If you have every room set to five, your heating bills could be higher than they need to be." For the majority of households, rooms of a certain size and use don't require radiators operating at full volume. When a radiator valve is reduced, it uses up less hot water, meaning the boiler operates less frequently and uses less energy to warm the property. Making some straightforward changes can help ensure people remain comfortable without overspending. These tips are small but powerful and take seconds to fix throughout your property. In most cases, simply lowering the radiator setting could help reduce your typical energy bills. To start, focus on rooms where you know the valves can be higher. In many properties, the lounge is often where the thermostat is located. Setting these radiators to level three helps maintain a pleasant temperature of around 20°C. People might want to consider raising the temperature to level four for up to 25°C to provide a slightly warmer atmosphere or for a larger area. While it may seem smart to have maximum heat flowing into bedrooms to keep sleeping conditions comfortable and mornings easier during the colder months, these spaces might stay just as cosy with lower temperature settings. Which? experts recommend that bedroom radiator dials should be set between two and three to "keep the room temperature between 15 and 20°C". Ensure our latest energy headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings Which? claims that adjusting the dial to a particular number will cause rooms to reach specific temperatures once the heating system activates. However, it can be hard to know whether a particular setting will feel excessively warm or cold. The video features a useful chart displaying what the various settings roughly work out to in actual temperatures: - Frost sign - Up to 7°C (stops pipes from freezing when heating not in use) - 0 - Off - 1 - Up to 10°C - 2 - Up to 15°C - 3 - Up to 20°C - 4 - Up to 25°C - 5 - Up to 30°C