As winter has officially started you can practically hear the rumble of boilers firing up across the country.
But did you know that heating and hot water make up nearly half of the average monthly gas bill?
With Ofgem announcing that the typical energy bill will go up to £1,928 from £1,834 – a rise of £94 or five percent – the thought of your winter heating bill might be enough to make you turn the heating off again.
To avoid having to switch off your central heating or spending an extortionate amount on bills, an “easy” radiator task is recommended.
Research conducted by Enertek International found that sludge in your system can “increase your heating bills by as much as 25 percent”.
Sam Price, founder of Heatable explained: “Over time sludge can build up in your system, which is the result of rust and debris.
“Among the problems associated with sludge accumulation is that it can disrupt water circulation, leading to cold spots in radiators and reduced heat output.”
Cold spots on the radiator, cold radiator bottom, and the radiator taking an exceptionally long time to heat up are all signs of a system with sludge.
It’s not just decreased efficiency that’s a concern of dirty central heating water either.
Poor-quality heating water is one of the leading causes of boiler breakdowns in the UK and is commonly responsible for the corrosion of key components such as the heat exchanger.
The good news is that “dirty heating water is very easy to remedy” with a standard “power flush”.
A power flush is essentially a deep, intense cleanse of your heating system using water and a concoction of chemicals.
Sam claimed that a power flush (or any flush for that matter) should be performed every five to six years to ensure the quality of heating systems water is “maintained to a high standard” and “help prevent damage and blockages”.
Although sludge may sound like a minor problem, it can “make way for bigger issues” and “make your heating system much more inefficient”.
This is because sludge slows down the system, reducing its efficiency and “increasing your heating bills”.
If it has been more than five years since your last power flush, it’s probably time to consider one sooner rather than later.
